International Baccalaureate®️ Diploma Programme


CAIS is accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization as an International Baccalaureate®️ (IB®️) World School to deliver the full IB®️ Diploma Programme (IBDP).

The IBDP is an academically challenging two-year pre-university program for students in Grades 11 and 12. It is recognized globally as an outstanding international education programme on developing students intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically.

Upon successful completion of the two-year IB®️ Diploma Programme, students are eligible to apply to colleges and universities worldwide.

The IBDP is offered as an alternative to the Alberta curriculum and Advanced Placement® (AP®) courses. Download the IBDP Overview and Application Form here.

Program length: 2 years

Grade levels: Grades 11 and 12

Qualities and skills IB®️ students graduate with:

  • thinking skills
  • communication skills
  • social skills
  • self-management skills
  • research skills

CAIS provides students with a transformative educational experience that stretches them to think differently and motivates them to learn new ideas beyond the traditional classroom, aligning with the IB®️ mission for an inquiry-based learning. CAIS is honored to provide a supportive and enabling learning environment for all students. We have well-developed counselling and academic support program that helps students identify the learning stream that matches with their own interests, aspirations, strengths and weaknesses. Classes at CAIS are kept small to facilitate a more engaged and dynamic learning environment, where teachers and students have the chance to discuss and reflect on everything from academics to stress and time management.

Students are required to study six subjects from the six subject groups concurrently over two years (see Groups below). One subject is chosen from Group 1-6 respectively. Group 6 (The Arts) may be replaced by a second Group 3 or Group 4 subject. Of their six subjects, students choose three at Higher Level (HL = 240 teaching hours), and three at Standard Level (SL = 150 teaching hours). The core requirements of the Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their understanding in real-life contexts.

Core 

The Core consists of three components: Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).

Group 1 – Studies in Language and Literature 

  • English A: Language and Literature (HL/SL)
  • Chinese A: Language and Literature (HL/SL)

Group 2 – Language Acquisition 

  • Chinese B (HL/SL)
  • French ab initio (SL)
  • Spanish ab initio (SL)

Group 3 – Individuals and Societies 

  • Economics (HL/SL)
  • History (HL/SL)
  • Psychology (HL/SL)

Group 4 – Sciences

  • Biology (HL/SL)
  • Chemistry (HL/SL)
  • Physics (HL/SL)
  • Design Technology(HL/SL)

Group 5 – Mathematics 

  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL/SL)
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (SL)

Group 6 – The Arts 

  • Visual Arts (HL/SL)

Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked by external IB®️ examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external examiners or sent directly to external examiners. The IB®️ Diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole programme and to satisfactory participation in the CAS requirement. The highest total that a DP student can be awarded is 45 points.

Each scholarship recipient can be awarded up to HK$70,000 for their first year of Diploma Programme. Scholarship is only applicable to the first year of the Diploma Programme and new Grade 11 students. Please click here for application procedure and details.

Students who choose the IBDP have decided to accomplish something big. By the end of two years, they will be astonished at what they were able to achieve when pushed, and family and friends will notice their increased maturity. By stretching themselves in high school, IB®️ graduates are ready for the rigors of just about any university and are well-positioned for the career world beyond.

- Benjamin MyersIB®️ Diploma Programme Coordinator, CAIS


The IBDP provides a truly unique opportunity for CAIS students to not only take ownership of their learning, but also keep their options open by studying a larger breadth of topics. Like other curriculum, IBDP is academically demanding and students are motivated to challenge their strength and resilience, while developing their personal, emotional and social skills.

- Dr Richard LeeFormer Principal and Founder of IB®️ at CAIS

FAQs

If your child is independent, disciplined, and self-motivated, they will find it easier to take IBDP since open-ended assignments and demanding schedules are a big part of the IBDP.

If your child wants to keep university options open and is keen to develop research skills, IBDP will be the right fit for them, since the IB®️ Diploma is a globally recognized achievement with heavy research and writing requirements.

As a requirement for IB®️ World Schools implementing the DP, all CAIS IBDP teachers receive professional development in the IB®️’s approaches to teaching and approaches to learning from certified IB®️ workshop leaders.

Not only does CAIS offer the two-year diploma course which allows students to undergo an intensive learning experience, but there are also helpful teachers and guidance counsellors accompanying them every step of the way providing academic and emotional support.

At CAIS, IBDP students can develop important transferrable skills: thinking, communication, social, self-management, and research skills in a safe and caring space. They will have a unique learning experience for personal development that they most likely would not have experienced at other schools.

International Baccalaureate®️ Diploma Programme


CAIS is accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization as an International Baccalaureate®️ (IB®️) World School to deliver the full IB®️ Diploma Programme (IBDP).

The IBDP is an academically challenging two-year pre-university program for students in Grades 11 and 12. It is recognized globally as an outstanding international education programme on developing students intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically.

Upon successful completion of the two-year IB®️ Diploma Programme, students are eligible to apply to colleges and universities worldwide.

The IBDP is offered as an alternative to the Alberta curriculum and Advanced Placement® (AP®) courses. Download the IBDP Overview and Application Form here.

Program length: 2 years

Grade levels: Grades 11 and 12

Qualities and skills IB®️ students graduate with: 

  • thinking skills
  • communication skills
  • social skills
  • self-management skills
  • research skills

CAIS provides students with a transformative educational experience that stretches them to think differently and motivates them to learn new ideas beyond the traditional classroom, aligning with the IB®️ mission for an inquiry-based learning. CAIS is honored to provide a supportive and enabling learning environment for all students. We have well-developed counselling and academic support program that helps students identify the learning stream that matches with their own interests, aspirations, strengths and weaknesses. Classes at CAIS are kept small to facilitate a more engaged and dynamic learning environment, where teachers and students have the chance to discuss and reflect on everything from academics to stress and time management.

Students are required to study six subjects from the six subject groups concurrently over two years (see Groups below). One subject is chosen from Group 1-6 respectively. Group 6 (The Arts) may be replaced by a second Group 3 or Group 4 subject. Of their six subjects, students choose three at Higher Level (HL = 240 teaching hours), and three at Standard Level (SL = 150 teaching hours). The core requirements of the Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their understanding in real-life contexts.

Core 

The Core consists of three components: Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).

Group 1 – Studies in Language and Literature 

  • English A: Language and Literature (HL/SL)

Group 2 – Language Acquisition 

  • Chinese B (HL/SL)
  • French ab initio (SL)
  • Spanish ab initio (SL)

Group 3 – Individuals and Societies 

  • Economics (HL/SL)
  • History (HL/SL)
  • Psychology (HL/SL)

Group 4 – Sciences

  • Biology (HL/SL)
  • Chemistry (HL/SL)
  • Physics (HL/SL)
  • Design Technology(HL/SL)

Group 5 – Mathematics 

  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL/SL)
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (SL)

Group 6 – The Arts 

  • Visual Arts (HL/SL)

Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked by external IB®️ examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external examiners or sent directly to external examiners. The IB®️ Diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole programme and to satisfactory participation in the CAS requirement. The highest total that a DP student can be awarded is 45 points.

Each scholarship recipient can be awarded up to HK$70,000 for their first year of Diploma Programme. Scholarship is only applicable to the first year of the Diploma Programme and new Grade 11 students. Please click here for application procedures and details.

Students who choose the IBDP have decided to accomplish something big. By the end of two years, they will be astonished at what they were able to achieve when pushed, and family and friends will notice their increased maturity. By stretching themselves in high school, IB®️ graduates are ready for the rigors of just about any university and are well-positioned for the career world beyond.

- Benjamin MyersIB®️ Diploma Programme Coordinator, CAIS


The IBDP provides a truly unique opportunity for CAIS students to not only take ownership of their learning, but also keep their options open by studying a larger breadth of topics. Like other curriculum, IBDP is academically demanding and students are motivated to challenge their strength and resilience, while developing their personal, emotional and social skills.

- Dr Richard LeeFormer Principal and Founder of IB®️ at CAIS

FAQs

If your child is independent, disciplined, and self-motivated, they will find it easier to take IBDP since open-ended assignments and demanding schedules are a big part of the IBDP.

If your child wants to keep university options open and is keen to develop research skills, IBDP will be the right fit for them, since the IB®️ Diploma is a globally recognized achievement with heavy research and writing requirements.

As a requirement for IB®️ World Schools implementing the DP, all CAIS IBDP teachers receive professional development in the IB®️’s approaches to teaching and approaches to learning from certified IB®️ workshop leaders.

Not only does CAIS offer the two-year diploma course which allows students to undergo an intensive learning experience, but there are also helpful teachers and guidance counsellors accompanying them every step of the way providing academic and emotional support.

At CAIS, IBDP students can develop important transferrable skills: thinking, communication, social, self-management, and research skills in a safe and caring space. They will have a unique learning experience for personal development that they most likely would not have experienced at other schools.