FAQ 1. How are students selected for IB programmes? Students are assessed on academic potential and motivation. Strong grades are recommended; however, evaluation is holistic and considers report card grades, results of the Critical Thinking Test, the Written Test, and possibly an interview. 2. Can a student involved in activities in and outside the school be successful in the IB Diploma Programme? Most of our IB students are very involved in multiple activities from sports to clubs to drama to part time jobs and volunteer work. The IB Diploma Programme encourages students to pursue extra-curricular activities and community involvement and recognizes the personal growth that comes via participation through the Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) component of the programme. In IB students learn time management skills that help them learn to balance their academics, activities, social and work lives. 3. What is the difference between Higher Level and Standard Level courses? Students usually take three higher level courses and three standard level courses. Students may take up to four higher level courses. All classes in grade 11 are higher level apart from second languages and mathematics. For these classes, students will select SL or HL. 4. Can a student take only a few IB courses? Although we recommend students take the full Diploma Programme, students who excel in one or two areas can take IB Diploma courses a la carte in grades 11 and 12. These students register for our Course Programme and may take up to three individual Diploma Programme courses, based on availability. 5. How many PDP courses do students of the Pre-Diploma Programme generally take? To be considered a full PDP student, students must take PDP English, PDP Social Studies, a second language, and PDP Science. Students are not required to take PDP Mathematics but may do so if they choose. Students who take the full PDP Programme are given priority in the courses, but some students wish also to take only a few PDP classes. If they qualify, these partial Pre-Diploma students will be placed in PDP classes after the full programme. PDP students are given priority. 7. How many IB courses do IB Course students generally take? IB Course students take 1 to 3 IB courses. For each course taken, students are awarded a certificate and will get university credit if they perform well. Students generally take HL classes if they are IB Certificate students as these are the classes which qualify them for university credit. 8. What courses are required for the IB Diploma Programme? Students are required to take six IB courses in grades 11 and 12 plus Theory of Knowledge. In Grade 11 students must take the following: IB Language and Literature 11 HL IB second language 11 (ab initio, SL or HL) IB Geography HL 11 or History HL 11 IB Biology HL 11, Chemistry HL 11, or Physics HL 11 IB Mathematics HL 11 or SL 11 Theory of Knowledge 11 9. What is the process for applying to the Pre-Diploma and IB Diploma Programme for students outside the school? The first step in the process is to complete either the Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application, the Course Programme Admission Application or the IB Diploma Programme Admission Application by Jan. 31, 2025. Please complete these forms online, read the appropriate admissions criteria for the program you are interested in, and follow the dates and deadlines on the Admissions Timeline. 10. Who should take the IB critical thinking test in January? There are two entrance tests for our IB programmes. All prospective PDP, Course and DP students must write an IB Critical Thinking Test which evaluates their ability to think logically. Students cannot study or prepare for this test. IB Gr. 11 applicants (both Course and Diploma) must also do a Written Test looking for evidence of reasoning skills, creativity, and clear communication and good spelling and grammar. There are three testing dates for Fall 2025 entry: Thurs., Jan. 23, 2025, at 3 p.m. in room W346, Sat. Jan. 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in room W346, and Thurs., February 27, 2025, at 3 p.m. in room W346. (PDP students now applying for Course or Diploma do not have to take the Critical Thinking Test again). 11. Can I prepare for the entrance test? No. The test is a critical thinking test which assesses your ability to make logical conclusions. It is not a knowledge or subject-based test, so you cannot study or prepare for it in advance. 12. When can I write the IB critical thinking and Writing tests? For Fall 2025 entry, interested students from inside and outside of WVSS may select one of the following times to take the IB Critical Thinking Test. IB 11 applicants to the IB Course and IB Diploma Programmes must also perform a Written Test at this time: Thursday January 23, 2025, at 3 p.m. in room W346 Saturday January 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in room W346 Thursday February 27, 2025 at 3 p.m. in room W346 13. What is the next step after the tests? After the tests, the IB Coordinator may contact you for an informal interview. The IB Coordinator will ask you some questions about yourself and your interest in the IB Programme. She will also answer any questions you might have about the programme at the interview. 14. Is there an interview for admission to the IB Pre-Diploma Programme? The IB Coordinator at WVSS interviews all students applying for the full PDP Programme. Students applying for one or two PDP courses are not interviewed and are evaluated based on report card grades and results of the IB critical thinking test. 15. Is there an interview for admission to the IB Diploma Programme? The IB Coordinator may contact students (both WVSS and outside students) applying for the IB Diploma for an informal interview. Only students applying to the full IB Diploma Programme will be interviewed. Course students will be evaluated based on the results of their critical thinking test and their report card grades. 16. When are the interviews? For admission to our Fall 2025 programmes, students will be interviewed in the spring of 2025. The IB Coordinator will contact students with the time and location of their interview. 17. What if I am in regular classes, want to take IB courses next year, and haven’t written the tests? You should write the Critical Thinking and Written tests in late January and select IB courses in course planning. 18. When will I know if I have been accepted to the Pre-Diploma Programme? Full PDP students will be notified of acceptance in May or June. 19. Are there fees for the Pre-Diploma Programme in Gr. 10? No, there are no fees for the PDP courses. 20. When will I know if I have been accepted to the Course Programme? Future Course students who have selected one or two courses will be notified by the end of June. 21. When will I know if I have been accepted to the Diploma Programme? Diploma Programme students will be notified by mid-June. 22. I am from outside WVSS. When will I know if I have been accepted? You will receive a decision in late March. 23. How do I register for school and choose my courses for next year? Information on how to register as a student at WVSS and the process for IB course selection will be included with your letter of acceptance. Also see our Admissions section and our Admissions Timeline. For external applicants, all offers of admission are: conditional on maintaining grades, work habits, and citizenship in all courses (academic and elective) conditional on successful application to West Vancouver Schools and to West Vancouver Secondary School 24. Is there an IB Information Night I can attend? Yes! We invite prospective parents and students to please join us for our annual IB Information Night, Monday Jan. 20, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the Kay Meek Theatre, West Vancouver (adjoined to West Vancouver Secondary School). What are the fees for IB Course students who are not taking the full IB Diploma? IB Course students can take 1-3 IB class a la carte, depending on availability. Each IB course is $210. Some IB courses also require an online textbook, and these additional fees are as follows: online textbooks for one IB course: $60 online textbooks for two IB courses: $80 online textbooks for three IB courses: $110
Students are assessed on academic potential and motivation. Strong grades are recommended; however, evaluation is holistic and considers report card grades, results of the Critical Thinking Test, the Written Test, and possibly an interview.
Most of our IB students are very involved in multiple activities from sports to clubs to drama to part time jobs and volunteer work. The IB Diploma Programme encourages students to pursue extra-curricular activities and community involvement and recognizes the personal growth that comes via participation through the Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) component of the programme. In IB students learn time management skills that help them learn to balance their academics, activities, social and work lives.
Students usually take three higher level courses and three standard level courses. Students may take up to four higher level courses. All classes in grade 11 are higher level apart from second languages and mathematics. For these classes, students will select SL or HL.
Although we recommend students take the full Diploma Programme, students who excel in one or two areas can take IB Diploma courses a la carte in grades 11 and 12. These students register for our Course Programme and may take up to three individual Diploma Programme courses, based on availability.
To be considered a full PDP student, students must take PDP English, PDP Social Studies, a second language, and PDP Science. Students are not required to take PDP Mathematics but may do so if they choose. Students who take the full PDP Programme are given priority in the courses, but some students wish also to take only a few PDP classes. If they qualify, these partial Pre-Diploma students will be placed in PDP classes after the full programme. PDP students are given priority.
IB Course students take 1 to 3 IB courses. For each course taken, students are awarded a certificate and will get university credit if they perform well. Students generally take HL classes if they are IB Certificate students as these are the classes which qualify them for university credit.
Students are required to take six IB courses in grades 11 and 12 plus Theory of Knowledge. In Grade 11 students must take the following:
IB Language and Literature 11 HL
IB second language 11 (ab initio, SL or HL)
IB Geography HL 11 or History HL 11
IB Biology HL 11, Chemistry HL 11, or Physics HL 11
IB Mathematics HL 11 or SL 11
Theory of Knowledge 11
The first step in the process is to complete either the Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application, the Course Programme Admission Application or the IB Diploma Programme Admission Application by Jan. 31, 2025. Please complete these forms online, read the appropriate admissions criteria for the program you are interested in, and follow the dates and deadlines on the Admissions Timeline.
There are two entrance tests for our IB programmes. All prospective PDP, Course and DP students must write an IB Critical Thinking Test which evaluates their ability to think logically. Students cannot study or prepare for this test. IB Gr. 11 applicants (both Course and Diploma) must also do a Written Test looking for evidence of reasoning skills, creativity, and clear communication and good spelling and grammar. There are three testing dates for Fall 2025 entry: Thurs., Jan. 23, 2025, at 3 p.m. in room W346, Sat. Jan. 25, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in room W346, and Thurs., February 27, 2025, at 3 p.m. in room W346. (PDP students now applying for Course or Diploma do not have to take the Critical Thinking Test again).
No. The test is a critical thinking test which assesses your ability to make logical conclusions. It is not a knowledge or subject-based test, so you cannot study or prepare for it in advance.
For Fall 2025 entry, interested students from inside and outside of WVSS may select one of the following times to take the IB Critical Thinking Test. IB 11 applicants to the IB Course and IB Diploma Programmes must also perform a Written Test at this time:
After the tests, the IB Coordinator may contact you for an informal interview. The IB Coordinator will ask you some questions about yourself and your interest in the IB Programme. She will also answer any questions you might have about the programme at the interview.
The IB Coordinator at WVSS interviews all students applying for the full PDP Programme. Students applying for one or two PDP courses are not interviewed and are evaluated based on report card grades and results of the IB critical thinking test.
The IB Coordinator may contact students (both WVSS and outside students) applying for the IB Diploma for an informal interview. Only students applying to the full IB Diploma Programme will be interviewed. Course students will be evaluated based on the results of their critical thinking test and their report card grades.
For admission to our Fall 2025 programmes, students will be interviewed in the spring of 2025. The IB Coordinator will contact students with the time and location of their interview.
You should write the Critical Thinking and Written tests in late January and select IB courses in course planning.
Full PDP students will be notified of acceptance in May or June.
No, there are no fees for the PDP courses.
Future Course students who have selected one or two courses will be notified by the end of June.
Diploma Programme students will be notified by mid-June.
You will receive a decision in late March.
Information on how to register as a student at WVSS and the process for IB course selection will be included with your letter of acceptance. Also see our Admissions section and our Admissions Timeline. For external applicants, all offers of admission are:
Yes! We invite prospective parents and students to please join us for our annual IB Information Night, Monday Jan. 20, 2025, at 7 p.m. at the Kay Meek Theatre, West Vancouver (adjoined to West Vancouver Secondary School).
IB Course students can take 1-3 IB class a la carte, depending on availability. Each IB course is $210. Some IB courses also require an online textbook, and these additional fees are as follows: