FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does IB, EE, HL, and others mean?
Click HERE for A Guide to IB Terminology
What is an IB Education?
Click HERE for information from the International Baccalaureate Organization about the benefits of IB.
Who is eligible for the IB Program?
The IB Diploma Program is for juniors and seniors enrolled at Science Hill High School. All IB courses will be taken during those two years; however, students who are considering the program will need to take certain prerequisite courses as freshman and sophomores. Students in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade who are considering IB should attend any informational meetings and/or make an appointment to talk to their counselor prior to spring registration.
What are the criteria for students who get into the IB Program?
Any student who wishes to will be able to participate in the IB program. The program is academically challenging and will require dedication, discipline, and motivation on the part of the student. Prerequisite coursework is required. Students are encouraged to discuss the program with their counselor.
Will student who participate in the IB program meet all of the Tennessee requirements for graduation with a diploma?
Yes, courses required for the IB program will fulfill course requirements for the state of TN, or count as elective credits.
What are the differences between the IB Program and the Advanced Placement (AP) Program?
While both IB and AP are considered academically challenging programs, there are some differences in philosophy, requirements, and examinations.
IB courses are designed to be interdisciplinary and interconnected. They are taught with a holistic approach. To receive the IB diploma, students must take class in the six designated areas. Students are also required to complete a Theory of Knowledge(TOK) course, an extended essay (EE), and a minimum of 150 hours of creativity, action, and service (CAS). The IB program requires achievement across-the-board in a variety of disciplines.
AP classes are designed to be taken as stand-alone courses, not necessarily formally linked to one another. Students may choose, as with IB certificates, to pursue only those classes that are in disciplines in which they already excel.
IB course credit is awarded to students based on at least three sources of data: written papers, oral examinations, or lab activities completed for the class, graded by the teacher, then submitted to the IB Organization for additional grading; teacher evaluation of each student's potential grade on examinations, and the score received by the IB exit examination. Students are required to take IB exams if they take the course.
AP course credit it based upon student's performance on exit examinations provided by the College Board which oversees the AP program. Students may take AP course and choose not to take the exam.
Both IB and AP exams are administered in May of each school year with scores being released in July. Both are also accepted for college credit at many universities.
Will students be able to take both AP and IB courses?
Yes, registering for AP and/or IB classes is a choice made by the student. Students may, for certain classes, receive both AP and IB credit after completing the appropriate exit examinations. AP exam registration is open in the Spring. Students wishing to take both AP and IB exams should make their intentions known as early as possible to avoid scheduling conflicts during testing. Students are encouraged to discuss course selection with their counselor.
What if a student starts the IB program and then does not want to continue?
Students who decide they no longer wish to participate in the IB program will fill out a drop form that requires a parent signature. Students should see their counselor.
Will students be able to take individual IB courses without working toward the IB Diploma?
Yes, students taking individual IB courses will receive a certificate and it will be designated as an IB course on the transcript. GPA will be calculated using the same point credit as AP courses. The student will also be responsible for all course fees associated with the course.
What are the current IB course offerings?
For the school year 2017-18, the following courses are offered: English A Literature HL, History of the Americas HL, Spanish B SL, Mathematics SL, Biology HL, Visual Art SL, and Psychology SL.
In what ways will participation in the IB impact a student's time?
The academic requirements of the IB are demanding. It will require making choices about electives, balancing extra-curricular activities, and possessing good time management skills. Students will need to be able to plan ahead, prioritize tasks and follow through on completion of assignments in a timely manner. There is a significant amount of reading and writing required throughout the program.
What are the benefits of participating in the IB program?
Students who participate in the IB program will benefit by:
* emphasis on critical thinking skills
* practice and encouragement in independent inquiry
* focus on oral and written expression
* emphasis on understanding cultures throughout the world
* fluency in a second language
* high regard for IB course work by college admissions officers
* awarding of college credit by most universities
* increased success of IB students in post-secondary schooling
Click HERE for 10 Reasons why the IB Diploma Programme is ideal preparation for university.
Click HERE for IB College Credit Information.
Are there fees for taking IB courses?
Yes, there is a one time registration fee and, like AP, individual exam fees during Senior year.
For school year 2017-2018, the registration fee is $168, exam fees are $116 each. The registration fee is the same regardless of the number of classes in which a student has enrolled. Certificate candidates need to pay the registration fee by November 1st of their senior year. Exam fees are due prior to taking the exams during senior year. Registration and exam fees may be paid in installments. Checks should be made payable to: SHHS (Science Hill High School) with IB Fees in the memo line. At this time, diploma candidates who complete the full program will have their fees paid by the school system. The Johnson City Schools Foundation has grant funds available to assist students experiencing financial hardship. Students and/or parents should contact the IB Coordinator, Aaron Wood, for further information.
What should I do if I have more questions?
You can find more information on the IB website.
Contact IB Coordinator, Aaron Wood via email or at 423-232-2190 ext. 2129.
The SHHS counselors are also available for questions.
Click HERE for A Guide to IB Terminology
What is an IB Education?
Click HERE for information from the International Baccalaureate Organization about the benefits of IB.
Who is eligible for the IB Program?
The IB Diploma Program is for juniors and seniors enrolled at Science Hill High School. All IB courses will be taken during those two years; however, students who are considering the program will need to take certain prerequisite courses as freshman and sophomores. Students in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade who are considering IB should attend any informational meetings and/or make an appointment to talk to their counselor prior to spring registration.
What are the criteria for students who get into the IB Program?
Any student who wishes to will be able to participate in the IB program. The program is academically challenging and will require dedication, discipline, and motivation on the part of the student. Prerequisite coursework is required. Students are encouraged to discuss the program with their counselor.
Will student who participate in the IB program meet all of the Tennessee requirements for graduation with a diploma?
Yes, courses required for the IB program will fulfill course requirements for the state of TN, or count as elective credits.
What are the differences between the IB Program and the Advanced Placement (AP) Program?
While both IB and AP are considered academically challenging programs, there are some differences in philosophy, requirements, and examinations.
IB courses are designed to be interdisciplinary and interconnected. They are taught with a holistic approach. To receive the IB diploma, students must take class in the six designated areas. Students are also required to complete a Theory of Knowledge(TOK) course, an extended essay (EE), and a minimum of 150 hours of creativity, action, and service (CAS). The IB program requires achievement across-the-board in a variety of disciplines.
AP classes are designed to be taken as stand-alone courses, not necessarily formally linked to one another. Students may choose, as with IB certificates, to pursue only those classes that are in disciplines in which they already excel.
IB course credit is awarded to students based on at least three sources of data: written papers, oral examinations, or lab activities completed for the class, graded by the teacher, then submitted to the IB Organization for additional grading; teacher evaluation of each student's potential grade on examinations, and the score received by the IB exit examination. Students are required to take IB exams if they take the course.
AP course credit it based upon student's performance on exit examinations provided by the College Board which oversees the AP program. Students may take AP course and choose not to take the exam.
Both IB and AP exams are administered in May of each school year with scores being released in July. Both are also accepted for college credit at many universities.
Will students be able to take both AP and IB courses?
Yes, registering for AP and/or IB classes is a choice made by the student. Students may, for certain classes, receive both AP and IB credit after completing the appropriate exit examinations. AP exam registration is open in the Spring. Students wishing to take both AP and IB exams should make their intentions known as early as possible to avoid scheduling conflicts during testing. Students are encouraged to discuss course selection with their counselor.
What if a student starts the IB program and then does not want to continue?
Students who decide they no longer wish to participate in the IB program will fill out a drop form that requires a parent signature. Students should see their counselor.
Will students be able to take individual IB courses without working toward the IB Diploma?
Yes, students taking individual IB courses will receive a certificate and it will be designated as an IB course on the transcript. GPA will be calculated using the same point credit as AP courses. The student will also be responsible for all course fees associated with the course.
What are the current IB course offerings?
For the school year 2017-18, the following courses are offered: English A Literature HL, History of the Americas HL, Spanish B SL, Mathematics SL, Biology HL, Visual Art SL, and Psychology SL.
In what ways will participation in the IB impact a student's time?
The academic requirements of the IB are demanding. It will require making choices about electives, balancing extra-curricular activities, and possessing good time management skills. Students will need to be able to plan ahead, prioritize tasks and follow through on completion of assignments in a timely manner. There is a significant amount of reading and writing required throughout the program.
What are the benefits of participating in the IB program?
Students who participate in the IB program will benefit by:
* emphasis on critical thinking skills
* practice and encouragement in independent inquiry
* focus on oral and written expression
* emphasis on understanding cultures throughout the world
* fluency in a second language
* high regard for IB course work by college admissions officers
* awarding of college credit by most universities
* increased success of IB students in post-secondary schooling
Click HERE for 10 Reasons why the IB Diploma Programme is ideal preparation for university.
Click HERE for IB College Credit Information.
Are there fees for taking IB courses?
Yes, there is a one time registration fee and, like AP, individual exam fees during Senior year.
For school year 2017-2018, the registration fee is $168, exam fees are $116 each. The registration fee is the same regardless of the number of classes in which a student has enrolled. Certificate candidates need to pay the registration fee by November 1st of their senior year. Exam fees are due prior to taking the exams during senior year. Registration and exam fees may be paid in installments. Checks should be made payable to: SHHS (Science Hill High School) with IB Fees in the memo line. At this time, diploma candidates who complete the full program will have their fees paid by the school system. The Johnson City Schools Foundation has grant funds available to assist students experiencing financial hardship. Students and/or parents should contact the IB Coordinator, Aaron Wood, for further information.
What should I do if I have more questions?
You can find more information on the IB website.
Contact IB Coordinator, Aaron Wood via email or at 423-232-2190 ext. 2129.
The SHHS counselors are also available for questions.