Preparing the examination papers

The rigorous assessment for the Diploma Programme requires a variety of ways in which to measure ability, but the most common assessment component that candidates will encounter is the examination paper. All examination papers measure a range of skills defined by the course objectives using a balanced selection of course content.

Each examination paper takes about eighteen months to produce. The senior examiners who prepare the examination papers and markschemes are very experienced and highly proficient in their subject areas. Each paper receives a detailed critique by an external advisor. This is followed by detailed scrutiny at the hands of another subject expert who answers every question in order to track down and eliminate any errors. The IBO leaves nothing to chance: draft papers are scrutinized by IBO staff and go through several drafts before they are signed off as final proofs. The IBO takes great care to ensure that each examination paper is free of errors and cultural bias.

Most examination papers—except language subjects—are translated into French and Spanish. The English examination paper is translated into the required language by a specifically appointed translator whose mother tongue is that language and who is a subject specialist. To ensure accuracy and quality, the French/Spanish paper is then sent to a second subject specialist and speaker of the mother tongue who proofreads and revises it. Again, nothing is left to chance and both checking and feedback take place at the IB curriculum and assessment centre (IBCA).

The IBO prepares over 700 different papers for a May examination session and over 400 papers for a November session. Because each paper takes an exhausting 86 weeks to prepare, the department responsible for the papers is likely to be working on 2,000 examination papers at any one time.