International Baccalaureate School in Italy

Students in the IB Program

The American Overseas School of Rome (AOSR) offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, a rigorous two-year curriculum that is recognized by universities around the world. Students who successfully complete the IB Diploma are prepared for the challenges of college and beyond.

To be eligible for the IB Diploma Programme at AOSR, students must demonstrate strong academic performance, interest in the program, and the support of their teachers. The application process is competitive, and only the most qualified students are accepted. Once accepted into the IB Diploma Programme, students must complete six courses at either the Higher Level or Standard Level. They must also complete three core components: the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action, Service. International Baccalaureate AOSR Handbook.

IB Exams

The IB Diploma Programme is a demanding but rewarding experience. Students who successfully complete the program have demonstrated their ability to think critically, communicate effectively, and solve problems. They are also well-prepared for the rigors of college and beyond.

If you are an academically elite student who is interested in earning the prestigious IB Diploma, the American Overseas School of Rome is the perfect place for you. More information about the IB Program at AOSR can be found in the High School Program of Studies. Request your copy today!

As a required component, it provides:

• Practical preparation for the kinds of undergraduate research required at tertiary level
• An opportunity for students to engage in an in-depth study of a topic of interest within a chosen subject

Emphasis is placed on the research process:

• Formulating an appropriate research question

• Engaging in a personal exploration of the topic

• Communicating ideas

• Developing an argument

Participation in this process develops the capacity to:

• Analyze

• Synthesize

• Evaluate knowledge

It offers students and their teachers the opportunity to:

• Reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and on areas of knowledge

• Consider the role and nature of knowledge in their own culture, in the cultures of others and in the wider world

In addition, it prompts students to:

• Be aware of themselves as thinkers, encouraging them to become more acquainted with the complexity of knowledge

• Recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected but uncertain world

As a thoughtful and purposeful inquiry into different ways of knowing, and into different kinds of knowledge, TOK is composed almost entirely of questions. The most central of these is "How do we know?" The aim of TOK is to help students students become aware of the interpretative nature of knowledge. TOK also has an important role to play in providing coherence for the student as it transcends and links academic subject areas, thus demonstrating the ways in which they can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility.

Creativity is interpreted broadly to include a wide range of arts activities as well as the creativity students demonstrate in designing and implementing service projects.

Action can include not only participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in expeditions and in local or international projects.

Service encompasses a host of community and social service activities. Some examples include helping children with special needs, visiting hospitals and working with refugees or homeless people.

Students are expected to be involved in CAS activities for the equivalent of at least three hours each week during the two years of the program.

A CAS supervisor at AOSR is responsible for providing a varied choice of activities for students. Programs are monitored by IB regional offices.

A system of self-evaluation encourages students to reflect on the benefits of CAS participation to themselves and to others and to evaluate the understanding and insights acquired.