{"id":5137,"date":"2026-02-20T14:00:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/?p=5137"},"modified":"2026-04-14T10:17:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T10:17:22","slug":"what-is-the-international-baccalaureate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/what-is-the-international-baccalaureate\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the International Baccalaureate and what is it for?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In an increasingly globalized world, the <strong>International Baccalaureate<\/strong> (<strong>IB<\/strong>) is a key option for students who seek to excel academically and gain a head start both in their education and later in their professional careers.<\/p>\n<h2>What is the International Baccalaureate?<i class=\"otgs-ico-add js-otgs-popover-tooltip tippy-active\" tabindex=\"0\" data-original-title=\"A\u00f1adir traducci\u00f3n a Ingl\u00e9s\" aria-describedby=\"tippy-2\"><\/i><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/ib-diploma-program\/\">International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme<\/a><\/strong> is a <strong>two-year course<\/strong> designed for <strong>students aged 16 to 19<\/strong>. Its goal is to develop academic, emotional, and social skills, <strong>preparing students to meet the challenges of today\u2019s world<\/strong>. The program focuses on fostering critical thinking, independent inquiry, and intercultural understanding\u2014all of which are essential for success in any professional field.  <\/p>\n<p>The IB is recognized worldwide and enables students to gain <strong>admission to prestigious universities around the globe<\/strong>. At <strong>Aquinas American School<\/strong>, we are proud to offer this program, which not only meets the highest international standards but also adapts to the individual needs of each student. <\/p>\n<h2>Key Features of the International Baccalaureate<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>International Baccalaureate<\/strong> is distinguished by its holistic approach and its well-rounded academic structure. Its key features include the following: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rigorous curriculum<\/strong>: Students must complete a common core that includes core subjects such as Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS).<\/li>\n<li>Comprehensive assessment: Assessments combine external exams, administered at the end of the course, with internal assessments, providing a comprehensive evaluation of student performance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Global perspective<\/strong>: The IB fosters an international mindset, preparing students to become global citizens and tackle the world\u2019s challenges.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Emphasis on research<\/strong>: Students complete a research project for each course called &#8220;Internal Assessment,&#8221; which allows them to explore a topic of their choice in depth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Personal growth<\/strong>: The IB promotes values such as empathy, social responsibility, and respect for diversity, helping to shape socially conscious global citizens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At <strong>Aquinas American School<\/strong>, these qualities are enhanced by an innovative teaching approach and a highly qualified faculty, ensuring a first-rate educational experience.<\/p>\n<h2>Asignaturas del Bachillerato Internacional<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/ib-diploma-program\/\">IB Program<\/a><\/strong> allows students to tailor their education to their interests and goals. The <strong>International Baccalaureate subjects<\/strong> cover six different areas, namely: <\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Language and Literature<\/strong>: studies in the native language.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Language Acquisition<\/strong>: Additional Languages.<\/li>\n<li><strong>People and Societies<\/strong>: history, geography, and economics, among other topics.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sciences<\/strong>: biology, chemistry, physics, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mathematics<\/strong>: standard level and advanced level.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Arts<\/strong>: music, theater, visual arts&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1346\" src=\"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/dowtown-1024x640.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"375\"><\/p>\n<h2>Requirements for Enrollment in the International Baccalaureate Program<\/h2>\n<p>The first and most fundamental requirement is to have completed and passed high school. In addition, <strong>if you attend a school that offers the International Baccalaureate program, you will have an easier time gaining<\/strong> admission, as certain spots are reserved for these students. Your place of residence also plays a role, and, of course, one of the most important <strong>requirements for the International Baccalaureate<\/strong> is your grades, as <strong>students must demonstrate high academic achievement<\/strong> and a strong commitment to learning.  <\/p>\n<p>To enroll, just like with any other high school program, you <strong>must apply<\/strong> and wait for the lists showing the admission scores. If your score falls within the range of available spots, you will be able to enroll. <\/p>\n<h2>Why study the IB at Aquinas?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/ib-diploma-program\/\">Studying the <strong>International Baccalaureate<\/strong> <\/a>offers numerous advantages, both academically and personally, ranging from the student\u2019s holistic development to the fostering of an international mindset, enabling students to adopt a global perspective. Above all, it prepares young people to pursue higher education at the world\u2019s most prestigious institutions, as the IB is recognized by top universities. Let\u2019s not forget that the <strong>IB is currently accredited in 52 countries<\/strong>, including the United Kingdom and the United States.  <\/p>\n<p>In addition, the International Baccalaureate is fully recognized as equivalent to the Spanish Baccalaureate, which ensures that students have the same <strong>opportunities to gain admission to Spanish universities\u2014both public and private\u2014<\/strong>on an equal footing with those who complete the traditional Spanish Baccalaureate in Spain.<\/p>\n<p>But at Aquinas American School, we don\u2019t just prepare students to gain admission to elite universities in Spain and around the world; we also prepare them to be leaders, equipping them with the skills they need to succeed in any professional setting. Students who earn their <a href=\"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/ib-diploma-program\/\"><strong>International Baccalaureate diploma<\/strong><\/a> with us are known for their <strong>critical thinking skills<\/strong>, their ability to solve complex problems, and their commitment to continuous improvement. <\/p>\n<h2>Conclusi\u00f3n<\/h2>\n<p>At <strong>Aquinas American School<\/strong>, we offer an<strong> enriching learning environment<\/strong> where every student can reach their full potential and is encouraged to <strong>pursue their dreams and goals<\/strong>. If you\u2019re looking for a<strong> quality education for your children<\/strong> that opens doors for them around the world, Aquinas American School is the right choice for you: come visit us to see our facilities and meet our team, and we\u2019ll explain what the International Baccalaureate is and all its benefits. Don\u2019t miss this opportunity for their future!  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In an increasingly globalized world, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is a key option for students who seek to excel academically and gain a head start both in their education and later in their professional careers. What is the International Baccalaureate? The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a two-year course designed for students aged 16 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":4276,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5137","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5137","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5137"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5142,"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5137\/revisions\/5142"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aquinas-american-school.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}