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Downingtown STEM Academy IB Results Report Class of 2014

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Every diploma candidate must complete a course from each of the six groups. Three of these courses are taken at the Standard Level and three are taken at the Higher Level. With permission from the Head of School, students may elect to take four courses at the Higher Level. Candidates are also required to complete a 4,000 word Extended Essay, the Theory of Knowledge Course, and 150 hours of Creativity, Action, and Service.

In order to earn a diploma, candidates must earn a minimum of 24 points out of 45 possible points. Students can earn up to 7 points from each of their 6 courses along with 3 bonus points for Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge. Circumstances may occur where students must earn at least 28 points to earn their diploma.

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OVERALL RESULTS

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Figure 1: Course Grades Figure 2: Total Points Earned

Student Details174 Students enrolled in Diploma Program 144 Students were Diploma Candidates 30 Students were Course Candidates1,332 Course Grades awarded

4,209 Course components gradedEach course includes 3-7 assessments

144 Extended Essays completed

Overall Results101 Diplomas were awarded (70%) National Average for 2013 is 68%13 Course Grades are higher than the International Average for 201476% of all Course Component Grades are a 4 or better International Average for 2013 is 74%

Figure 1 displays the course grades for all students for all courses. Each student receives a grade for each of the courses in which they are enrolled. Scores are based on a scale of 1 to 7, 7 being the highest mark. The score is a composite of their Internal Assessments and External Assessments. No student in the Class of 2014 earned the lowest score of 1 for any course.

Figure 2 displays the total points earned by the candidates. A total of 45 points are possible for full diploma candidates. Each course is worth 7 points and 3 bonus points are obtainable from the required Core Elements (CAS and EE). In order to earn a diploma, a candidate must earn at least 24 points and pass either CAS or EE. Other situations arise where a candidate must earn 28 points in order to receive their diploma. Course candidates still receive a point total, but are ineligible for the full diploma. Diploma candidates are represented by the purple bars, while course candidates are represented in blue.

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LANGUAGE A RESULTS

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Diploma (Lit) Course (Lit)

Courses Offered for Group 1

English A: Literature Higher Level

English A: Literature Standard Level

English A: Language & Literature Standard Level (1 student)

Figure 3: Course Grades for Group 1

Group 1 is also referred to at Language and Literature. All students at the Academy take either English A: Literature at the Higher Level or the Standard Level. One student, who transferred late in his senior year from the International School of Islamabad, completed English A: Literature and Language Standard Level. Course Assessments are a composite of the internally assessed Interactive Oral Presentation and Interactive Oral Commentary, along with the externally assessed Written Assessment and two External Assessment Exams in May.

Course 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total

English A: Lit HL

0 0 0 19 48 36 0 103

English A: Lit SL

0 0 0 7 35 26 2 70

English A: L&L SL

0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Total 0 0 0 26 83 63 2 174

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07

142128354249566370

3 4 5 6 7Diploma (French) Course (French)Diploma (German) Course (German)Diploma (Spanish) Course (Spanish)

Courses Offered for Group 2

French ab initio Standard Level French B Standard Level French B Higher Level German ab initio Standard Level German B Standard Level

German B Higher Level Spanish ab initio Standard Level

Spanish B Standard Level

Spanish B Higher Level

Group 2 is also referred to as Language B or Language Acquisition. IB students have the choice of three languages over three levels. Generally, Language B is the most difficult of groups for American students because of its Literature focus. Course Assessments are a composite of the internally assessed Interactive Oral Presentation and Interactive Oral Commentary, along with the externally assessed Written Assessment and two External Assessment Exams in May.

Figure 4: Course Grades for Group 2

Course 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total

French ab initio

0 0 3 7 3 1 0 14

French SL 0 0 0 4 13 7 0 24

French HL 0 0 0 1 4 4 2 11

German ab initio

0 0 0 2 5 1 0 8

German SL 0 0 0 1 8 7 1 17

German HL 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3

Spanish ab initio

0 0 4 4 2 0 0 10

Spanish SL 0 0 2 28 32 13 0 75

Spanish HL 0 0 0 2 6 2 0 10

Total 0 0 9 49 76 35 3 172

LANGUAGE B RESULTS

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Diploma (History) Course (History)Diploma (Psych) Course (Psych)

Figure 5: Course Grades for Group 3

Courses Offered for Group 3

History Rte 2: History of the Americas Higher Level

History Rte 2: History of the Americas Standard Level

History Rte 2: History of Europe Higher Level (1student)

Psychology Standard Level

Group 3 is also referred as Individuals and Societies. Every IB student must choose between History Route 2 Higher Level and Standard Level. One student, who transferred in his senior year from the International School of Islamabad, completed History Route 2 with a focus on Europe: Peacemaking. Every student completes a 1,500 word essay on a History topic of their choice. Standard level students take two External Assessment exams in May, while Higher level students take three External Assessment exams.

Some students choose to take Psychology as their Group 6 course in place of an Arts course. All students in 2014 completed Psychology at the Standard Level. Every student completes a 1,500 word research paper as their Internal Assessment and two External Assessment exams in May.

HISTORY RESULTS

Course 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total

History SL 0 0 3 10 45 9 0 67

History HL 0 0 3 30 56 14 2 105

History HL (Europe)

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

Psychology SL 0 4 8 17 10 0 1 40

Total 0 4 14 57 112 23 3 213

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EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES RESULTS

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Diploma (Bio) Course (Bio) Diploma (Chem)Course (Chem) Diploma (Physics) Course (Physics

Figure 6: Course Grades for Group 4 Courses Offered for Group 4

Biology Standard Level

Biology Higher Level

Chemistry Standard Level

Chemistry Higher Level

Physics Standard Level

Physics Higher Level

Group 4 is also referred to as the Experimental Sciences. Students must choose from either Biology, Chemistry, and Physics from the two available levels. Some students choose to enroll in a second Group 4 course as their Group 6 in place of the Arts. In this graduating class, 102 students chose a Group 4 course as their Group 6 course. Every student (for each Group 4 course) completes two Experiments covering the Design Process, Data Collection/Processing, and Conclusions/Evaluations. They also must complete one 10 hour collaborative Group 4 Project of their own design. The topic for this cohort’s Group 4 Project was the Student Space Experiment Program through NASA. This is done amidst the required lab hours of 40 hours at the Standard Level and 60 hours at the Higher Level. The External Assessment exams include three exams for each course covering eighteen course topics for each course.

Course 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total

Bio SL 0 3 11 11 4 0 0 29

Bio HL 0 26 28 16 7 0 0 77

Chem SL 0 3 6 7 11 2 2 31

Chem HL 0 0 10 20 23 12 3 68

Physics SL 0 3 15 7 2 0 0 27

Physics HL 0 2 12 13 14 3 0 44

Total 0 37 82 74 61 17 5 276

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2 3 4 5 6 7Diploma (Math ST) Course (Math ST)Diploma (Math SL) Course (Math SL)Diploma (Math HL) Course (Math HL)

Courses Offered for Group 5

Math Studies Standard Level

Math Standard Level

Math: Calculus Higher Level

Group 5 is also referred to as Mathematics. Based on prior coursework, students are enrolled in a Mathematics course at one of three levels. Every student completes a 1,500 word essay on a Mathematics topic of their choice. Standard level students take two External Assessment exams in May, while Higher level students take three External Assessment exams.

Course 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total

Math Studies 0 0 1 2 3 2 0 8

Math SL 0 19 25 26 10 3 0 83

Math HL 0 13 22 28 12 6 0 81

Total 0 32 48 56 25 11 0 172

MATHEMATICS RESULTS

Figure 7: Course Grades for Group 5

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Diploma (Art) Course (Art)Diploma (Music) Course (Music)

Course 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Total

Art SL 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 3

Art HL 0 0 2 5 4 0 1 12

Music SL 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

Music HL 0 0 3 3 4 0 0 10

Total 0 0 5 9 9 2 1 26

Group 6 is also referred to as the Arts. Students may take Visual Arts, Music Peforming, or Music Creating at the Standard or Higher Level. Assessments are centered more on performance and production of work. Students who are not interested in taking an Arts course may substitute a second course from Groups 2, 3, or 4.

Courses Offered for Group 6

Visual Arts Standard Level

Visual Arts Higher Level

Music Creating Standard Level

Music Performing Higher Level

THE ARTS RESULTS

Figure 8: Course Grades for Group 6

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THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE RESULTS

Figure 9: Course Grades for TOK

The theory of knowledge (TOK) requirement is central to the educational philosophy of the Diploma Program. It offers students and their teachers the opportunity to reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and on areas of knowledge, and consider the role and nature of knowledge in their own culture, in the cultures of others and in the wider world.

In addition, it prompts students to be aware of themselves as thinkers, encouraging them to become more acquainted with the complexity of knowledge, and recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected but uncertain world. As a thoughtful and purposeful inquiry into different ways of knowing, and into different kinds of knowledge, TOK is composed almost entirely of questions. The most central of these is "How do we know?"

It is a stated aim of TOK that students should become aware of the interpretative nature of knowledge, including personal ideological biases, regardless of whether, ultimately, these biases are retained, revised or rejected. TOK also has an important role to play in providing coherence for the student as it transcends and links academic subject areas, thus demonstrating the ways in which they can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility.

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EXTENDED ESSAY RESULTSThe extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, culminating in a 4,000-word paper. As a required component, it provides practical preparation for the kinds of undergraduate research required at tertiary level, and an opportunity for students to engage in an in-depth study of a topic of interest within a chosen subject. Emphasis is placed on the research process formulating an appropriate research question, engaging in a personal exploration of the topic, communicating ideas, and developing an argument. Participation in this process develops the capacity to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate knowledge. Students are supported throughout the process with advice and guidance from a supervisor (usually a teacher at the school).

Figure 10: Grades for Extended Essay