Application and Admissions

According to the International Baccalaureate (IBO), the Diploma Programme is a rigorous and challenging course of study. Success throughout the programme depends on motivated students. More than past academic success, the IBO suggests that a student’s 

• dedication to do their best
• active study
• willingness to be organised in order and to complete work while leading a full, balanced life
• and having a strong commitment to learning in and beyond the classroom
• serves as an indicator of the ability to earn the Diploma.

In York Region, both the Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs are considered enrichment opportunities for students. Both programs potentially offer successful candidates advanced standing at university. The programs are equally considered at the postsecondary level. 

AP offers students the chance to take exams in course(s) of interest or aptitude, while the IB Programme is a comprehensive program that includes the IB Core (Creativity/Activity/Service, Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge).

No. It is not possible to complete the IB Diploma Programme online.

 For information on university admission, please see information on the International Baccalaureate website.

The answer is dependent on several factors, including the student, the university and the programs that the student would like to enter.

Students in the IB Programme earn two Diplomas, an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and an IB Diploma. Both the OSSD and IB Diplomas are well respected. Ontario universities and colleges first consider the OSSD results when making admissions decisions. IB results may be considered after admission to award advance credits, or placement at the university. 

Other universities and colleges in Canada, as well as internationally consider OSSD and IB Diplomas in various ways. Students are encouraged to speak with the schools and programs to which they are applying closer to the time of application to learn about their processes.

IB assessment criteria and mark bands take into consideration the rigour of the Diploma Programme and student scores are not impacted negatively by participation in the Programme.

Alexander Mackenzie High School, Bayview Secondary School, Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School, Maple High School and Milliken Mills High School are authorized IB World Schools.

 Grade 8 students who currently live in York Region are eligible to apply. Regrettably, visa students (i.e. international fee-paying students) are not eligible for the IB Programme in York Region. Children of parents who hold a work permit/visa are eligible to apply.

We recommend that students are working at grade level in French at time of application.

YRDSB anticipates that we will be able to offer placements to over 500 students at the five sites. We will offer 116 spots at each site.

Transportation is not provided for regional programs such as IB. Our schools are located on local transit lines.

Students who are in grade 9 or 10 should contact the IB Coordinator at the school that serves their home address to learn about eligibility and available space.

Although we revisit our course offering regularly, we do not anticipate that we will be offering HL math in future. There are very few post-secondary programs that request HL math, and our students are still eligible to apply because they earn both the IB and OSS Diplomas.

In grade 11 and 12 IB students have a full course load. There is no room in the student schedule to take extra, or non-IB courses. Some students elect to take non-IB courses during the summer.

A small percentage of our graduates do attend international postsecondary institutions. We do not release the names of schools to which students apply, or select to attend.

Can my child change their mind? We work very hard to support students so that they thrive while participating in YRDSB’s preparatory years (grades 9 and 10) and IB Programmes (grades 11 and 12) and we hope that they will work through and complete their IB course of study but students are not obliged to stay in a programme that is not the right fit for them. Be advised students may be required to return to their home school if they do not stay in the programme.

You are assigned to a school based on your home address. To determine which school serves your home address, please visit the YRDSB School Locator. We strongly encourage you to check the School Locator before completing the online application.

This is a question that needs to be considered on an individual basis as there are several variables taken into consideration (for example, your closing date). Prior to completing an application, you will need to make an appointment to speak with an administrator from your IB area school who will assess your situation.

No. Application eligibility is based on home address and, regrettably, we are not able to make exceptions

No. Application eligibility is based on home address and, regrettably, we are not able to make exceptions

No. Application eligibility is based on current home address, and regrettably, we cannot make exceptions.

No. Application eligibility is based on home address at time of registration and, regrettably, we are not able to make exceptions.

You may apply to Programmes offered by other Boards or private schools; however, when applying to the YRDSB Program, you are only able to apply to your area IB School.

If you move into a new IB catchment area, transfers can only be considered if there is available space.

The Personal Portfolio is an opportunity for students to tell us about themselves. 

Students are asked to think about the life experiences that they have had and to choose three (3) artefacts that represent how these life experiences have shaped them as individuals. 

For each of the artefacts students should: (a) explain what they have learned about themselves from the experience and (b) explain how they can apply this learning in the future. Students have a maximum of 75 words to answer these questions for each artefact. 

For the purpose of this task, an artefact is a visual or graphic representation of an experience. Experiences may include a life event, a trip you have taken, a community event, a personal accomplishment, your participation in an activity, your involvement in the creation of something, or a tradition. 

Students will submit this portfolio via a Google Slide Deck. Applicants will receive a direct email with details about how to format and submit the portfolio after the application window closes.

 Information about submitting the Portfolio will be sent to the student’s email address after the application window closes. 

For YRDSB students this address will be their YRDSB GAPPS account. For students who are not currently in the YRDSB system, the email will be sent to the student email address entered on the EDSBY application form.

Students are asked to create three (3) slides, one for each artefact. Students should answer the task prompts in the “speaker notes” section of the slide presentation. A template will be provided to support students with this task. To answer these questions for each artefact, students have a maximum of 75 words. Students may answer the questions in point form.

Students are able to work on the portfolio slides over time. They must submit their work no later than the deadline. 

No. Students will have up to one week to work on the portfolio before submitting it. Once submitted, the portfolio cannot be edited and resubmitted.

No. Late submissions will not be considered. T

No. This is an independent task. Questions should be directed to the IB Coordinator.

You will complete your in-person assessment task on the day you selected when you registered for the IB Programme Application Process through the EDSBY platform.

The assessment task will take place at Alexander Mackenzie High School at the time you select during the EDSBY registration process.

Students will be asked to respond in writing to a prompt.

We will be reading your answer both for the ideas that you share, and for the clear communication of those ideas.

It is not necessary to study or prepare for this assessment task. We do not encourage or endorse any tutors or tutoring companies.

Students will have 40 minutes to plan and write their response to the prompt.

Answers should be full sentences written in paragraph form.

This is a timed writing, so there is no word count target or limit. We encourage students to make use of a full writing process: planning, writing and editing. We are looking for quality not quantity in student responses.

Students may complete the written task using a pencil or pen.

No. There is no subject-based assessment or test this year.

No. The application for this year requires only the grade 7 final report

 No. A teacher reference is not required for the application.

Individual results and/or standings will not be released. Submitting the application indicates that you understand and will adhere to this policy by not requesting the results.

When application decisions are released, we will advise parents and students whether they are on a waiting list. We will draw students from this waiting list until seats have been filled – up until September of Grade 9. Students on the waiting list will only be contacted IF a space becomes available for them.

No. Students are offered a placement and will be given a date by which to advise the school if they will be accepting or declining the offer.

 Yes. Payment of the Grade 9 fee is made when accepting an offer of admission. The fee is $257.50. Details regarding payment will be shared with offers of admission.

In Grade 9 and 10 students have the opportunity to take elective courses, meet and work with students from many of the programs offered in our schools. In Grade 11 and 12, students are in IB courses only.

The IB Diploma Programme encourages and requires students to strive for balance in the different aspects of their lives - intellectual, physical and emotional. Extracurricular activities are an essential component of achieving this balance and required to meet the Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) requirements of the IB core.

YRDSB’s PreIB and IB students have a full school timetable every year. While in the past, high performance athletes may have participated in YRDSB’s IB Programmes, they were able to arrange training schedules to accommodate their school schedules. Regrettably, the school timetable cannot be changed for IB students to participate in athletic competition or training

 After reading this document, if you still have questions, you are welcome to reach out to your IB Coordinator by email.