G3Pre-registration: Subject authorization
To achieve the IB diploma, candidates must choose six subjects from the wide selection of subjects available in groups 1 to 6, depending on what their school is able to offer. Not all subjects have a high candidate entry for each examination session, and this is particularly the case for certain language subjects in groups 1 and 2. Similarly, in other groups some subjects are not regularly studied in one or two of the three response languages, which for the Diploma Programme are English, French and Spanish. To allow time to prepare examinations in subjects and response languages that are seldom chosen, authorization from IB Cardiff to register candidates for particular subjects/response languages must be obtained at the start of the two-year Diploma Programme. In addition to submitting these special requests early in the first year of the programme, a forecast of candidate entries by subject/level and the choices of authors and works for language A1 SL school supported self-taught candidates must also be entered on IBIS.
All forms on IBIS for pre-registration requirements can be located by going to Subject, then selecting Pre-registration requirements from the left-hand menu, followed by the option Available forms.
G3.1Language A1
If a candidate requires a language A1 that is not automatically available for the May or November sessions, a special request must be submitted to IB Cardiff on IBIS to arrive no later than 15 November/15 May, 18 months before the written examinations for which the language A1 examination is requested. A request must be submitted for each session for which the language A1 and level is required.
For languages that are not written in Roman script, and therefore the information cannot be entered on IBIS, print the form C2 Special request language A1, complete the form by hand and send it to IB Cardiff for the attention of “Diploma Programme special requests”.
The request must be justified on the basis of the candidate’s need to meet the requirements for the award of the IB diploma. Approval of requests will take into consideration such factors as:
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the availability of a sufficient body of printed literature to allow the particular language requested to be taught and examined as a Diploma Programme language A1
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the availability of a pool of experts from which the IB can appoint an examiner responsible for the particular language
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the willingness of the school concerned to assist in the search for a suitable examiner, should the need arise.
In response to submitting a special request for a language A1 on IBIS, an automatic email will be sent by IB Cardiff to confirm receipt of the request. However, this is only an acknowledgment and does not constitute authorization to offer the language A1. The authorization or refusal of the request will follow shortly afterwards, to arrive by 1 December/1 June. For those languages that receive authorization, the proposed courses of study will be sent for approval to the relevant examiner responsible.
If authorization has been received, confirm candidate entries on IBIS for the special request language(s) A1 no later than 15 March/15 September, 14 months before the written examinations. Registrations will be accepted only for languages A1 and levels that have been authorized. For further details on language A1 refer to the section on Group 1.
School supported self-taught candidates
Special requests submitted for school supported self-taught candidates will be considered for approval only if the following additional conditions are met.
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The candidate(s) must need the language requested in order to fulfill the requirements for the IB diploma (for example, approval would not normally be granted to a school supported self-taught candidate to study a special request language A1 either as a second group 1 language or as a group 6 subject).
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Documentary evidence, for example, translated examination certificates, is required to show the candidate’s linguistic/literary proficiency in the language requested. This evidence needs also to show that the candidate would be comfortable undertaking written literary analysis of texts, at the appropriate level, in the language requested.
Anticipated candidates
Applications for special request languages A1 as anticipated subjects, whether school supported self-taught or taught, must be made as soon as possible after the beginning of the school year and no later than 7 October (May session only). No applications made after this date will be considered.
Coordinators must use the form Special request languages A1 available on IBIS for their application, checking the box “Anticipated”. Because schools will be required to use an already authorized book list that will be sent out by IB Cardiff, the only sections of the form that need to be completed are those that contain:
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the justification of the candidate’s need to undertake a special request language A1
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for school supported self-taught candidates, evidence of the candidate’s linguistic and literary proficiency such that they can benefit from the course.
When IB Cardiff receives the form an appropriate book list will be sent to the coordinator.
Certificate candidates
Special requests are normally authorized for diploma candidates only, although requests for certificate candidates, including a certificate as an additional subject, will be considered.
G3.2Language A1 SL school supported self-taught candidates
Choices of authors and works must be entered on IBIS by 7 October/7 April, seven months before the written examinations. A version of the form School supported self-taught candidates (1/A1ST) is available for languages that use non-Roman script. For further details refer to the section on group 1.
Schools with self-taught candidates for special request languages A1 SL that have already been authorized must still submit the above form.
G3.3Group 1 extended essays in a special request language
If a candidate wishes to submit an extended essay in a language A1 not available for the session, the coordinator must obtain authorization from IB Cardiff. The request must be submitted on IBIS by 15 November/15 May, 18 months before the written examinations using form Group 1: Extended essay in a special request subject. This request is necessary to ensure that an examiner will be available to assess the extended essay. If no request is submitted, the extended essay may not be accepted for assessment.
If the language A1 is also being requested as a group 1 subject for one or more candidates, it is not necessary to also request that language for an extended essay. If the language A1 special request is authorized, then it is acceptable for candidates to submit an extended essay in that language. Similarly, if the language A1 special request is denied, an extended essay cannot be submitted in that language.
G3.4Classical Greek, Latin and groups 3 to 6
Special requests for response languages for Latin, Classical Greek and subjects in groups 3 to 6 not automatically available in the May or November 2010 session must be entered on IBIS no later than 15 November/15 May, 18 months before the written examinations.
On receipt of the request, IB Cardiff will decide whether the response language can be made available for that particular session, and will then inform the coordinator of the decision. Candidates cannot be registered for the subject and level in the required response language unless authorization has been received from IB Cardiff. A request must be submitted for each session for which the subject, level and response language is required.
G3.5Music SL group performance component
The number of groups from which recordings will be submitted must be entered on IBIS by 15 November/15 May when registering candidates for music SL group performance. For further details refer to section 6b.4.3.