PDP Admissions Admission to the Pre-Diploma Programme (PDP) – Fall 2025 Full Pre-Diploma Programme Students West Vancouver Secondary School welcomes students currently in Grade 9 at WVSS or students from any other school or catchment area to apply for admission to our Pre-Diploma Programme (PDP). This enriched Grade 10 program of five PDP courses lays the foundation for success in the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11 and 12. Application Process for Current West Vancouver Secondary School Students: Current WVSS Grade 9 students do not need to complete the Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application but must take our critical thinking test in late January and then select PDP courses during spring course planning. The IB Coordinator will screen and interview WVSS students applying for the full Pre-Diploma Programme. Students are assessed on academic potential and motivation. Strong grades (minimum 80%) are recommended; however, evaluation is holistic. WVSS Grade 9 students will find out if they are accepted into the PDP programme by June 2, 2025. Application Process for Students from outside West Vancouver Secondary School: Grade 10 students from other schools who are interested in coming to WVSS to take the full Pre-Diploma Programme will need to submit the Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application to ndehart@wvschools.ca by Jan. 31, 2025, or bring it to their testing session Jan. 23rd, 25th, or Feb. 27th, 2025. Students do not need to register for the test in advance. They must write the critical thinking test and will then be interviewed by the IB Coordinator. Acceptance into the Pre-Diploma Program is conditional on maintaining grades, work habits and citizenship in all courses. Offers of admission to external candidates are conditional on successful application to the district and the school. Once a student receives an offer to the PDP, he or she must first register online with West Vancouver Schools (https://westvancouverschools.ca/admissions), then register as a student at WVSS. In-district students from other high schools must transfer to West Vancouver Secondary School and complete WVSS registration. Students will need to provide a birth certificate or passport and proof of residence (a phone bill, rental agreement etc.) Outside students will receive an offer of acceptance into the PDP Programme by March 3, 2025. Partial Pre-Diploma Programme Students Current West Vancouver Secondary School Students: WVSS also offers an opportunity for students to take a partial Pre-Diploma Programme in Grade 10. WVSS students currently in Grade 9 who are interested in doing this are required to write the IB critical thinking test in January but do not have to complete the Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application. These students’ evaluations will be based on their test results and their report card grades. Students from outside West Vancouver Secondary School: Grade 10 students from other schools who are interested in coming to WVSS to take a partial Pre-Diploma Programme must submit a Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application by Jan. 31, 2025, take the IB critical thinking test in January or February and be interviewed. Once students have heard if they have been accepted, they must first register online with West Vancouver Schools (https://westvancouverschools.ca/admissions), then register at WVSS. In-district students from other high schools must transfer to West Vancouver Secondary School and complete WVSS registration. For more information about registration at WVSS, please contact our registrar, Naomi Fraser at nfraser@wvschools.ca. Students will need to bring a birth certificate or passport and proof of residence (a phone bill, rental agreement etc.). Please note that priority in PDP courses is given to full Pre-Diploma students. Questions? Please contact our IB coordinator Nicola Colhoun at ncolhoun@wvschools.ca
Full Pre-Diploma Programme Students
West Vancouver Secondary School welcomes students currently in Grade 9 at WVSS or students from any other school or catchment area to apply for admission to our Pre-Diploma Programme (PDP). This enriched Grade 10 program of five PDP courses lays the foundation for success in the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11 and 12.
Application Process for Current West Vancouver Secondary School Students:
Current WVSS Grade 9 students do not need to complete the Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application but must take our critical thinking test in late January and then select PDP courses during spring course planning.
The IB Coordinator will screen and interview WVSS students applying for the full Pre-Diploma Programme. Students are assessed on academic potential and motivation. Strong grades (minimum 80%) are recommended; however, evaluation is holistic. WVSS Grade 9 students will find out if they are accepted into the PDP programme by June 2, 2025.
Application Process for Students from outside West Vancouver Secondary School:
Grade 10 students from other schools who are interested in coming to WVSS to take the full Pre-Diploma Programme will need to submit the Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application to ndehart@wvschools.ca by Jan. 31, 2025, or bring it to their testing session Jan. 23rd, 25th, or Feb. 27th, 2025. Students do not need to register for the test in advance. They must write the critical thinking test and will then be interviewed by the IB Coordinator.
Acceptance into the Pre-Diploma Program is conditional on maintaining grades, work habits and citizenship in all courses. Offers of admission to external candidates are conditional on successful application to the district and the school. Once a student receives an offer to the PDP, he or she must first register online with West Vancouver Schools (https://westvancouverschools.ca/admissions), then register as a student at WVSS. In-district students from other high schools must transfer to West Vancouver Secondary School and complete WVSS registration. Students will need to provide a birth certificate or passport and proof of residence (a phone bill, rental agreement etc.)
Outside students will receive an offer of acceptance into the PDP Programme by March 3, 2025.
Current West Vancouver Secondary School Students:
WVSS also offers an opportunity for students to take a partial Pre-Diploma Programme in Grade 10. WVSS students currently in Grade 9 who are interested in doing this are required to write the IB critical thinking test in January but do not have to complete the Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application. These students’ evaluations will be based on their test results and their report card grades.
Students from outside West Vancouver Secondary School:
Grade 10 students from other schools who are interested in coming to WVSS to take a partial Pre-Diploma Programme must submit a Pre-Diploma Programme Admission Application by Jan. 31, 2025, take the IB critical thinking test in January or February and be interviewed.
Once students have heard if they have been accepted, they must first register online with West Vancouver Schools (https://westvancouverschools.ca/admissions), then register at WVSS. In-district students from other high schools must transfer to West Vancouver Secondary School and complete WVSS registration.
For more information about registration at WVSS, please contact our registrar, Naomi Fraser at nfraser@wvschools.ca. Students will need to bring a birth certificate or passport and proof of residence (a phone bill, rental agreement etc.).
Please note that priority in PDP courses is given to full Pre-Diploma students.
Questions? Please contact our IB coordinator Nicola Colhoun at ncolhoun@wvschools.ca