ENGLISH IB Diploma Programme IB – What does it stand for? Erziehungsepartement des Kantons Basel-Stadt Mittelschulen und Berufsbildung

Advantages International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Gymnasium am Münsterplatz • Streamlined syllabus leading to dual certification: IB Di- ploma, Swiss Matura. • Immersive teaching in English in multiple subjects which leads to an outstanding language ability as well to know- ledge of specific academic language. • Simplified access to higher education: More than 2000 universities in over 100 countries recognize the IB Diplo- ma. • Strengthening of international awareness. • Enhanced reflection on one’s individual strengths and weaknesses. • Additional challenge in coordination with the Swiss Ma- The International Baccalaureate offers educational pro- tura. Ideal add-on in terms of contents, methods and prac- grammes for children and adolescents between the ages of tice-orientation. three and nineteen, challenging students to excel in their stud- • Standardized final examinations allow a comparison of ies, and encouraging both personal and academic achievement. individual performance with that of other young people This non-profit organization was founded in 1968 and now around the world. educates approximately one million students according to its internationally recognized standards. • Widening of the educational focus beyond the academic performance measurement and inclusion of individual in- Having introduced the IB in 2011, the Gymnasium am Mün- clinations and talents promote the development of a bal- sterplatz is the fifth state school in Switzerland and the first anced personality. institution of this kind in the Basel region to be named an official IB World School (school code 6416). This official sta- • Excellent preparation for the Swiss Matura as well as for tus authorizes the school to grant its students either the full university studies. Gymnasium IB Diploma or certificates in individual subjects for those not wishing to take the entire course. am Münsterplatz Drawbacks and limitations These certifications have an outstanding reputation and are Tradition and Innovation recognized by universities worldwide. The students of the Gym- • If a student chooses the IB Diploma Programme, the elec- nasium am Münsterplatz not only obtain two diplomas, but also tive minor subject must be either Geography or History. optimize their chances of being accepted at foreign universi- ties, especially in English-speaking countries. • An above-average willingness to work and to participate in the lessons is expected. The Gymnasium am Münsterplatz • The programme is an option and nobody is entitled to get a place in it. In the event of an exceeding number of appli- Münsterplatz 15, 4051 Basel The Gymnasium with More than just One Diploma cations, the participants will be selected by the headmaster Tel.: +41 61 267 8870; Fax: +41 61 267 8872 Bilingual Matura with IB option based on the averages of the school reports of the last lower E-Mail: [email protected] secondary school year. • Euge n Krieger, Headmaster: [email protected] • Manuel Pombo, IB Coordinator: [email protected] • Rainer Büchele, IB Coordinator: [email protected] www.gmbasel.ch IB and Matura IB at the GM Does that work? Diploma or certificates with the option of English as main subject 9TH GRADE OPTION 1 In the last year of lower secondary 12th/13th grade The IB Diploma Programme is a holistic educational At the end of secondary school, students can apply school, students register via school IB CLASSES programme, which was developed for the last two network for future bilingual and IB for a place in a bilingual class when they enter Gym- classes. Lessons according to the require- years of pre-university education. ments of the International Baccalau- nasium. They have the choice between the follow- reate in: Biology, German, English, ing two options: French, Mathematics, History/EF GS or Geography/EF GG IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME + English-Immersion in 7 subjects OPTION 1 10TH GRADE GM MATURA IB DIPLOMA IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME The IB and biligual classes are taught in English in the The regular Swiss Matura lessons are combined with the In- following subjects: LaP (Project ternational Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) so that class), Biology, Geography, in addition to the bilingual Swiss Matura diploma, the students Chemistry and English. can obtain the IB Diploma at the end of their school career. OPTION 2 • Elective main • ToK 12th/13th grade subject German Theory of The IB subjects are • Physics BILINGUAL CLASSES English Knowledge German, English, French, Biology, • Languages The following subjects are taught French • CAS Mathematics and Geography or History in English: Biology, English, Ma- • Arts Creativity, Activity, thematics, History, Geography and History + EF History Chemistry. • Music Service as well as the three core elements Geography + EF Gg ToK, CAS and EE. + English-Immersion • Chemistry Mathematics • EE = Extended Essay in 6 subjects • Sports equivalent to the Matura → Swiss Matura with the predicate “bilingual”1 and the internationally paper in the Swiss curri- 2 Biology culum recognized IB Diploma • Matura Paper = EE ADDITIONAL OPTION: = Extended Essay MAIN SUBJECT ENGLISH WITH IB Exclusively at the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz, English can be OPTION 2 Subjects taught in English selected as main subject. This must be combined with either of BILINGUAL CLASS WITH IB CERTIFICATES the IB options (Diploma of Certificates). In addition to achiev- IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH ing an outstanding command of the most important global and In order to obtain the IB diploma, in addition to the six basic This is a bilingual class in which 5 subjects are taught in Eng- scientific language at the Matura level, English as main subject diploma subjects (at the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz: German, lish. The curriculum is based solely on the cantonal require- provides an excellent educational opportunity for the integra- English, French, Geography or History, Biology and Mathe- ments for Swiss Gymnasien and students are awarded a Matu- tion of non-German-speaking students. In combination with the matics), three additional core subjects must be successfully ra diploma with the predicate “bilingual Matura”. IB Diploma Programme (option 1), the main subject facilitates completed: Theory of Knowledge (ToK), Creativity, Activity, school success for foreign students, since they can focus on Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE = Matura Paper). The only lessons based on the IB curriculum and requirements German and French language acquisition. are English, French and, optionally, German. Students have This educational philosophy is nearly identical with the Swiss to pass the IB certificate examinations in English and French and Another main pillar of integration of the Gymnasium am Mün- model, with only the core subjects ToK and CAS being new to receive two internationally recognized certificates in these sterplatz is our fully developed learning support centre whose the curriculum. These two innovative elements entail the par- languages. main objective is to provide individual didactic counselling, ticipation in charity events, creative activities and sports or in subject-specific backup courses, as well as various integrative investigating the limits of what can be known. → Swiss Matura with the predicate “billingual” and the optional IB certificates in the subjects English, French and German. measures in German and French for pupils with diverse educa- In the IB Programme, 5 to 7 subjects (depending on whether tional biographies. It also aims to provide high-talented pupils you choose Option 1 or 2) are taught in English, which guaran- with individual guidance. Over 100 students are benefitting tees a language acquisition at a very high level for non-native from the learning support centre, to which parents contribute speakers. 1) June, 2) May financially.