The Diploma Programme (DP) is an academically focused, challenging, and balanced program aimed at students in their final two years of study before university. Its curriculum builds on the foundation cultivated during the PYP and MYP, and students at KIST are further prepared for the DP after two years of rigorous academic study in the IGCSE. The DP is recognized by universities around the world for its high quality, and is designed to support the growth and development of well-rounded students as they become adults. Learners are pushed to master new concepts and skills, but are also encouraged to understand the relevance and impact of the topics they study in a global context. Through the DP, students are able to share an academic experience that emphasizes critical thinking, intercultural understanding and exposure to a variety of viewpoints.
Students must undertake subjects from six groups to complete the IB Diploma, ensuring that they gain a well-rounded foundation of knowledge in a variety of disciplines. These groups are:
Group 1—Studies in Language and Literature
Group 2—Language Acquisition
Group 3—Individuals and Societies
Group 4—Sciences
Group 5—Mathematics
Group 6—The Arts
Each subject group contains various subject options that students may choose depending on their interests and goals. Students must choose a total of six subjects—one from each of the group 1 to 5 subject options, and one from group 6 (The Arts) or another subject from groups 1 to 5 if they do not wish to take an Arts subject. The subjects offered for new Grade 11 students are announced each year around April and may change from year to year. The subject options currently available may be viewed at the links below.
- KIST IB Diploma Subject Options 2019-2021 (English)
- KIST IB Diploma Subject Options 2019-2021 (Japanese)
DP subjects are offered at higher level (HL) (240 teaching hours over 2 years) or standard level (SL) (150 teaching hours over 2 years). Students must take a minimum of three and no more than four subjects at higher level; the remaining subjects may be taken at standard level.
In addition to their six main subjects, students must also complete requirements in three additional courses known as the IB Core Subjects, which challenge students to expand their horizons intellectually, emotionally, physically and ethically. The IB Core Subjects are:
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK), a course which allows students to delve into their own understandings and biases and explore how humans learn and understand.
- Extended Essay, a 4,000-word paper that students undertake about an academic topic of their own choosing.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), which requires students to complete a certain number of hours of creative pursuits, physical activity, and community service.
Click here for more information about CAS…
Through these courses, students have a chance to grow and gain various experiences outside of the classroom. This diverse and varied approach to learning prepares students for the challenges they will face in university and helps them develop into well-rounded individuals.
KIST places a strong focus on academics with the goal of supporting students in their admissions to leading universities around the world, and to prepare them with a strong foundation of high-level knowledge and critical thinking skills, as well as time management skills and perseverance that will allow them to succeed in their tertiary education and beyond. To access recent KIST graduates’ DP examination results and other academic performance data, please visit our Academic performance page. For detailed information about KIST graduates’ scores in various DP subject areas, please refer to our School Profile.
Curriculum explanation sessions are scheduled throughout the year for families to learn more about the nature of the curriculum, the learning methods focused on and other general expectations. All parents/guardians are encouraged to attend these sessions in order to gain the knowledge necessary to be able to provide appropriate support to their children.
For current students, the latest KIST IB Diploma Handbook may be accessed via the MyKIST Family Page (log in required).
