Pre-IB Subjects & Choices

Subjects taught in the pre-IB year

• Danish A or English A  ("A" denotes native language or best language)
• Danish B or English B ("B" denotes foreign language, not level!)
• German B or French B (foreign language: approx. 3 yrs. of prior experience expected; taught together with Danish stx classes) or:
• Spanish AB Beginners/ Danish AB Beginners (= without prior experience)
• Social Science (C-level stx)
• History
• Physics (C-level stx)
• Biology (C-level stx)
• Chemistry (C-level stx)
• Mathematics (C-level stx)
• Visual Arts (C-level stx)

Additional basic course (autumn term August - October) in:

• General language understanding (final exam)
• Natural Science basic programme (final exam)

Mini-Extended Essay (EE)

GUIDELINES:
Making good subject choices in the pre-IB

Choosing your 3 Languages in the pre-IB 

All “Pre-IB” students must study three languages in the pre-IB. The basic premise is that you study your best language as your “A” language, and your second and third best languages as “B” languages. 

1^st Foreign Language

Exceptions to the above: 

• Some bilingual Danish/English students have the language ability to take both English and Danish at the highest level. In this case, a student should choose both “English A” and “Danish A” on the application form.
• Some students’ best language is neither English nor Danish but something else, i.e. Arabic, Russian, Urdu etc. In this situation, a student should choose “English B” and either “Danish B” (if they have 2-3 years of experience) or “Danish AB for Beginners” on the application form. A student in this situation will take their own native language as a “Self-Taught Language A Lit (SSST)” in the IB Diploma Programme.

2^nd Foreign Language (French, German, Spanish)

• The basic premise is that all Pre-IB students should study one so-called “2^nd Foreign Language” in pre-IB, i.e. either French, German or Spanish as it is a mandatory part of the pre-IB programme (except for students who will study Danish AB for beginners).
• Students who have attended a Danish school will have the necessary pre-requisite knowledge in French and German. These students will be able to choose either French or German at the required level (=3 years previous experience), or they can choose the Spanish AB Beginners class.
• Students who have not attended a Danish school prior to the Pre-IB may not have the necessary pre-requisite knowledge in French or German. These students will be able to take the Spanish AB Beginners class (not for native Spanish or advanced speakers) or the Danish AB Beginners class. It is NOT advisable to opt for two Beginners classes.
  
• Students who do not have the pre-requisite knowledge in French or German, but who are advanced students of Spanish can apply for dispensation not to study a “2^nd Foreign Language” in pre-IB.
• In order to put in a dispensation application a student must write a letter explaining their concrete situation. The letter should be addressed to the IB Coordinator. Please send this letter along with your application to the Pre-IB.

Choosing your 2 Sciences in the pre-IB

Students must choose two Sciences in the pre-IB. The three Science subjects that you can choose among are Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Please observe that on the application form, you must enter your priorities from 1 to 3 between all three sciences.

It is important that you make the right Science choices in pre-IB as your pre-IB Science choices determine your Science choices in the IB Diploma Programme (i.e. you cannot choose a Science subject in IB DP that you have not taken the in pre-IB). Making the right choices depends on what you intend to study after the IB. Please see the following guidelines:

STUDYING IN DENMARK

Please note: if you want to study any kind of Science programme or Medicine at university level in Denmark, you must take Physics and Chemistry (Please note: even if you want to study Biology at university in Denmark, you must choose Physics and Chemistry).

Disclaimer - The specific entrance requirements are liable to change at any time. So, you should always first check the specific requirements of individual programmes at www.ug.dk and then double check the requirements with the relevant educational institution itself. If you need counselling on matters concerning studying in Denmark, please contact Inge Duus Hjortlund from “Studievalg København” at idhj@studievalg.dk 

STUDYING ABROAD

Disclaimer - It is impossible to give complete clarity about general and specific requirements, as they will vary from country to country and from institution to institution. However, the following is worth keeping in mind:

If you want to study Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, or Dentistry in the UK (or any other subject), please research the requirements on the individual university websites.