What is the Middle Year Programme (MYP)?

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a course of study designed to meet the educational requirements of students aged between 11 and 16 years (Grades 6-10).

 

The Programme model of the MYP places the learner at its centre. This underscores the IB’s belief in educating the whole person, and placing importance on student inquiry.

 

MYP students are making the transition from early puberty to mid-adolescence, which is a crucial period of personal, social and intellectual development, of uncertainty and questioning.

 

The MYP is designed to guide students in their search for a sense of place in their natural and social environments.

 

MYP Subject Groups

In the Programme model, global contexts, concepts, approaches to learning and teaching, surround the learner and connect to the eight subject groups.

 

• Language & Literature

 

• Language Acquisition

 

• Mathematics

 

• Sciences

 

• Individuals & Societies

 

• Physical Health & Education

 

• Design

 

• Arts

 

Academic Development in the MYP

Social and Emotional Learning - Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

 

Service as Action (SAA) is an opportunity for MYP students to learn by doing, and engage in their local communities to enact change and make a difference. MYP students are able to build authentic connections between what they learn in the classroom and what they encounter in the community. Students explore the community in its complexity as they gain personal insight and become more confident and responsible. Through service as action they become “actors” in the “real world”. In MYP 4 and 5, students complete the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award in order to meet requirements for promotion to the Diploma Programme.

 

Personal Project - In the final year of the programme (MYP 5), each MYP student must develop a personal project independently, which is externally validated by the IB. Producing a truly personal and creative piece of work over an extended period stands as a summative review of their ability to conduct independent work.

 

In MYP 5, students also have the optional opportunity to work towards the MYP Certificate by completing the MYP eAssessment.

 

What is the Diploma Programme (DP)?

The Diploma Programme (DP) is a course of study designed to meet the educational requirements of students aged between 16 and 19 years (Grades 11-12). It focuses on holistic development, fostering critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and a well-rounded skill set. Through its holistic approach, the IB DP aims to develop well-rounded, globally-minded individuals who are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed for success in higher education and beyond.

 

 

DP Subject Groups

In the DP model, students will choose one class from each of the six subject groups:

 

• Language & Literature

 

• Language Acquisition

 

• Individuals & Societies

 

• Sciences

 

• Mathematics

 

• Arts

 

Students will also engage with the DP core elements which include:

 

Theory of Knowledge (TOK): TOK is a unique course that encourages students to explore the nature of knowledge across multiple disciplines. Students are asked to think critically about how knowledge is acquired and evaluated. They are also encouraged to reflect on the implications and perspectives of different ways of knowing.

 

Extended Essay (EE): The EE is a 4,000-word independent research project completed by students in any subject of their choice. It offers them an opportunity for in-depth investigation and helps in the development of research and writing skills.

 

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): In CAS students will engage in a variety of activities to develop skills, demonstrate initiative, and contribute to their local and global communities.

 

Several studies commissioned by the IB have concluded that, compared to their peers, IB students tend to go to university at higher rates, go to more selective universities, and perform better once there. For example:

 

Former DP students in the United States (US) are significantly more likely to attend a ‘selective’ or ‘highly selective’ institution compared to the average US college-goer.

 

In the UK, students are more than twice as likely to attend a top 20 university than the average A level student.

 

Minority and low income IB students from Chicago Public Schools were shown to go on to university at significantly higher rates than a matched control group of their non-IB peers of similar academic ability.

 

Feedback collected from a wide range of IB graduates suggests that IB students have an easier time adjusting to university studies. 

 

Information on DP Recognition:

https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/recognition-of-the-ib-diploma-by-countries-and-universities/ib-diploma-compared-with-other-national-exams/

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Subject Choices in the MYP and DP