IB program lets students earn college credit at YHS
KATIE WIGLEY

Larry Pesetski, the Inter-national Baccalaureate coordinator at Yosemite High School, expects about 115 students to take IB exams this year. Some of those students are enrolled in the full diploma program.

The International Bacca-laureate Organization (IBO) was founded in 1962 and is a nonprofit educational organization founded in Geneva Switzerland. It lets students earn an internationally recognized diploma. Students must complete six internationally graded examinations. Students may receive college credit for each exam passed. Some advantages of the IB program are a desirable factor in admissions to the most selective and prestigious colleges and universities worldwide, Pesetski said.

The IB curriculum is divided into two courses, the High Level course (320 hours or two years of study) and Standard Level courses (196 hours or one year of study) taken during grades 11 and 12. In order to achieve the full IB diploma, students must pass examinations in three Higher and three Standard subjects.

They can chose between English, Foreign Language (French, Spanish), History, Science (Biology, Chemistry), Math Studies or High Math, or additional classes such as Psychology, Computer Science, or Theater Arts. The work they do is 40 percent of their grade. There is a grading scale of 1-7 with four and above passing.

Some additional requirements include: an extended essay of approximately 4,000 words in one of six subjects, a course entitled Theory of Knowledge and 100 hours of creative, aesthetic or social service activities.

According to Pesetski, there are three reasons students sign up for IB: It will get them ready for college level work; the IB provides classes they need for college admission and if they do well in exams and work, they can earn college credit.

Students will pay a minimal registration and examination fee of $75 per test. The school will pay for the IB participation and certificate fees.
Students who come in wanting a full diploma usually stay in the program, Pesetski says, rarely do they drop out.

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