IB
IB Diploma Programme
For students who have attended 10-11 years of school - see application information
Our aim is to develop the student's academic and social skills, preparing them for university and life by focusing on responsibility, community, and commitment.
When attending BG, we expect you to take your studies seriously, but BG is not just a place where you come and receive teaching and then go home again. There are plenty of extracurricular activities, both academic, creative, sports and service activities, which we hope that you cannot help but engage in.
Our dedicated teachers all have a Master’s degree from university and teacher training, and several are IB examiners.
Our experienced IB student counselors help the students apply for further studies. After the IB, the vast majority of our students apply to universities abroad, and the IB Diploma program is recognized and appreciated by universities all over the world.
You are always welcome to visit if you consider applying for our school!
The IB Diploma subjects
If you join the IB Diploma Programme, you will study six subjects for two years from 4-5 different scientific areas: languages, humanities, sciences, mathematics and the arts. You will therefore obtain a broad education where you go into depth in six subjects covering all academic fields.
The IB subjects are divided into six subject groups. You must choose one subject from each group. Three of the six subjects must be studied at Higher Level (HL) with 2-3 modules (95 minutes) per week, and three at Standard Level (SL) with 1-2 modules per week.
Even though you must study a variety of subjects, it is possible to fine-tune your programme according to your academic interests by choosing your favorite subjects at HL and choosing for instance two science subjects instead of one, both Business Management and Economics or three languages. Choosing two subjects from the same subject group is made possible by the option of not having to choose a subject from the creative subject group, the only subject group which is not mandatory.
You can find detailed information on the IB Diploma Programme subjects offered at BG in the links below.
During the two years, mainly in the second and final year, a bigger piece of work (Internal Assessment - IA) is done in all subjects which also counts in the final grade. You can read more about the IA in the different subjects in the subject links below. At the beginning of each academic school year a workload calendar is handed out to the students, giving deadlines for the internal assessments. These deadlines are on top of everyday class work (teaching, homework, assignments and tests).
The final examinations take place in the first three weeks of May in the second year (IB2). There are two-three exam papers per subject of a duration between 45 minutes to two and a half hours depending of the subject, level and type of paper (eg. multiple choice or essay). The exams are done by hand-writing, and no helping materials are allowed.
Due to scheduling, some subject combinations cannot be chosen (See IB subject choice guidlines).
Fees
Birkerød Gymnasium is a state school so no fees are charged. There will, however be expenses in regards to excursions, study trip, parties and graduation.
Futhermore, students must bring a computer and calculator. Books are provided.
Besides the academic subjects, the IB Diploma Programme consists of the following elements
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
An interdisciplinary and philosophical subject which all students have to attend and pass in order to obtain the Diploma. TOK teaches you different ways of knowing, ie. how the scientific areas approach questions and issues in different ways. We teach TOK until December in IB2 at which point you will write an essay which is marked by an external examiner.
Extended Essay (EE)
You will write a 4000-word academic essay in one of your subjects, preparing you for the academic writing at university. The Extended Essay process starts in the spring semester in IB1 and is handed in in October in IB2.
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)
Which are a number of extracurricular experiences in the three strands over the two years. We have many interesting CAS activities on offer, at the school and in the local community, and we support our students’ own CAS initiatives. You can read much more about CAS and extracurricular activities at BG in the links to the right.
Read more about the IB
For the IB organisation’s own website, click the link
