Middle Years Programme FAQ
How does the IB integrate with the Australian Curriculum?
The IB is committed to making sure that students in IB programmes meet and exceed local or national standards. With the implementation of any IB programme, schools are required to examine their curriculum carefully to ensure that there is alignment with local, state or national standards.
In Australia, schools implement the Australian Curriculum according to jurisdictional and system policies and schedules, and develop programs that meet the educational needs of their students. The Australian Curriculum sets the expectations for what all students in Australia should be taught.
However, schools are also able to offer an alternative curriculum framework that is registered with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). The MYP is one such framework that schools can use to organise, deliver and assess their curriculum, as it can be adapted to meet the demands of the Australian Curriculum.
At Merici College, assessment tasks are set by teachers, and all subjects (including the Personal Project) are assessed against set criteria established by the IB. We use the Australian Curriculum Achievement Standards to inform the detail of content and skills. In addition, we incorporate the MYP language, outcomes and criteria.
How are students assessed?
Merici College has a policy of continuous assessment throughout each semester, including formative and summative assessment. Formative tasks, such as classwork, provide opportunities for students to receive teacher feedback. Students also complete formal summative assessment tasks which allows them to be assessed against the four MYP criteria set for each subject group by the IB.
What are the benefits of an IB education?
The MYP encourages students to build confidence in managing their own learning and develop a personal understanding of global challenges and responsibilities within their community, whilst building a sense of self and a greater awareness. The MYP allows students to learn professional and vocational skills in preparation for senior studies.
What would my report look like?
Semester reports consist of both numerical and letter marks and grades, and assessment against a set of Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills.
Based on their summative assessment results, students receive a result out of 8 for each of the four MYP criteria. These are added together to obtain a Total MYP Criteria Result out of 32. This number is converted into an Australian Curriculum Academic Achievement grade (A-E) and an MYP Grade (1-7).
Students are also assessed on a subset of ATL skills in the unit. This section of the report indicates whether the student exceeds expectations, meets expectations, or needs improvement for each ATL skill.
