IB Diploma Programme

Students applying for the IBDP at San Patricio Toledo are required to share their academic reports for the last two years as well as a motivation letter. After this, they will take a CAT4 Assessment. Prospective students should have a good academic base, the qualities to work as a team, the ability to put effort into work, and an open mind to discover all the advantages that this international system will offer them.

Regarding language requirements, all students applying for entry to the DP level should have a B2 level of English, although no official language qualifications are required.

Please contact us and we will be delighted to guide you on your IBDP application journey and provide more information about the entrance tests and interview.

At the end of this two-year programme, IBDP students take written exams in each of their subject choices, which are marked by external IB examiners. Students are also subject to internal assessments delivered by teachers and later reviewed by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners. Universities value the rigour and consistency of the Diploma Programme assessments.

The Diploma is awarded to students who earn at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the programme and satisfactory completion of the requirements in Creativity, Activity and Service. The highest total score that may be awarded is 45.

The subjects are graded ranging from 1 (lowest grade) to 7 (highest grade). The results of the Theory of Knowledge course element and the Extended Essay are combined, adding up to three additional points to the diploma’s total score. The assessment is based on international criteria, meaning student performance is measured against the established criteria that outline the specific learning aims for each subject. 

All of our IB subjects and courses are taught and supported by highly qualified and experienced professionals using excellent resources in our school’s world-class facilities. In addition, the majority of our teaching staff at the DP level are certified IB educators and examiners, which means our students benefit from curriculum and examination experts teaching their lessons, effectively guiding them towards success.

Our expert IB faculty members, including individual teachers, tutors and the DP coordinator are always available to support each student to achieve their individual goals and excel in the programme. 

To support students and parents as they choose their unique Diploma subjects as the best fit for their academic profile, individual interests and university aspirations, we have devised a series of “Pathways” talks and provide individualised support through POPs (Personalised Options Plan), including personal interviews. The Pathway talks begin with a single session in MYP 3 and then there are several sessions in MYP 4 as the time approaches to make the final subject choices. We also run an Options Fair, for both parents and students to attend. We aim to ensure families are well-informed of the intricacies of the programme before students make their final decisions.

Choosing Language Subjects in the IB Diploma

• Language A: Language and Literature

Diploma students are obliged to follow their mother tongue as Language A, language & Literature. The school offers English A and Spanish A as taught subjects, and for those students whose mother tongue is neither, students will follow the Self-Taught Mother Tongue option.

• Language B: Second Language Acquisition

Second language teachers in MYP should advise their students (through the Pathways Scheme) to continue studying that language in the Diploma Programme. English and Spanish B are always offered with the option of French and German B depending on the year and how many students want to access the course.

The level in the second language is measured before students get to DP, either through Pathways or through internal exams for new students coming in from other institutions. Using these measures ensures that no student takes a second language subject whose level is too high or which does not present them with any challenge throughout the programme.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is recognised and respected by universities all around the world. The IB Diploma qualification opens doors to the best institutions in Spain and abroad, many of which include special protocols and admission processes for IBDP graduates.

All DP curricula are reviewed in seven-year cycles to ensure the incorporation of the latest advances in the educational field through a rigorous evaluation of the existing curriculum. This review aims to enhance all study programmes and support materials with an international approach and new research findings, thereby providing students with excellent preparation for life in the 21st century.

There are many benefits of following the International Baccalaureate Diploma over the Spanish Baccalaureate (national curriculum) for the final two years of school. These include:

• Exploring a broader and more challenging curriculum, which promotes students' holistic growth. They complete the programme with a wide range of life skills and a depth of understanding in their six chosen subjects. Additionally, the core content encourages students to explore the nature of knowledge in the Theory of Knowledge course and explore CAS activities, which are exclusive to the IBDP.
• Acquiring an international mindset which prepares learners to succeed in a globalised world, in addition to fostering intellectual, emotional, and ethical qualities and skills.
• Developing effective study skills to excel with global standards, as well as efficient time and heavy workload management abilities, which truly prepares them for the competitive and challenging university environment in Spain and abroad.
• Across the IB programmes, students are encouraged to adopt an active approach towards learning which will be helpful in higher education.

Members of the IB learning community strive to become inquiring thinkers, communicators, bold, informed and educated, honest, open-minded, supportive, balanced, and reflective, all of which are in line with the goals of our school since its foundation.

As in previous academic stages, IBDP learners at our school benefit from a wide range of engaging extracurricular activities in sports, music, visual arts, and technology. These activities enable our learners to explore new interests, expand their talents, and acquire valuable competencies for future success at university and in their careers.

Our offerings at this stage include indoor football, learning various instruments (piano, guitar, violin, drums, bass, among others), singing in the school choir, illustration and 2D animation, video game creation, creative streaming and social media, creating 3D characters and scenarios, and fashion pattern making and tailoring.

International students choosing to pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at our school can stay in our state-of-the-art boarding house, enjoy the most extensive extracurricular and weekend activities, and benefit from our exclusive Self-Taught DP Literature A courses in over 60 languages (for languages not taught at the school). This allows them to study literature in their mother tongue with online and in-school support in a unique programme adaptation, taking their final exam at the school.