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.

School mission statement

Druga gimnazija Sarajevo teaches and encourages students to learn, nurture their talents and apply them to various challenges of today. It introduces young people to a rich world of friendship, tolerance and intercultural understanding, while guiding them to think critically, be just and socially responsible.

Our belief

At Druga Gimnazija Sarajevo the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is open to all students regardless of their ethnic, religious or racial background. The school admits the students who enter the final two years of their secondary education and who are considered capable of completing the IB Diploma Program successfully according to predetermined admission criteria. We admit students from our school, other local schools as well as international students.

Admission criteria

In order to be enrolled at Druga gimnazija Sarajevo - IBDP, students have to have:

excellent overall academic results
excellent or very good academic results in Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian language, Mathematics and English language in the previous two years of their secondary education if they are Bosnian nationals, or just in Math and English if they are international students.
excellent behavior
interview which can be eliminatory if the students are not deemed mature, responsible and motivated enough for the rigorous requirements of the programme.

Entrance exams

For those students who do not meet above mentioned admission criteria there are entrance exams in place in Mathematics, Bosnian and English where students can demonstrate that they can follow the IB Diploma Program curriculum.

Examples of entrance exams are available on the school web page.

Admission process

The admission process starts in May and lasts for one full month, even though the IB Diploma Coordinator is available to answer all questions regarding the admissions process throughout the academic year.

Program presentations for students and parents. The process begins with presentations held to interested students and parents in which the IBDP Coordinator explains all the important details about the IB Diploma Program at Druga Gimnazija Sarajevo, including the information about the IBO, IBDP curriculum, subjects offered, size of groups, IBDP core, assessment, IB diploma recognition and other IBDP admissions requirements.
Subject- specific presentations. The school organizes several small workshops where all IBDP subject teachers can present their subjects to interested students explaining the HL/SL syllabus and subject specific requirements, but also answer subject-related questions.
Subject selection guide. To help families make big decisions regarding program and subject selections, the school prepares subject selection guide to ensure that they make informed choices that comply with the arrangements of Druga gimnazija Sarajevo and the rules of the IB Diploma Program.
Preliminary subject-choice survey. It is, in a sense, a wish list. Results of the survey help the school counselor to profile students and help them with the final choice of subjects. Also, the school uses the responses to preliminary check the subject availability based on the numbers of interested students.
Counselor advisory meetings. School counselor meets with students and help them make the final decision regarding the subject choice that fits the best their future interests.
Preparational classes – In order to support students that do not meet admission criteria but would like to apply for the IB education, the school organizes preoperational classes in Bosnian language, English language and Mathematics. After they finish the preparation, students can take the entrance exams.
Application process and final subject choice. The application week starts in mid-June but the entrance examinations and interviews are held in late June. All applicants must download the application form from the school website and return it completed to the IB DP Coordinator before the deadline. The school notifies all applicants on their final status.

Student profile

Candidates for admission to Druga gimnazija Sarajevo must demonstrate that they are students who embrace and embody the IB Learner Profile. We expect applicants to have inquiring and open minds, to be diligent and reliable, to be good communicators, and to have an openness to learning new things. Good time-management and organizational skills are also indispensable qualities for students to be successful in the IB.

Profiling students. All applicants undergo obligatory interview with IBDP coordinator and school counselor (and optional language teacher). During the interview students presents themselves and discuss unfamiliar topics. The applicant's performance is rated based on the accuracy of the language used, clarity of ideas used during the discussion, respect and understanding of the academic environment and identifying with the IB learner profile.

Regulation of subject selection

Subject acceptance. Minimum number of students per group/subject is five. Maximum number of students per group/ subject is eighteen. If the group exceeds allowed numbers, students will be grouped based on their overall success and target subject results. The others choose the other subject of interest.
Changing the subject choice. Students have an opportunity to make changes to their subject choices, and levels, in early September but only if the timetable, and class size allow. Students should be aware that it will never be possible to suit the individual needs of every student, but the school will try to create groups and the timetable that matches the needs of the majority.
Taking four HL subjects. Based on the individual student’s needs and abilities in the subject area, the school may allow students in the IB Diploma Programme to select up to 4 subjects at the higher level (HL).
Core components. The three core requirements of the IBDP – TOK (Theory of knowledge), CAS (Creativity, action and service) and EE (Extended essay) are compulsory for students following the full Diploma Program.
Self-taught language A- literature. Druga gimnazija Sarajevo appreciates the diversity of languages spoken by the school community. Advice and support are given to students whose mother tongue is other than the currently offered Languages A and who want to include their mother tongue in their subject program. The school will assign the supervisor for the self-taught students, to track their progress. The school can assist parents in searching the suitable external tutor for the language, but it is solely the responsibility of the parents/guardians/students. It is expected that external tutor informs the assigned supervisor of the student’s progress on regular monthly basis.

Students transferring from other IB schools

Druga gimnazija Sarajevo accepts students started the IBDP at other IB school on condition that:

the school currently offers the subjects they studied in previous school
chosen subject groups do not exceed allowed numbers

Transferring student needs to submit reports and transcripts from previous school that confirm he/she was enrolled in the IBDP.

The school does not accept students started other national/international schools (offering different educational programs) after the school year starts or in the Year two of the IBDP.