The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) is an internationally recognised educational framework designed for students aged 11 to 16 (grades 6 to 10). One of its elements is the IB MYP grading system.
This system provides clear guidelines and expectations for students, parents, and educators regarding academic performance and achievement. By knowing the grading criteria, students can strive to meet or exceed expectations in their coursework and assessments.
The Grading System Overview
The Middle Years Programme gives special awards from the International Baccalaureate (IB) for students who finish all the program requirements, including the MYP e-Assessment.
Students get their results for each MYP course they take, including their grades. They also see how they did in their personal project and the interdisciplinary on-screen test.
Also, in the IB MYP, the student’s grading system operates on a unique scale, deviating from traditional letter grades.
Instead, students encounter a comprehensive framework that evaluates their performance across several distinct criteria. These criteria serve as pillars guiding assessment and feedback within each subject area.
Students’ achievements are evaluated across multiple areas, including coursework, e-Assessments, personal projects, and interdisciplinary examinations. The scale ranges from 1 to 7, with each grade indicating a different level of proficiency and understanding.
What Does Assessment Look Like in the IB MYP?
As mentioned previously, unlike traditional letter grades, the IB MYP grading system employs a numeric grading system, offering a comprehensive overview of students’ achievements.
Overall, the assessment revolves around four key criteria: A, B, C, and D. These criteria guide teaching, learning, and evaluation across different subject areas, providing a structured framework for student development. Here are the details:
Criterion A
This criterion typically pertains to the Knowledge and Understanding aspect of a subject. It assesses students’ grasp of content, concepts, and theories within the curriculum.
Criterion B
Criterion B focuses on the Application of Knowledge and Understanding. It evaluates students’ ability to apply their knowledge to real-world situations or contexts.
Criterion C
Under Criterion C, students’ abilities in Critical Thinking are evaluated. This criterion assesses their capacity to analyse, evaluate, and synthesise information critically.
Criterion D
Criterion D revolves around Reflection and Evaluation. It assesses students’ ability to reflect on their learning process, evaluate their progress, and set goals for improvement.
Each criterion in the IB MYP grading system is assessed on a scale of 1-8, with descriptors ranging from ‘limited’ to ‘proficient’ performance. These scores reflect students’ proficiency and understanding within specific areas of study.
Now, why does the IB use numbers instead of letters for grades? In the IB MYP, the schools don’t use the usual A to F grades. Instead, they use four criteria for each subject to guide teaching, learning, and assessment.
Simply put, the schools assess students’ progress on these four criteria using rubrics scaled from 1 to 8, with a final grade ranging from 1 to 7. How can we understand the four criteria scores? Let’s break it down:
- Scores of 7-8 mean the student’s work is consistent, thorough, and effective.
- Scores of 5-6 show considerable and substantial progress.
- Scores of 3-4 indicate that the work is adequate.
- Scores of 1-2 suggest limited or minimal progress.
- A score of 0 means the criteria haven’t been met at all.
Holistic Approach to Assessment
Furthermore, the IB MYP grading system also embraces a holistic approach that encapsulates the multifaceted development of students.
This holistic approach extends beyond academic achievement to encompass the holistic growth of learners, nurturing their intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions.
One key aspect of the holistic approach to assessment in the IB MYP is the emphasis on multiple criteria for evaluating student progress.
Rather than solely focusing on academic achievements, assessments also consider students’ development in areas such as critical thinking, communication skills, and global awareness.
IB MYP Certificate
According to the IB MYP grading system, students who complete the Middle Years Programme can earn the IB MYP certificate or the IB MYP bilingual certificate.
This certificate shows their accomplishments in the programme, like finishing their personal projects and meeting the school’s service requirements. It also confirms that students got good grades, checked by MYP eAssessment.
Moreover, it shows that students finished the IB’s balanced course for middle school students. It’s a big deal because it’s a recognition of their hard work from the IB, and it prepares them for future studies.
Also Read: International High School for Your Shining Future
How Do Students Achieve the MYP Certificate?
So, it can be said that the IB Middle Year Programme certificate is the top achievement in the IB MYP grading system. Now, how do students get the MYP certificate?
To earn it, students must be in at least year 5 of the MYP (it’s recommended to be in the last two years), and they need to get IB-approved grades of 3 or higher in:
- Five on-screen exams
It consists of one exam in each of the four required subject groups plus an interdisciplinary assessment. These exams are formal tests that happen outside of the classroom.
These exams are done on a computer screen and test what students have learned in subjects like language and literature, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and interdisciplinary learning.
- ePortfolio
For other subjects, students have to create something called an ePortfolio. This ePortfolio shows evidence of their work over time. The IB MYP grading system pays close attention to how ePortfolios are made and graded. There are two types:
- One ePortfolio from a language acquisition course
- One ePortfolio from a physical and health education, arts, or design course
- The personal project
It’s a hands-on project where students bring together what they’ve learned during the program. The personal project checks how well students can manage their time, do research, communicate, think in new ways, and work with others.
Furthermore, to get the certificate, IB MYP students must score at least 28 points across the certificate’s 7 (seven) parts and meet the school’s community service requirements.
Meanwhile, the IB MYP Bilingual Certificate will be awarded to students who also get an IB-approved grade of 3(three) or higher in:
- Two language and literature courses, or
- A course in any MYP subject group (except Language acquisition), interdisciplinary learning, or a personal project in a different language than the one chosen for language and literature receives the IB MYP Bilingual Certificate.
At BINUS SCHOOL Simprug, we recognise the importance of a robust educational framework aligned with international standards. Therefore, we offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme with IB MYP grading system for your children.
References:
https://www.ibo.org/programmes/middle-years-programme/assessment-and-exams/grading-and-awards/
https://www.aism.co.mz/blog/grades-in-the-myp
https://www.aeacms.org/what-does-assessment-look-like-ib-myp/
https://community.veracross.com/s/article/IB-MYP-Grading-Overview
https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/brochures-and-infographics/pdfs/1702-myp-brief-awards-en.pdf
