International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP) is a challenging and stimulating two-year curriculum (Grades 11 and 12) emphasizing critical thinking, multi-disciplinary learning and inter-cultural understanding. The International Baccalaureate curriculum is made up of the DP core and six subject groups. It is an academically challenging and rigorous program of education that aims to nurture independent, life-long learners who are prepared for success at university and beyond. The IBDP has gained recognition from the world’s leading universities.
Benefits of the IB
The International Baccalaureate enables students to direct their own learning pathway and develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive and make a lasting difference.
IB learners are encouraged to think critically, solve complex problems, and engage with people in an increasingly globalized, rapidly changing world.
The IB educational program can lead students to some of the highest-ranking universities around the world.
The key elements of an IB education
BFIS IBDP Results 2023
Students select 6 courses from the following subject groups to fulfill both BFIS graduation requirements and IBDP requirements. Counselors and the IBDP Coordinator are available to assist students with these choices.
GROUP 1 – Language and Literature
- English A Language & Literature SL/HL
- Spanish A Language & Literature SL/HL
- Self-Taught A Literature SL
GROUP 2 – Language Acquisition
GROUP 3 – Individuals & Societies
GROUP 4 – Sciences
- Biology SL/HL
- Chemistry SL/HL
- Physics SL/HL
- Environmental Systems and Societies SL
- Computer Science SL /HL
- Design Technology SL/HL
GROUP 5 – Mathematics
- Mathematics: Analysis and approaches SL and HL
- Mathematics: Applications and interpretations SL and HL
GROUP 6 – The Arts
Please take a look at the IB Resource Library under "DP subject briefs" for more information on IBDP courses.
In addition to the six subject choices, all students must complete the DP Core (CAS – Theory of Knowledge – Extended Essay). These three parts make up the DP Core of the IBDP, acting as a bridge between the subject areas and the real-world.
This is a major part of the IBDP. Students who hope to achieve an IBDP diploma will be expected to be involved in CAS activities for the equivalent of at least three hours each week during the two years of the program. CAS requires students to take part in a range of experiences and at least one project. These should involve:
- real, purposeful activities, with significant outcomes
- personal challenge
- thoughtful consideration, such as planning, reviewing progress, reporting
- reflection on outcomes and personal learning
All students should be involved in activities they've initiated themselves.
Theory of knowledge (TOK) plays a special role in the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP), by providing an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on how we know what we claim to know. It looks at how students learn through different ways of knowing: perception, emotion, language and reason, and applies this to the different areas of knowledge such as mathematics, the arts, science, etc. This is a class scheduled to meet twice a week over the two years of the IBDP program.
The Extended Essay is a research-based paper written by the student independently with the support of an advisor in the field of research. Students will select a research topic in the winter of year 1 of the program (their Grade 11) and will complete the project in the fall of year 2 (their Grade 12). It is an opportunity to explore more deeply a topic of great interest to the student, opportunities that are rare in the traditional classroom setting.
For students attending university in a specific list of countries, or who may require professional recognition in those countries in the future, it is mandated that their IBDP Results Certificate be legalized (apostilled) in Geneva. This list is provided by the IB each year and students have been notified of this and given instructions to complete a request, if required.
The IB charges a fee for this service to be paid in the Business Office by June 1st. The documents will be received in August or September, after the issue of the IBDP results in July, and students will be notified when they are ready for collection.
Information on the timeline and process in July or November can be found below:
IB Results Timeline and Process
Please note the following instructions from the IB:
- Coordinators must inform candidates that the IB will not issue results to or discuss results with candidates, their legal guardian(s) or representative(s).
- The IBDP Coordinator is the intermediary for any communication with the IB.
- Results are not issued to IBDP coordinators or any other person by telephone.
IB students graduating with the IB diploma are able to study at universities all around the world, often with advanced credit. Students report that their involvement with the IB has given them the tools needed to succeed at college.
The 10 attributes of the IB Learner Profile
BFIS Graduate Student Profile
College Counseling
At BFIS, students are supported in their university applications by two counselors, one for local universities and another one for universities outside Spain.
University Acceptances
BFIS Graduates receive offers of acceptance and merit schoolarshiphs from some of the most prestigious universities in the world.
CAS Program
CAS is a journey, not a destination
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) is a mandatory core component of the IB Diploma Program. Throughout the 18 months of the CAS program, students are engaged in experiences to pursue their passions, discover new interests, learn new skills, step out of their comfort zone, challenge themselves, be a team player and many other things they don’t learn at school.
- Creativity is “exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance”. CAS guide (2015), page 8 IBO
- Activity is “physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle”. CAS guide (2015), page 8 IBO
- Service is a collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need. CAS guide (2015), page 8 IBO
Each Diploma Program student needs to complete at least 10 CAS experiences in total over the eighteen-month period of the IBDP. Each experience must be in at least one of the CAS strands which are Creativity, Activity, Service, and it must be connected to the CAS learning outcomes. IBDP students need to meet the 7 CAS learning outcomes at least twice. Additionally, every IB student must complete one collaborative CAS project. A CAS project must last for at least one month and challenge students to show initiative, perseverance, and develop skills such as collaboration, problem solving, and decision making. The CAS project can address any single strand of CAS, combine 2 or all 3 strands.
CAS experiences are intended to be spread out as evenly as possible throughout the school year, rather than be carried out in condensed periods. Students should undertake each task with clear and measurable goals, and be challenged. All chosen experiences should involve active participation by the student to affect positive and meaningful change in their own lives, as well as in the lives of those in the local and global community.
Throughout the IB Program, students will be required to provide reflections and evidence of their activities into a platform program called Managebac, which is provided by BFIS.
Therefore, menial, and repetitive tasks such as taking out the garbage or filing documents are not considered CAS. Students can not get paid nor receive benefits for Service. Each proposed CAS experience will need to be approved in advance by the CAS coordinator.
- Tutoring peer students (Service)
- Yearbook Club (Service/Creativity)
- The Sketchbook Project (Creativity)
- Model United Nations (Creativity)
- National Honors Society (Creativity/Service)
- The Debate Club (Creativity)
- Feminist Club (Service/Creativity)
- Gender Sexuality Alliance (Service/Creativity)
- Student Council (Service/Creativity)
- Math Club (Creativity)
- High School Newspaper (Creativity)
- Creative Writing Club (Creativity)
- The Investment Club (Creativity)
- The Entrepreneurship Club (Creativity)
- Art helpers in Elementary (Service)
- Classroom Support in Elementary (Service)
- Early Childhood classroom helpers (Service)
- The Solidarity Market (Service/Creativity)
- The Going Green Club (Service/Creativity)
- Learning to sew (Creativity)
- Science Fair Judge (Service)
- Volleyball Team (Activity)
- Ambassadors for school events (Service)
- BISA Talent Show Organizer (Service/Creativity)
- Knitting for the homeless (Service/Creativity)
- Helping the nuns with technology near the school (Service)
- Fundraising events (Creativity/Service)
- ES library readers (Service)
- Computer Science Club (Creativity)
BarcelonActua: NGO that helps vulnerable people by covering their basic needs and generating opportunities for them to live a decent life in Barcelona. Our students participate in different activities such as teaching Catalan, cooking lessons, volunteering in the soup kitchen, teaching basic computer skills to people at the risk of social exclusion, playing football with the refugees, organizing a food drive for the BACstation (accommodation for the asylum seekers)
BFIS Esperança Walk: Once a month, BFIS families provide food for Esperança, a local charity that provides basic needs for the homeless. Students, along with their CAS coordinator and staff members, go on the walk to distribute food and clothes to the people sleeping rough on the streets.
Kiva (microfinance): BFIS students help this international nonprofit organization to raise funds with the mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive.
Casal Dels Infants (new): Back in 2018, some BFIS IB students volunteered as summer camp counselors for Casal Dels Infants. We are happy to be working again with this great local NGO that provides educational support to children whose families are at risk of social exclusion. Students will be able to volunteer again during the summer but also work on Social Media campaigns to raise awareness about the social and racial discrimination that many students and their family face as well as fundraising events.
Top Manta (new): The Sindicato Popular de Vendedores Ambulantes de Barcelona, along the Top Manta brand, are working on improving the living conditions of the Manteros (street vendors) and continuing the fight against racism and the persecution they experience. IBDP students have the opportunity to create Social Media campaigns to raise awareness as well as developing their social entrepreneurship skills by collaborating with Top Manta.
Model United Nations: also known as Model UN or MUN, is an extra-curricular activity in which students typically role play delegates to the United Nations and simulate UN committees. This activity takes place at MUN conferences, which is usually organized by a high school or college MUN club. At the end of most conferences, outstanding delegates in each committee are recognized and given an award certificate; the Best Delegate in each committee, however, receives a gavel. Thousands of middle school, high school, and college students across the country and around the world participate in Model United Nations, which involves substantial research, public speaking, debating, and writing skills, as well as critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership abilities.
CAS
Learn more about our CAS Programme on the BFIS CAS website
Service Learning
Learn more about the Service Learning program at BFIS for Elementary, Middle and High School students
