International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate (IB) was first conceived in the late 1960s by the International School of Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland. From its small beginnings the IB has grown steadily; the internationally-acclaimed programme operates in 4,954 schools in 153 countries.

The IB programme is a unique because of its academic and personal rigour. We challenge students to excel in their studies and in their personal growth. We aim to inspire a quest for learning throughout life that is marked by enthusiasm and empathy.

The IB aspires to help schools develop well-rounded students with character who respond to challenges with optimism and an open mind, are confident in their own identities, make ethical decisions, join with others in celebrating our common humanity and are prepared to apply what they learn in real-world, complex and unpredictable situations.

The IB offers high-quality programmes of international education that share a powerful vision. Informed by the values described in the learner profile, and IB education:

• focuses on learners - the IB's student-centred programmes promote healthy relationships, ethical responsibility and personal challenge
• develops effective approaches to teaching and learning - IB programmes help students to develop the attitudes and skills they need for both academic and personal success
• works within global contexts - IB programmes increase understanding of languages and cultures, and explore globally significant ideas and issues; and 
• explores significant content - IB programmes offer a curriculum that is broad and balanced, conceptual and connected.

IB learners strive to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers,communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. These attributes represent a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond intellectual development and academic success.

The IB has international recognition, standing and standards. As a result, its graduates gain preferred status at some of the world's best universities. 

The IB attracts highly motivated students, stimulated as much by the learning process as the results. The IB is for committed, hardworking students with good study skills. Those seeking the ultimate high school learning experience based on inquiry, critical thinking, and international-mindedness, as well as a diploma representing superior university preparation, will want to enroll in the IB.

Generally speaking, you should study in the IB if you want to challenge yourself while making your way through secondary school.  Some details that you may find attractive include:

• Faculty trained by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)
• Exams evaluated by international educators 
• Provides rigorous academic preparation for university based on international standards
• Opportunity for advanced standing and course credit in prestigious colleges and universities throughout the world
• Implements a curriculum taught from a global perspective 
• Delivers liberal arts curriculum incorporating humanities, mathematics, and sciences 
• Designed for the highly motivated student seeking educational challenges
• Students gain a sense of accomplishment in meeting the challenges of an international standard of excellence 

KSS maintains an atmosphere of enthusiasm for learning. The staff is prepared to provide students with the services, resources and commitment necessary to facilitate their success in the programme.

The school also provides a wide range of facilities and support services such as: fully staffed LPS and Student Services areas; dedicated teacher librarian, dozens of clubs and athletics pursuits, a wide variety of course offerings, and French immersion pathways, to name just a few.

The IB Programme draws on the full potential of students and provides them with an opportunity for excellence in their high school education.

IB courses are offered at two levels: standard level (SL) and higher level (HL). SL courses are recommended to take 150 hours of instruction time whereas HL courses are recommended to take 240 hours of instruction time. Students are required to take at least three and not more than four courses at HL and the others at SL. By arranging courses this way students can explore some subjects in more depth while maintaining a broad program of study.

IB Diploma candidates at KSS are required to make selections from the following six groups of subjects:

Group 1: Language A

• English SL or HL

Group 2: Language Acquisition

• French SL or HL
• Spanish Ab Initio SL

Group 3: Individuals and Societies

• Business & Management Studies SL or HL
• Psychology SL or HL
• Global Politics SL or HL

Group 4: Sciences

• Biology SL or HL
• Physics SL or HL

Group 5: Mathematics

• Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches SL or HL
• Mathematics: Applications & Interpretations SL

Group 6: Arts and Electives

• Film SL or HL
• Music SL or HL
• Chemistry SL or HL 

KSS offers this programme in addition to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). OSSD requirements and courses are integrated with the IB requirements so that upon successful completion of the programme a student is awarded both the IB Diploma and the OSSD.
In order to receive the IB Diploma students must:

• successfully write the IB internal and external assessments and the IB examinations in six subject areas
• successfully complete the IB course Theory of Knowledge
• successfully write an Extended Essay on a topic of their choice; and
• complete the Creativity, Activity, Service component

The IB Diploma Programme is an internationally recognized, two-year pre-university programme. The curriculum is rigorous, academically demanding and requires students to be highly motivated. To succeed in this program students must demonstrate commitment, ability and interest.

The IB Diploma Programme has six major academic areas (displayed in the model below). Students must take one subject from each of the six groups. This means that a science-oriented student is challenged to learn a foreign language and a natural linguist becomes familiar with laboratory procedures. At the core of the IB Diploma Programme are three unique curriculum requirements: a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, an Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).

TOK activities and discussions aim to help students discover and express their views on knowledge issues.  In the simplest terms possible, the course asks students to ponder how they know what they know.

The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word research paper that is intended to promote independent, high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. It provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research on a topic of their choice, under the guidance of a supervisor.

CAS is a co-curricular program that enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning, lending an important counterbalance to the academic rigours of the rest of the IB Diploma Programme.

CAS at a glance

100 CAS ideas

Students participate in the following three components:

• Creativity - arts and other experiences that involve creative thinking
• Activity - physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle
• Service - an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student

The IBO charges fees to affiliate schools based on the number of students enrolled and the number of exams written. These fees are passed on to the students for the 2025/ 2026 school year according to the following schedule:

• Pre-IB Programme Registration Fee $700 (Yr 1)
• Pre-IB Programme Fee $700 (Yr 2)
• Grade 11 (IB year 1) $800
• Grade 12 (IB year 2) $800

Please note, all IB fees are non-refundable. Bursaries are available, by annual application, for students in financial need.

Please see current information located at the top of this page.

Please see current information located at the top of this page

• IB Facts & Figures Infographic
• IB Learner Profile
• 10 Reasons to do the IB Programme
• The Value of the IB Diploma
• IB Diploma & University Preparedness
• A Guide to IB Assessment
• A Guide to Standard Level and Higher Level in the IB Courses
• DP Grade Descriptions
• Parent Pack FAQs about the DP
• DP Model at KSS
• Wooster College's Take on the DP
• Canadian University Recognition Summary
• UBC Study of IB
• McGill University Study of Extended Essay Benefit
• IB 50th Anniversary Story
• KSS IB Alumni Comments

• IB Academic Honesty Policy.pdf
• IB Admissions Policy.pdf
• IB Assessment Policy.pdf
• IB Complaint Policy.docx
• IB Inclusion Policy.pdf
• IB Language Policy.pdf

KSS Diploma Handbook 2025

While kept up to date, this handbook may contain errors or dated information. Anything of significant importance to your particular situation should be shared with the IB coordinator to ensure accuracy.