The IB Diploma Programme studies begin with the Preparatory Year followed by the Diploma Programme consisting of two academic years, IB1 and IB2. Over the preparatory year an IB-student first studies subjects from the national curriculum . However, teaching in these subjects, except for Finnish, is done in English. This means the IB-group stays together all through their studies up until the end of the IB2. The idea of the preparatory year is to accustom a student to upper secondary working methods, teching in English and interactive group work.
If the student plans on taking a year off, an exhange year abroad for example, such a gap year must be taken before the start of the diploma programme.
The duration of classes in both the Pre Year and in the IB proper is 75 minutes. The class coding system reads as follows:
Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri.
Code nine classes to be agreed on separately with the teacher.
To be transferred to the actual Diploma Programme, a Pre-Year student must complete at least 28 courses by the end of the year and pass their chosen HL-subjects with a Grade Point Average of at least 8,0. For SL subjects the GPA of 7,0 is sufficient. Exceptional requirements are applied to Mathematics and English A : An HL Mathematics choice requires a GPA of 9,0 whereas an Analysis SL Maths choice requires a GPA of 7,5 and for Applications SL a GPA of 6 is enough. A GPA of 8,5 is needed for English A language and literature -choice.
Only a failed course (grade 4) can be retaken in a retake examination session during the pre-year.
Apart from adhering to the above-mentioned criteria, a preparatory year -student must demonstrate disciplined conduct in all the school work for a transfer to the first academic diploma programme year. This means the ability to meet deadlines, making it to lessons in time, avoidance of unnecessary absences and making progress in studies according to the requirements set by the teacher. A reason for any absence must always be submitted to the homeroom teacher. Repeated absences result in the student’s obligation to provide medical documentation stating the cause of prolonged absence.
If the student falls behind their studies and fails to reach the minimum level of progress in any given subject, especially in Mathematics and Sciences, the homeroom teacher will notify the parents or custodians accordingly and, if necessary, the case is escalated to the attention of school’s special education needs professional, dp-coordinator and guidance councellor to call on a meeting with parents or custodians. for a plan to improve study skills.
Homeroom teacher goes through the achievement levels of the entire group by the end of the autumn term.
Special education needs services
If a student has a condition which undermines school work, all the services from Gaudia school’s special education needs staff are available to the student. Such a condition, for example dyslexia, typically results in extensions in Final examination times for the candidate, provided that the condition was brought to the special education needs staff’s attention for tests and diagnosis. Other support measures that require authorization from ther IB are for example a larger font in written examinations or text for audio content. For any such support to be available to the candidate, documentation on the condition must be submitted to the IB-coordinator in good time since it must be forwarded to the IB by 15. November of the last diploma programme year.
Retaking the preparatory year is possible only when a student faces an unexpected health condition or another force majeure -issue. Medical documentation is always a necessity in such a case unless a force majeure-issue is in question.