IB Diploma Programme
Offered for learners aged 16 to 18 years old
St. Nicholas School Pinheiros was first accredited by the IB to provide the Diploma Programme in the year 2000. Since then, the school has grown both in numbers and experience.
Our Diploma Programme is simultaneously rigorous and inclusive.
- All Learners in Year 11 start the year undertaking the full Diploma.
- The School maintains a Diploma pass rate well over 90%.
- 87% of St. Nicholas learners achieve bilingual diplomas, which is approximately 30% higher than the global average.
- The school’s average Diploma Score is between 32 to 33 points, above the world average.
The Diploma Programme aims to prepare students for their future academic journeys, enabling them to enter globally recognised universities both in Brazil and abroad. This programme, designed with an eye looking to the future, cultivates students’ ability to question, fuels their desire for knowledge, equips them to excel in their careers, strengthens their identity and connection to their culture, and develops their skills to communicate and to empathise with people of different backgrounds.
The programme focuses on developing students who possess both a broad and a deep understanding of knowledge – students who thrive not only intellectually, but also physically, emotionally, and ethically.
The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum covers six groups of subjects, along with a Core programme that encourages learners to reflect on the nature of knowledge, conduct independent research and participate in projects often linked to community service.
The CORE
is made up of three essential components:
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Theory of Knowledge (TOK):
Students are asked to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we can reliably and accurately evaluate what, how and why knowledge manifests in the world, preparing both a TOK Exhibition (in Year 1) and TOK Essay (Year 2) for final assessment.
.
Extended Essay (EE):
This component involves independent, self-directed research in one of the six subjects studied by the learner in the DP, supervised by a member of faculty which culminates in a 4,000-word paper, giving learners the chance to build the core skills required at university level.
.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS):
Students participate in a variety of experiences, including at least one project, that require meaningful and purposeful activities, challenge the student personally, and require careful planning, review of progress, and reflection on outcomes and learning.
As part of the IB Diploma Programme, students must choose three Higher-Level subjects (HL) and three Standard-Level subjects (SL) to undertake. Although these subjects differ in scope, they are assessed based on commonly agreed criteria. Students taking subjects at HL are expected to demonstrate a broader, more in-depth knowledge and understanding of the subject than those taking a course at SL.
At St. Nicholas School Pinheiros, we offer a range of 46 subjects, 23 in Higher-Level and 23 in Standard-Level. We believe strongly in helping students personalise their Diploma Programme experience, taking into account their interests, skills and university goals to customise each programme for each individual’s needs.
Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
Mathematics
- Analysis and Approaches
- Applications and Interpretation
Arts
- Visual Arts
Language and Literature
- English Literature
- English Language and Literature
- French Language and Literature
- Japanese Language and Literature
- Korean Language and Literature
- Portuguese Literature
- Portuguese Language and Literature
- Spanish Language and Literature
Individuals and Societies
- Business Management
- Economics
- Geography
- Global Politics
- History
Language Acquisition
- English B
- French B
- Portuguese B
- Spanish B
* Students have the option of choosing to study an additional science subject, individuals and societies, or languages, rather than an arts subject.
Universities home and abroad
Our learners are prepared to achieve success beyond the school gates. Through comprehensive and personalised guidance for universities both in Brazil and abroad, they gain admission to some of the best institutions in the world, such as:
Carnegie Mellon University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, Penn State University, Purdue University, University of California San Diego, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, University of Amsterdam, King’s College London, University of Birmingham, University of Leeds, University of Manchester, University of Southampton and University of Warwick.
Possessing the confidence and ability to navigate modern life and work environments, our students receive rigorous attention in developing essential life and career skills. St. Nicholas learners not only predominantly receive offers for the universities of their choice, they also excel, illustrating the importance of an IB education long after graduation.
Read more in University and Career Guidance.
