Group 3: Individuals and Societies

Introduction

Psychology is a Group 3 (Individuals and Societies) subject that focuses on the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes. The course helps students understand how biological, cognitive and sociocultural factors influence how people think, feel and act. Students develop “psychological literacy”: the ability to think critically about evidence, apply psychological ideas to real-world issues, and reflect ethically on human behaviour.

Course Description

The IB Psychology course is organised around three interconnected elements: concepts, content and contexts. All students study the three main approaches in psychology (biological, cognitive and sociocultural), together with research methodology and ethics. These are then applied to four real-world contexts: health and well-being, human development, human relationships, and learning and cognition.

Both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students follow the same core structure. HL students also explore the additional influences of culture, motivation and technology on behaviour, and engage in more advanced data analysis and interpretation of research.

Content

Core (HL & SL)

Students study:

• Key concepts – bias, causality, change, measurement, perspective and responsibility.
• Approaches to understanding behaviour
  • Biological
  • Cognitive
  • Sociocultural
• Research methodology
  • Research methods and designs
  • Sampling and data collection
  • Data analysis and interpretation
  • Ethical and practical considerations in psychological research
• Applied contexts
  • Health and well-being
  • Human development
  • Human relationships
  • Learning and cognition

Class practicals are integrated across the course to give students hands-on experience with different methods (such as experiments, observations, interviews or surveys).

HL Only
In addition to the core, HL students:

• Study extensions on the roles of culture, motivation and technology in shaping behaviour and cognition.
• Develop deeper skills in data analysis and interpretation, working with both quantitative and qualitative research findings.

Assessment Higher & Standard Level

Examinations
• SL: 70% of final grade
• HL: 80% of final grade

Paper 1 – Approaches and contexts

• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Weighting: SL 35% | HL 25%
Paper 1 assesses understanding of the biological, cognitive and sociocultural approaches and how they apply across the four contexts. Students answer short-answer questions and one extended response that require them to explain, apply and evaluate psychological research.

Paper 2 – Research and class practicals

• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Weighting: SL 35% | HL 25%
Paper 2 focuses on research methodology and the class practicals completed during the course. Students respond to questions about their own practical work and evaluate an unseen research study, demonstrating their understanding of methods, ethics and key concepts such as bias, measurement and responsibility.

Paper 3 – HL Only: Data analysis and interpretation

• Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Weighting: HL 30%
Paper 3 is taken only by HL students and assesses higher-level skills in interpreting and evaluating research data. Questions are based on findings related to one of the HL extensions (culture, motivation or technology).

Internal Assessment

• Weighting: SL 30% | HL 20%
All students complete an internal assessment in which they design a psychological research proposal to investigate a population of interest, using one of the methods experienced in class practicals. The internal assessment is marked by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB.
At our school, the internal assessment is usually finalised in Term 4 of Year 1 of the Programme so that

Introduction

The business management course is designed to meet the current and future needs of students who want to develop their knowledge of business content, concepts and tools to assist with business decision-making. Future employees, business leaders, entrepreneurs or social entrepreneurs need to be confident, creative and compassionate as change agents for business in an increasingly connected global marketplace. The business management course is designed to encourage the development of these attributes.

Through the exploration of four interdisciplinary concepts – creativity, change, ethics and sustainability – this course empowers students to explore these concepts from business perspectives. Business management focuses no business functions, management processes and decision-making in contemporary contexts of strategic uncertainty.

Students examine how business decisions are influenced by factors that are internal and external to an organisation and how these decisions impact upon a range of internal and external stakeholders. Emphasis is placed on strategic decision-making and the operational business functions of human resource management, finance and accounts, marketing and operations.

The business management course utilises case studies of local, national and global real-world examples to apply content and concepts from the course.

Distinction between SL and HL

The SL course in business management differs from the HL course in terms of the:

• recommended hours devoted to teaching (150 hours for SL compared to 240 hours for HL)

• extra depth and breadth required (extension material for HL only)

• nature of the examination questions in papers 2 and 3

◦ Paper 2 for both SL and HL focuses on developing quantitative skills; however, HL students will need to develop these further in greater depth.

◦ Paper 3 is an HL-only paper based on a social enterprise, where students identify and describe a human need and the potential organizational challenges facing the social entrepreneur. Further to this, students are required to write a decision-making document that includes a business recommendation.

Standard Level Assessment

Examination 70%

Paper 1

(90mins) 35%

Is divided into two sections with questions based on the pre-released statement issued to students three months before the examination and the unseen case study issued during the examination.

Paper 2

(90mins) 35%

The aim of the examination is to assess students’ knowledge of the business management syllabus. Most questions will be quantitative, though some questions may not have a quantitative element.

Internal Assessment 30%

The internal assessment (IA) for SL students is an individual business research project that allows greater analysis and evaluation of content, concepts and context. Students can develop a deeper understanding of an organisation by studying its processes through the lenses of creativity, change, ethics or sustainability.

Higher Level Assessment

Examination 80%

Paper 1

(90mins) 25%

Is divided into two sections with questions based on the pre-released statement issued to students three months before the examination and the unseen case study issued during the examination.

Paper 2

(90mins) 30%

The aim of the examination is to assess students’ knowledge of the business management syllabus. Most questions will be quantitative, though some questions may not have a quantitative element.

Paper 3

(75mins) 25%

Paper 3 will be about a social enterprise and requires students to identify and describe a human need and the potential organizational challenges facing the social entrepreneur wanting to meet this need. Further to this, students are required to write a decision-making document that includes a business recommendation.

Internal Assessment 20%

The internal assessment (IA) for HL students is an individual business research project that allows greater analysis and evaluation of content, concepts and context. Students can develop a deeper understanding of an organisation by studying its processes through the lenses of creativity, change, ethics or sustainability.

Introduction

The 21st century is characterised by rapid change and increasing interconnectedness, impacting individuals and societies in unprecedented ways and creating complex global political challenges. Global politics is an exciting, dynamic subject that draws on a variety of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities, reflecting the complex nature of many contemporary political issues. The study of global politics enables students to critically engage with different and new perspectives and approaches to politics in order to comprehend the challenges of the changing world and become aware of their role in it as active global citizens.

The Diploma Programme global politics course explores fundamental political concepts such as power, equality, sustainability and peace in a range of contexts. It allows students to develop an understanding of the local, national, international and global dimensions of political activity and processes, as well as to explore political issues affecting their own lives. The course helps students to understand abstract political concepts by grounding them in real-world examples and case studies. It also invites comparison between such examples and case studies to ensure a wider and transnational perspective.

The core units of the course together make up a central unifying theme of “people, power and politics”. The emphasis on “people” reflects the fact that the course explores politics not only at a state level but also explores the function and impact of non-state actors, communities, groups and individuals. The concept of “power” is also emphasised as being particularly crucial to understanding the dynamics, tensions and outcomes of global politics. Throughout the course, issues such as conflict, migration or climate change are explored through an explicitly political lens: “politics” provide a uniquely rich context in which to explore the relationship between people and power.

Assessment objective 1: Knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key political concepts and contemporary issues in global politics
• Demonstrate understanding of relevant source material
• Demonstrate understanding of a political issue in a particular experiential situation (engagement activity)
• At HL only, demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of political issues in two detailed case studies

Assessment objective 2: Application and analysis

• Apply knowledge of key political concepts to analyse contemporary political issues in a variety of contexts
• Identify and analyse relevant material and supporting examples
• Use political concepts and examples to formulate, present and sustain an argument
• Apply knowledge of global politics to inform and analyze experiential learning about a political issue (engagement activity)
• At HL only, apply knowledge of global politics to analyse political issues in two case studies

Assessment objective 3: Synthesis and evaluation

• Compare, contrast, synthesize and evaluate evidence from sources and background knowledge
• Compare, contrast, synthesize and evaluate a variety of perspectives and approaches to global politics, and evaluate political beliefs, biases and prejudices, and their origin
• Synthesize and evaluate results of experiential learning and more theoretical perspectives on a political issue (engagement activity)
• At HL only, demonstrate synthesis and evaluation of different approaches to and interpretations of political issues in two case studies

Assessment objective 4: Use and application of appropriate skills

• Produce well-structured written material that uses appropriate terminology
• Organise material into a clear, logical, coherent and relevant response
• Demonstrate evidence of research skills, organisation and referencing (engagement activity and HL extension in particular)
• At HL only, present ideas orally with clarity

Assessment

Standard Level

External Examinations:

Paper 1 (30% – 25 marks)

Stimulus-based paper based on a topic from one of the four core units

Four compulsory short-answer/structured questions

Paper 2 (40% – 30 marks)

Students must write two essays from a choice of eight, each selected from a different core unit

Internal Assessment

This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.

Engagement activity (25% – 20 marks)

A written report (2,000-word maximum) on a political issue explored through engagement and research.

Higher Level

External Examinations:

Paper 1 (20% – 25 marks)

Stimulus-based paper on a topic from one of the four core units

Four compulsory short-answer/structured questions

Paper 2 (30% – 30 marks)

Extended response paper based on the four core units.

Students must write three essays from a choice of eight, each selected from a different core unit

Paper 3 (30% – 28 marks)

Stimulus-based paper related to the HL extension syllabus (global political challenges).

Four compulsory short-answer/structured questions

Internal Assessment

These components are internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.

Engagement Activity (20%, 30 marks, 30 hours)

A written report (2,400-word maximum) on a political issue explored through engagement and research with recommendations for a course of action