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IB FAQ

FAQ

1. What is IB?

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) Program at Seminole High School is a rigorous, college-preparatory program focused on developing inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring students who are prepared to succeed in a global society.

2. Is IB only for gifted students?

No. IB is designed for motivated students who are willing to work hard. The program also emphasizes balance through CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) and student organizations like Beta Chi, which provide social opportunities.

3. How will SHS support my child?

Students receive strong academic and personal support from teachers, counselors, and the IB Coordinator. Tutoring is available before and after school, along with an IB Lab for additional study time. Social support is also encouraged through IB student activities.

4. How can I support my child?

Encourage your child to take responsibility, ask for help, attend tutoring, and collaborate with peers. IB focuses on applying knowledge and critical thinking, which can be challenging at first but builds valuable lifelong skills.

5. What are the benefits of IB?

IB students are well-prepared for college, often perform better in their first year, and are more likely to complete their degrees on time. The program develops strong writing, research, and critical thinking skills while preparing students to handle real-world challenges.

6. What is the difference between AP and IB?

AP allows students to choose individual courses, while IB is a structured program with a full curriculum. IB assessments combine multiple components (exams, writing, oral work), offering a more comprehensive evaluation. Seminole’s IB program also incorporates some AP courses within its curriculum.

7. What does the IB Diploma entail?

Students can earn both a Florida High School Diploma and an IB Diploma. The IB Diploma requires completing all program components and earning qualifying scores on exams taken in 11th and 12th grade.

8. What is the difference between Pre-DP and DP?

Pre-DP (9th–10th grade) consists of honors-level courses designed for IB students. DP (11th–12th grade) includes official IB courses required for the diploma.

9. What courses will my child take in 9th grade?

Students typically take seven classes, including:

  • Pre-DP English
  • Pre-DP Spanish or French
  • Pre-DP World History or AP Human Geography

(See the full 4-year curriculum guide for complete details.)

4-year curriculum for IB

Click image to see a list of how the four-curriculum is laid out.

 

d. Pre-DP Biology 1 OR if the student has already taken biology, Pre-DP Chemistry 1 

e. Students will take either Algebra 1 Honors, Geometry Honors or Algebra 2 Honors. Students must have Algebra 2 Honors completed before they start their 11th grade year. 

f. Students may take two electives. We strongly encourage taking classes that the student will enjoy, such as music, art, culinary arts, etc. We urge parents to help their child find a balance between the rigor of IB and courses that appeal to and foster a new skill or interest. 

Please note, 9th grade students may take a maximum of two classes on the main campus and that is only if those courses are available during first or fifth period. 

10. What IB classes will my child take? For a comprehensive view, you can refer to the 4-year curriculum handout; here is a brief description. IB requires six courses, three HL (higher level) and three SL (standard level). These courses have to come from six groups: 

 

a. Group 1: English 

b. Group 2: World Languages 

c. Group 3: Individual & Society 

d. Group 4: Experiment Science 

e. Group 5: Mathematics 

f. Group 6: Fine Arts and Electives 

 

Three courses are predetermined: Group 1: English HL, Group 2: Spanish 5 SL or French 5 SL, and Group 3: History HL. That leaves one more HL and two more SL courses that students can pick from the remaining three groups. 

11. How do I get my child into the IB program at Seminole High School? To apply for any magnet program in Seminole County Public School system, go to https://www.scps.k12.fl.us/district/departments/assignment-access/. Please note, that SCPS has two IB magnet programs: Seminole High School and Winter Springs High School. Students applying for the IB Program zoned Lake Brantley, Lake Mary, Lyman, & Seminole may only apply to Seminole High School. Students who are zoned for Hagerty, Lake Howell, Oviedo, & Winter Springs High may only apply to Winter Springs High School. 

 

12. If IB proves to be too much for my child, what happens next? Students can withdraw from IB at the end of each school year. Hopefully, the child has reached out to us to find out what we can do to support him/her, such as tutoring or study groups, to be successful. At the end of the school year, we’ll conduct an exit interview with the child and parent(s), a form will be signed, and a new schedule created for the following school year. Students who are out of zone must withdraw and re-enroll at their zoned high school. 

 

13. What is the 9th Grade Center like? If you are interested in a tour of the 9th Grade Center, please contact Ms. Amelia Walker at 407-320-8251. 

 

14. What are the requirements for an IB Diploma? The IB Diploma will be awarded to a candidate who has taken three HL and three SL courses, provided all the following requirements have been met: All core requirements must have been met successfully, no score of 1 or less in a subject/level, there are no more than two grades of 2 awarded (HL or SL), there are not more than three grades of 3 or below awarded (HL or SL), the candidate has gained 12 points or more on HL subjects and has gained 9 or more on SL (bonus points can be awarded based on the combined EE and TOK assignments), for a total of 24 points or more, and the candidate has not received a penalty for academic misconduct from the Final Award Committee. 

Candidates also have the option of taking four HL and two SL courses. The scoring for those candidates is as follows: of the four HL subjects, the three highest grades count and total must achieve at least 16 points and for the two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points (unless they have a total of 28 points or more then HL total becomes 14 points). Achieving the diploma is therefore arguably more demanding for these candidates. 

15. I am already a 9th grader. Can I apply? Yes! You would still need to contact SAPA (407/320-0559) and include a copy of your transcript. We will look at the classes you took in 8th and 9th grade to make a final decision.