Lycee Condorcet - International French School of Sydney

 

At the French School the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is taught in English! Most students take French as an 'A' language (the highest level) which gives them a bilingual diploma, but we also have students who have no French when they enter the programme. The programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding.

The Extended Essay is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying.

Theory of knowledge is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical).

Creativity, action, service requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom, including community service.

Subjects at IFSS

All students must take six subjects, at least three at higher and the rest at standard level. Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5 (see the diagram above), thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics. The sixth subject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6, or another subject from groups 1 to 5. By doing two subjects in Group 1 instead of a Group 1 and a Group 2, subjects get a bilingual diploma.

The subjects offered here are:

Group 1: English A, French A

Group 2: French B, French ab initio, Spanish B, Spanish ab initio

Group 3: Economics, History, Geography

Group 4: Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Group 5: Mathematics, Maths studies

Group 6: Music, Visual Arts

Other subjects may be taken by doing a subject online.

Assessment

Students take written examinations at the end of the program in May, which are marked by external examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in school which are mainly marked internally and externally moderated. In most subjects assessment is approximately one quarter internal assessment and the rest the external examination.

The points awarded are from 1 to 7 (highest) for each of the six academic subjects with up to three points for the theory of knowledge/extended essay. Students need at least 24 points for a Diploma out of a maximum of 45. All assessment is criteria based.

University entrance

The IB is recognised by universities around the world as an entrance qualification. The International Baccalaureate Diploma is recognized by all major Tertiary Institutions in Australia. Contact and recognition policy information can be found on the university pages of the IB website . These entries do however not contain all details and it is advisable that students make direct contact with their Universities of interest to check specific course and entry requirements. Some universities offer advanced placement, credit and bonus schemes for IBDP students and this should also be investigated.

 

Visit the International French School of Sydney website for more information on the school.
Contact us here for further IB information.