IB Diploma Program

B.D. Somani International School has a long-standing and productive collaboration with the International Baccalaureate Organisation and this has been possible because of the school and the IBO’s shared common philosophy of encouraging students to be active, compassionate and lifelong learners.

Given its holistic approach to education, the IB in general and B.D. Somani in particular, recognises the need to allow students to explore a range of subjects based on their interests. The six academic subjects are studied concurrently. Students are thus able to explore some subjects in depth and others more broadly. This, we are convinced, allows them to make informed higher education and career-related choices in later years.

We value and encourage student achievement and also strive to develop in our student key competencies such as time management, critical thinking and social responsibility that, as future global citizens, are essential to deal with complex and challenging opportunities and situations in the 21st century world. The IB learner profile attributes of being Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Open-minded, Caring, Risk-Takers, Balanced and Reflective remain at the centre of the student’s learning experience at B.D. Somani.

Currently we have around 130 students enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme at our school. Please visit www.ibo.org for more information about the Diploma Programme.

IB Diploma Program Curriculum

The Diploma Programme at B.D. Somani has, over the years, aimed to enable and facilitate in high school students critical thinking, researching, communicating and time management skills knowing that it helps them immensely in their university years.

It is a challenging and demanding academic programme and we at B.D. Somani are committed to equip our students with the skills that will help them navigate through it with the help of a faculty that is trained at IB workshops, understands that often there are learning differences in a class room and therefore, the need to use a different approach to teaching and learning.

Currently, we offer the following subjects in the Diploma Programme. These subjects are offered at both higher and standard level. Each IB student opts for six subjects. Details of the subjects can be found at the IBO website.

English Literature
English Language and Literature
Hindi, French, Spanish
Business Management
Economics
History
Psychology
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Systems and Societies [an interdisciplinary subject offered as SL only]
Math Analysis and Approaches
Math Applications and interpretations
Visual Arts and Theatre

Apart from the six subjects across various disciplines that the students study, it is the IBDP core comprising TOK [Theory of Knowledge], CAS [Creativity, Activity, Service] and the Extended Essay [Independent research based essay] that sets this curriculum apart from any other. All strands of teaching and learning embrace the Diploma programme core. The Diploma programme experience is inquiry based, allows for collaboration as well as differentiation and aims to place learning in the appropriate context – both global and local.

Beyond the classroom

Recognised as one of the most challenging high school curriculums in the world, an IB education aims to develop in students awareness, perspectives and commitments necessary for global engagement. This ensures that learning is not limited to classrooms but extends to homes, communities and in the broader context the entire world. At B.D. Somani, IB students step out of their comfort zone, in several school supported activities and events, that encourages them to explore human commonalities, diversities and inter connections. Grade 11 students go on a five day school trip to Pondicherry and engage in a wide range of activities.