S.'4- 

7TE UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS BOARD 

R

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE? 

................................................. 

APRIL 30 

.

, 1984 

...................................................... 

Action undertaken by the Senate Undergraduate Admissions Board at 

its meeting of 28 February 1984 gives rise to the following motion: 

MOTION: 

"That Senate approve the changes to undergraduate admission 

policies and transfer credit relating to the International 

Baccalaureate, as set forth in S.84- 37 , that the admission 

changes be effective for admission to the Fall semester 1985 

and thereafter, that the transfer credit changes be effective 

now.,, 

SUAB 125 REVISED 

.

ADMISSIONS 

BOARD 

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE 

ADMISSION & TRANSFER CREDIT 

.

EATH, SECRETARY 

S.U.A.B. 

r"-,•.1•98. 

PROPOSED POLICY 

That for admission to Fall, 1985, and subsequent semesters, 

(1)

Where 2 credentials are completed through simultaneous 

study, (I.B. plus Canadian, or U.S. Grade 12), the 

local qualification be used for admission purposes. 

Transfer credit would be awarded in accordance with 

departmental recommendation to a maximum of 

semester 

hours, where (a) the overall I.B. score is 27 and, 

(b) each Higher Level exam is passed with a 4, or 

better. 

(2)

Where the I.B. is the sole qualification for admission, 

. ?

the required score be 27. Transfer credit would be 

awarded as in (1) above. 

(3)

Where another qualification is appropriate for admission, 

certificates for individual I.B. course passes will be 

accepted for transfer credit only if passed with a grade 

of 5, or better, in accordance with departmental recom- 

mentations and up to 30 semester hours. 

EXISTING POLICY 

Current regulations enable students who have 

I.B. Diploma to be admitted to Simon Fraser. 

hours of transfer credit may be awarded only 

subjects passed with a 

or better. Since 

of credit is assigned per exam, in practice, 

credit is 18 semester hours. 

qualified for the 

Up to 30 semester 

for Higher Level 

normally 6 hours 

the normal maximum 

No policy exists for partial I.B. programs; ie: when the 

assessments have been made of transfer credit in some cases. 

The International Baccalaureate was developed in response to 

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a desire for an international secondary school graduation 

qualification which would satisfy European, English and 

North American perceptions of education. The resulting 

diploma program is two years in length, roughly approximat- 

ing a Grade 12/13 curriculum. There are subsidiary and higher 

level subjects and standardized exams. Grading is done by an 

examination centre in London, England. Exams include short 

answer and multiple choice questions. 

Schools wishing to offer the I.B. apply to I.B. North America, 

or the parent organization in Switzerland. Recognition is 

granted, provided the school can ensure sufficient, teacher 

support and is willing to pay the set of fees for course 

materials and testing. No investigation is made of a school, 

since exams are standardized. A series of cross-checks and 

channels for feedback to schools assist in ensuring adequate 

instruction. 

STRUCTURE 

The International Baccalaureate examination consists of six 

subjects: 

1.

Language 

?

A, including a syllabus of World Literature          

(A = first language). 

2.

Language B or second language A. (B = second language). 

3.

Study of man; one of the following: philosophy, psychology, 

social anthropology, history, geography, economics, busi- 

ness studies. 

4.

Experimental sciences; one of the following: biology, 

chemistry, applied chemistry, physics, physical science, 

scientific studies. 

5.

Mathematics; one of the following: higher level - subsidiary 

level, mathematics and computing, mathematical studies. 

6.

Practical and theoretical studies; one of the following: 

art/design, music, a classical language, a second language 

B, a second study of man subject, a second science subject, 

further mathematics, computer studies or a syllabus submitted 

by the school and approved by IBO. 

Three of these six subjects have to be offered at higher level, 

and three at subsidiary level in order to qualify for the full 

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Diploma. 

All candidates must have submitted an extended essay in one of 

the subjects they offer. 

All candidates must have followed a common course in the theory 

of knowledge and engaged satisfactorily in extra-curricular 

activities. 

IBO may authorise certain exemptions and substitutions as 

described in Article 4 of the Regulations. Candidates may also 

offer single subjects, for which they will receive Certificates. 

GRADING 

Grades are based on a scale of 1-7, ranging from very poor 

(1) through satisfactory (4) to excellent (7) and with distinction 

(7E). An additional Bonus point may be earned for superior 

performance in the Theory of Knowledge and one or two for an 

exceptional extended essay. Likewise, points may be deducted for 

poor performance in these areas. The Diploma is awarded to 

candidates achieving an overall score of 24 on the 3 Higher and 

3 Subsidiary Level exams. 

Additionally: (a) One grade of 3 (mediocre) is permitted at 

the Higher Level if compensated for by a 

5 (good). 

(b)

One grade of 2 is permitted at Subsidiary 

Level, provided the overall total is 24, 

or better. 

(c)

Overall, 3 grades of 3 are permitted; 

only one is permitted if a grade of 2 is 

also presented. 

Individual subject certificates are issued if students will not 

be completing the full diploma. 

CONTEXT 

Very few applicants have entered SFU with the full I.B. Diploma. 

Such students have received their previous education at indepen- 

dent international schools, such as Lester B. Pearson College of 

the Pacific or international high schools in Switzerland. 

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However, the I.B. program has recently been adopted by a 

number of Senior Secondary Schools in B.C., as a vehicle for 

providing an enriched curriculum to motivated, able students. 

In these instances, the student will typically complete normal 

B.C. Grade 12 courses, but will take a partial I.B. program 

in certain specific disciplines and receive subject certificates. 

This practice has recently been recognized by the B.C. Ministry 

of Education. 

It is timely to establish formal policy for applicants offering 

the I.B. because - 

a)

anticipated increase in numbers 

b)

it is important in attracting the best students 

from secondary schools that some recognition, 

ie: transfer credit be given 

c)

certain other universities have established 

transfer credit policies for the I.B., including 

the University of Victoria. 