Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do IB students at Enloe have a life?
   Yes! While IB students do take on a demanding, rigorous course of study, they are represented in all Enloe sports, academic clubs, and service societies. In addition, IB students commonly pursue many other extra-curricular activities such as music lessons and volunteering.
2. Why should I do IB? Why is it right for me?
   The goal of IB is to educate the whole person. Students are encouraged to appreciate cultures and attitudes other than their own and to articulate their views while being open to those different from their own. IB students are encouraged to not only focus on what they learn, but how they learn it.
3. If IB at Enloe requires me to study in six different subject areas, is it still possible to specialize in the subjects in which I excel?
   Yes. Enloe’s schedule is flexible enough to offer many students the opportunity to study multiple languages, sciences, math courses or courses in the humanities and the arts. For example, many IB students also participate in the Medical Bio-Science Academy.
4. Are IB students isolated from other students?
   No. IB students are fully involved in all parts of student life and academics at Enloe. The only class IB students take exclusively together is Theory of Knowledge.
5. Do IB students have room to take electives?
   Yes. IB students frequently take arts electives in addition to many other course offerings.
6. How many students usually participate in IB at Enloe?
   Typically, there are between 35 to 50 juniors and 35 to 50 seniors.
7. Is Enloe the only Wake County School to offer the IB Diploma?
   No, Garner High School and Broughton also offer the Diploma.
8. What percentage of IB graduates actually earn the IB diploma?
   Between 85-95% typically earn the IB Diploma at Enloe.
9. How do colleges and universities recognize the IB Diploma?
   Each college/university maintains their own policy regarding Diploma recognition. These policies are subject to change from year to year. The most updated information on this can be found at www.ibo.org.
10. Who do I talk to at Enloe about SAT registration, college information, summer programs, IB, etc?
    The IB Coordinator is the contact person for all IB related issues such as scheduling, IB exam registration, and the Extended Essay. The Coordinator is Mrs. April Hoffman, 856-7907. The IB office is located in Room 1306A and she can also be reached via e-mail: ahoffman2@wcpss.net. All other counseling matters, such as the SATs, AP exam registration, college information, summer programs, etc, students should contact their assigned counselor via student services.
11. What courses should I take as a rising ninth grader if I am interested in the IB Diploma Programme?
    These are the recommended minimum requirements regarding ninth grade courses:
    • Freshman Honors Civilizations & Cultures or Honors Civics & Economics with Honors English I
    • Honors Biology
    • Honors Geometry or greater
    • French I, Spanish I or Chinese I or greater level
    • Healthful Living A & B
    • Freshman Seminar
12. How many IB exams are there and when do students take them?
    There are six exams students must take for the Diploma: one in literature, one foreign language, one social science, one experimental science, one math and one arts course. The arts course can be replaced by either Psychology, Computer Science, a second foreign language or a second experimental science. The IB Programme at Enloe currently only offers testing in French, Spanish or Chinese. Students can take one or two exams in May of their junior year and the remaining exams in May of their senior year. In some cases, a student will take all six exams in May of their senior year.
13. Can I take an IB exam without having taken the course?
    No. Part of the student’s final IB score comes from work done in the classroom. (Internal Assessments)
14. Do I have to take AP exams in addition to IB exams?
    No. IB exams are required for the Diploma. AP exams are optional, but encouraged.
15. How can I enroll in the IB Programme at Enloe?
    Once it has been determined that you have been accepted into Enloe, your parent needs to attend the IB interest meeting in May. You will receive an intent letter which your parent will sign and return to the IB office. The Coordinator will work with scheduling the appropriate courses to be prepared to enter the IB Diploma Programme officially in the eleventh grade.
16. What criteria do I have to meet to be a part of IB?
    
    • good teacher evaluations in ninth and tenth grade
    • maintain a 3.5 GPA by the end of tenth grade
    • successful completion of Freshman Seminar
    • attendance at one-day Extended Essay workshop in August before junior year
17. What is the Extended Essay?
    The Extended Essay is a 4,000 word piece of original research conducted by each IB diploma candidate. It is completed between second semester of junior year and first semester of senior year. The student researches and writes on a topic of his/her choosing, and has an Extended Essay mentor to help with the essay. The mentor can be selected by the student, but must be a member of the Enloe faculty.
18. What is “Theory of Knowledge”?
    ToK (Theory of Knowledge) is a seminar-type course that explores the linkages between subject areas. Focus is placed on the existential, philosophical, psychological and metaphysical. It is taken second semester junior year and first semester senior year. Students submit a paper on a prescribed topic and a presentation in order to successfully complete the course.
19. What is “CAS”?
    CAS stands for creativity-action-service. In order to successfully complete the IB Diploma Programme, each student must have documented 150 hours of after school activities that are evenly split among creative, action and service oriented endeavors. CAS hours can be accumulated during the summer following sophomore year. Mrs. April Hoffman is the Enloe CAS Supervisor. She is located in the IB Office and can be contacted at ahoffman2@wcpss.net.
20. How do IB courses compare to AP courses?
    In most cases, IB students are enrolled in AP courses and taught by teachers who are IB trained and AP trained. Both are very challenging courses intended to focus on critical and analytical thinking.
21. Do I have to be enrolled in IB to take AP courses?
    No. AP courses are open to all students who meet the necessary pre-requsites.
22. How important is the IB Programme to colleges when deciding whether or not to accept a student?
    Colleges and universities want to see good grades and a well rounded student. Participating in IB demonstrates that you have challenged yourself in a rigorous academic program that combines emphasis on research, analysis, international-mindedness and service.
23. Will my participation in IB hurt my GPA?
    All IB courses are weighted courses. Many colleges re-calculate GPAs, so again you want to demonstrate to colleges that you are taking a rigorous to colleges that you are taking a rigorous course of study and making the most out of whatever your high school has to offer you. IB at Enloe provides this opportunity.
24. What is the most important attribute I should have in the IB Programme in order to be successful?
    Good time management skills and a good attitude.
25. What does one accomplish by participating in the IB Diploma Programme?
    Pride in knowing you have taken a risk and challenged yourself and that you are recognized for that achievement by international standards.