International Baccalaureate

The following research articles provide in-depth evaluations of the impact of the IB Diploma Program on a student’s level of college preparation and his or her ability to successfully enroll and succeed in high-quality college institutions by exhibiting the persistence, work habits, organization, and thoughtful analysis and creative output required to excel in their chosen field of study.

• “Findings indicate that students who are in the DP are more likely to enroll in college, more likely to enroll in a more selective college and more likely to stay enrolled, compared to matched non-IB students. When controlling for college characteristics, analysis suggests that IB students are both going to better colleges at higher rates and performing better once there. Overall, the DP students interviewed generally felt that they were academically well-prepared to engage and succeed in college coursework, and described strong analytical writing and math preparation, motivation, work habits, organization and time management as strengths.”
  Read full article.
• “IB students in the UC system tend to perform better than a matched comparison group and students overall, and that performance in the IB programme in high school significantly predicts achievement in college.” Read full article.
• “When compared with former AP students, IB students were significantly more likely to indicate that they: felt prepared for college-level coursework involving research; had executed a research project at UVA; were proud of their research; intended to conduct future research; and found their research skills to be important to future success…Finally, findings showed a statistically significant relationship between EE [Extended Essay] score and college grade point averages (GPAs), after controlling for background characteristics.” Read full article.
• “…former DP students were more likely to persist and to complete college” Read full article.
• “At each institution comprised in this sample, the graduation rate of DP candidates was consistently higher than the institutional rate.” Read full article.
• “Overall, 81% of IB students graduated within 6 years of enrolling full-time at a 4-year institution, compared to the national average of 57%.” Read full article.

The CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) Program is one of three required core elements that make up the IB Diploma Program. Students must complete a CAS project before they graduate.

CAS seeks to involve students in a range of activities that take place alongside their academic studies. The component’s three strands, often interwoven with particular activities, are characterized as follows:

• Creativity – exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance. This may include visual and performing arts, digital design, writing, film, culinary arts and crafts.
• Action – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle. Pursuits may include individual and team sports, dance, outdoor recreation, fitness training, and any other form of physical exertion that purposefully contributes to a healthy lifestyle.
• Service – collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need. Through Service, students develop and apply personal and social skills in real-life situations involving decision-making, problem solving, initiative, responsibility, and accountability for their actions. Service experiences can be approached using the Service Learning model. Service Learning is the development and application of knowledge and skills towards meeting an identified community need. In this research-based approach, students undertake service initiatives often related to topics studied in the curriculum, utilising skills, understanding and values developed in these studies. Service Learning builds upon students’ prior knowledge and background, enabling them to make links between their academic disciplines and their Service experiences.

Student resources for CAS

• Northfield ManageBac Login