The final award committee

Two days after the last grade award meeting, the final award committee meets to:

• review the examination session
• resolve any issues arising from the session
• authorize the issue of results.

The meeting is chaired by the chair of the examining board and attended by the director general, assessment director, academic director, several chief examiners and usually a non-participatory observer such as the principal of an IB World School. The head of examinations administration and the manager of the coordinator help desk also attend.

The assessment director reports on the current session, providing a critical overview of the session and bringing to the attention of the committee any issues that require discussion and resolution. The next important step is for the committee to authorize the award of diplomas and certificates to those candidates who have satisfied the necessary requirements.

The committee deals with a host of issues arising from the many unforeseen circumstances that affect individual candidates and groups of candidates during a session. Family bereavement, illness, accidents, disability, civil unrest, natural disasters and candidates suspected of malpractice are among the cases that may require discussion. In most cases the committee’s policy on what action should be taken is very clear, and precedents may be invoked. The committee cannot make a judgment about every case because in a May session several thousand candidates have special circumstances of one kind or another. But the committee always reviews unique, controversial or particularly serious cases. Discussion about the plight of candidates highlights the importance the IBO attaches to each individual and their work towards achieving the diploma.