The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an international qualification with a worldwide standardized curriculum, allowing the easy transition of students from IB schools in one country to IB schools in another country with minimal academic problems. The IB offers four programs to students of different age groups.
The IB Middle Years Program – IB MYP emphasizes cognitive challenges and encourages students aged 11-16 years to make practical connections between their studies and the real world, preparing them for success in further study and life.
The students taking up this course
This program was launched by the IB in 1994. This program offers eight subject groups as follows
The MYP mandates 50 teaching hours for each subject group. In years 4 and 5, the students can opt for courses from six of the eight above groups considering the local requirements and the student’s individual learning abilities. And each year the students engage in at least one interdisciplinary study that involves at least two of the above subject groups.
For students aspiring for a formal qualification at the end of the program’s year 5, the IB offers assessments that lead to the IB MYP certificate or course results for individual subject areas. To earn this certificate, the students must complete 2 hours of on-screen examinations in each of the following: language and literature, individuals and society, sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary learning; submit an e-portfolio in language acquisition and one of the next – design, arts or physical health education; complete a moderated personal project; and completed school-based expectations for service as action (community service).
Let us explore the subject group’s Individuals and Societies. This group involves streams studied in humanities as well as the ones studied in social sciences. In these groups, students collect, describe, and analyze data used in the studies of societies, test hypotheses, and learn how to interpret complex information including original source materials. This subject course encourages the students to regard and be aware of the world around them and equips them with the needed skills to inquire into historical, contemporary, geographical, political, social, economic, religious, technological, and cultural factors that affect individuals, societies, and environments.
The aims of the Individuals and Societies course enable the students to
For the Individuals and Societies subject group, schools develop course by incorporating the following subjects
Key concepts such as change, global interactions, time, place and space, and systems on a broad frame form the MYP curriculum.
The Individuals and Societies group has broadly four equally weighted assessment criteria. And each criterion has eight possible achievement levels (1-8) and each level is further divided into four bands with unique descriptors which the teachers use to gauge the students’ performance. The four criteria are
Criterion A: Knowledge and Understanding – Students should be able to
Criterion B: Investigating–Students should be able to
Criterion C: Communicating – Students be able to
Criterion D: Thinking critically – Students should be able to
To get the results or the MYP certificate or course results, the students must demonstrate the achievements of the subject groups’ objectives by successfully completing an on-screen examination or the eAssessment. These on-screen examinations are externally assessed examinations and are available for the subjects of history, geography, and integrated humanities.
The topics explores in the MYP Individuals and Societies on-screen examinations include
Marks allocation for individual criterion for the eAssessment
| Task | Task Marks | Criteria Assessed | Criterion Marks |
| Investigating | 26 | A, B | A – 6, B – 20 |
| Communicating | 18 | A, C | A – 6, B – 12 |
| Thinking Critically | 36 | A, C, D | A – 8, C – 8, D – 20 |
| Total Marks | – | – | 80 marks |
Investigating: Students will evaluate an investigation and plan their own. They are also asked to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, either from their course or from the information presented.
Communicating: The communicating task requires students to engage creatively with a given topic or context, presenting information and ideas effectively aligning to the audience and purpose, and related to the specified format.
Thinking critically: This final task assesses the student’s ability to think about and discuss issues, arguments, and perspectives through structured questions, leading to an extended piece of writing.
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Book your Free Counselling Session now!IB MYP stands for International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. It is a program designed for students aged 11-16 years old and is a framework that encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers. The IB MYP is recognized as a high-quality educational program and is offered by schools around the world.
The subjects covered in IB MYP include language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, mathematics, sciences, physical and health education, arts, and design.
The core elements of IB MYP include Approaches to Learning (ATL), Global Contexts, and Service as Action. Approaches to Learning are the skills that students develop to be effective learners, Global Contexts provide a framework for learning that encourages students to make connections between subjects and real-world issues, and Service as Action involves students taking action to make a positive difference in their community.
Some tips for succeeding in IB MYP include being organized and keeping up with assignments, developing good study habits, seeking help when needed, staying engaged and interested in the subject matter, and being reflective about your learning.
IB MYP is assessed using a combination of formative and summative assessments. Formative assessments are used to monitor student progress and understanding throughout the course, while summative assessments are used to evaluate students’ knowledge and skills at the end of each unit or course.
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