The Senior School

The Senior School

The senior school at Amman Academy encompasses grades 9-12. We offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) to grades 11 and 12, and have developed an internal Pre-Diploma Programme for grades 9 and 10.

The IB Diploma Programme at Amman Academy

Amman Academy has been an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School since 2006, when we were authorized to begin teaching the IB Diploma Programme.  Since then, four graduating classes have successfully completed the IB DP at AA.

So, what is the IB?

Founded in 1968, the International Baccalaureate Organization is a non-profit educational foundation that centers on developing programmes that help students thrive in the classroom and connect their knowledge to the world around them.

As stated in the IB mission statement:
“The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end, the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”

The organization offers three high quality and challenging programmes at schools worldwide:

·        Primary Years Programme: Pre-KG- Grade 5 at AA

·        Middle Years Programme: Grades 6-10 at AA

·        Diploma Programme: Grades 11-12 at AA

The IB currently works with over 3, 100 schools in 140 countries to develop and offer the three programmes to over 900,000 students. Amman Academy is one of nine schools in Jordan to currently offer the IB DP.

What DP subjects are offered at AA?

The subjects we offer are carefully chosen to enable serious students to obtain the highest marks and/or Tawjihi equivalency that will allow them to join stellar universitiesin Jordan and worldwide.

We offer the following IB DP subjects per subject area (group):

Students must be in good academic standing to enter the IB DP. Moreover, there are specific requirements for entry into IB Diploma Programme subjects.

Students must receive the following minimum averages to qualify for the DP courses listed below:

Are there Scientific and/or Literary streams in the IB?

The IB does not provide a course list to suit a particular stream.  However, in Jordan, the combination of subjects a student selects determines whether a student will obtain Scientific or Literary equivalency from the Ministry of Education.

What is the Tawjihi equivalency for IB students?

IB students are granted Tawjihi equivalencybased on external examination results.  The Ministry of Education does not differentiate between a Diploma or Certificate student.  All subjects carry the same weight, regardless if taken at higher or standard level. 

Therefore, Diploma and Certificate students have an equal opportunity to enter universities and majors in Jordan. Moreover, Certificate students stand an equal chance of obtaining a high Tawjihi equivalency.

The following equivalency is approved by a committee representing the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Education and the Jordanian universities.

 EE and TOK Points

Diploma students who do well on their TOK essay and Extended Essay are awarded up to three extra points by the International Baccalaureate Organization. In the event that a student receives extra points, the following percentage points will be added to his/her Tawjihi equivalency.

How can my son/daughter best perform in the IB DP?

Regardless of Diploma or Certificate status, serious-minded students perform best in the IB DP.  In general, all students are expected to study between 3-5 hours every day in order to review concepts taught in class and complete assignments.  Moreover, students should prioritize their studies and meet deadlines set by teachers, supervisors, and the IB Diploma Programme Coordinator so as not to fall behind.

Students who exercise effective time-management and organization skills throughout the duration of the programme are less stressed and happier students.  In return, they receive the full benefits of the programme and receive the best preparation for university. In the event that students need assistance or advice, they are free to meet with the Senior School Principal and/or the IB Diploma Programme Coordinator at any time.

Are there certain DP course combinations that suit majors at universities?

The answer is yes, however students should check with the universities that they are planning to apply to/ attend for entrance requirements for their major of interest. Students can meet with our IB DiplomaProgramme Coordinator and University Counselor to clarify any questions they may haveregarding a particular major and DP course list.

Students must perform well in grades 9 and 10 to qualify for entry into particular subjects in the DP.  In return, depending on the DP subject, this enables students to complete prerequisite requirements for specific majors at university.

How have Amman Academy’s IB graduates performed compared to other IB students worldwide?

The graduates of the IB Diploma Programme at AA received excellent results in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, ranking AA as a top school in Amman for IB DP averages, pass rates, and Tawijihi equivalencies for the past four years since the inception of the IB DP. 

Moreover, compared to thousands of other IB students who sat for the same examinations worldwide, our students highly exceeded the world averages for DP points awarded as well as the DP pass rate.