International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
WERRIBEE SECONDARY COLLEGE | Live Worthily
Education For A Better World
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) at Werribee Secondary College enables students to graduate with a globally recognised qualification. Known for its academic rigour and holistic approach, the programme encourages students to become independent thinkers, effective communicators, and internationally minded individuals.
Why The IB?
Recognized in over 140 countries, the IB focuses on creating global thinking and inquisitive citizens. At Werribee Secondary College we begin with the IB Link at year 10, progressing into the IB Diploma Programme at years 11 and 12. The IB program offers a balanced curriculum encompassing critical thinking and intercultural understanding, as well as developing students intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills needed to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalising world. Undertaking the IB, an alternative to the VCE, empowers students with a diverse range of pre-tertiary study skills, environmental knowledge, language and tolerance setting them on track for successful future studies and careers near or abroad.
of Werribee Secondary College IB students received a higher education offer in the first 2023, 2024 & 2025 VTAC rounds.
The Programme
IB Diploma Programme students must choose one subject from each of the five groups (1 to 5), ensuring breadth of knowledge and understanding in their best language, additional language(s), the social sciences, the experimental sciences and mathematics. Students must also choose either an arts subject from group 6, or a second subject from groups 1 to 5.
Diploma Programme subjects can be taken at higher level of standard level.
In addition to disciplinary and interdisciplinary study, the Diploma Programme features three core elements that broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills.
Subject choice requirements ensure that the science-orientated student is challenged to learn a foreign language and the natural linguist becomes familiar with the scientific processes. While balance is maintained, flexibility is catered for with the student choosing their Higher Level subjects to pursue areas of personal interest and to meet special requirements for university entrance.
All student’s who undertake the IB program must abide by the IBO Academic Integrity Policy.
The unique features of the IB Diploma are the three core studies that allow students to extend and enhance their learning and embrace the culture and ethos of our own attitudes and values through the depth and breadth of academic offerings and the emphasis placed on Creativity, Action and Service. In developing the role of service to the community, a sense of global humanity and tolerance is fostered, all in tune with mission statement and ideals of Werribee Secondary College.
The Extended Essay (EE) asks students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the Diploma Programme subjects they are studying. The world studies extended essay option allows students to focus on a topic of global significance which they examine through the lens of at least two Diploma Programme subjects.
Theory Of Knowledge (TOK) develops a coherent approach to learning that unifies the academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction.
Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma Programme. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Action seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. Service with the community offers a vehicle for new learning with academic value. The three strands of CAS enhance students’ personal and interpersonal development through experimental learning and enable journeys of self-discovery.
The academic subjects offered are grouped. Diploma candidates are required to select one subject from each of the six subject areas, with at least:
- Three, and not more than four taken at Higher Level (HL)
- The remaining subjects taken at Standard Level (SL)
A HL course represents 240 teaching hours over the two-year period and an SL course represents 150 teaching hours over the two-year period.
Please refer to our online subject selection handbook for more detailed information about the subjects available.
At Werribee Secondary College were currently offer:
Group 1 – STUDIES IN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
- Language & Literature: English
Group 2 – LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
- IB Language: Spanish ab initio (Beginner)
- IB Language: Spanish B (Intermediate)
- IB Language: Chinese ab initio (Intermediate)
Group 3 – INDIVIDUALS & SOCIETIES
- Business Management
- Economics
- History
- Psychology
Group 4 – EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Physics
Group 5 – MATHEMATICAL STUDIES
- Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches
- Mathematics: Application & Interpretation
Group 6 – THE ARTS
- Theatre Arts
- Visual Arts
Further information regarding applications is provided below on this page. Please visit the IB Link page for information about our year 10 IB Link program. Please note that course costs apply for students to undertake the IB Diploma Programme.
For more about the International Baccalaureate Organisation visit ibo.org.
“The International Baccalaureate (IB) develops lifelong learners who thrive and make a difference.”
Where Learning Leads The Way
| Year | Top WSC IB Student Name | Converted ATAR |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Suda Ramanathan | 99.25 |
| 2024 | Cedric Wong & Yusuf Olatundun | 95.45 |
| 2023 | Dravin Dileep | 96.05 |
| 2022 | Juliana Santiago & Hangyu (Laura) Zhong | 98.55 |
| 2021 | Zenji De Vera | 99.1 |
| 2020 | Jainil Patel | 99.75 |
From Werribee To The World
In The Media:
- 2025 One Wyndham: Young Person of the Month – Anamika Pushilal (IB)
- 2024 Herald Sun: Victorian IB students wake up to their results
- 2024 The Age: Opportunity knocks as Victoria’s IB students get their results
- 2024 Herald Sun: Everything you need to know ahead of release of IB results
- 2023 Star Weekly: Schools global approach
- 2023 Herald Sun: Hundreds of Victorian IB students celebrate results
- 2022 The Age: Grandfather’s words help Werribee student shine on the global stage
- 2021 Star Weekly: Youth role model lauded – Tanya Ajit (IB)
IB Visual Arts Online Gallery
Your Future Starts At Werribee
Currently enrolled Werribee Secondary College students may enter the link program at year 10 preparing them with the skills for the senior diploma programme, or may choose to enter the programme directly at year 11. The IB pathway and applications will be discussed with Werribee students during year 9, and throughout their course counselling and subject selection times.
Families of students who are not currently enrolled at Werribee Secondary College can express their interest below. School zoning requirements apply for most new enrolments. Further information about enrolments can be found here. Suitability and availability of places in the program can be discussed during the enrolment process.
Students who currently undertake the middle years program at Alamanda K-9 may be eligible to apply during year 9 through the annual year 10 IB Link program application process. Places are limited. Those who are successful in this application process must make the commitment to complete the senior IBDP at Werribee Secondary College.
Please note that as the IB is outside of the standard Victorian curriculum, costs apply to undertake the IBDP at Werribee Secondary College. International Students are not eligible to undertake the IB.
To be a successful IB student it is necessary to be a curious learner who is well organised and relishes a rigorous and challenging academic program. This includes being punctual both to classes and to school, to have an excellent attendance record, and to complete work on time and to an appropriate standard. The key is organisation, and the importance of keeping to internal deadlines cannot be stressed enough. Students must also adhere to strict guidelines around Academic Integrity.
Students who become successful IB students:
- Are of average or above average ability.
- Have good work ethic/time management skills.
- Have the ability to work across the curriculum.
- Enjoy collaborative work practices.
- Are higher order thinkers.
- Have an interest in intercultural learning.
- Want to impact positively on the world.
- Want to rate themselves against world benchmarks.
- See themselves as being ¨life-long learners¨.
Please refer to our IB Diploma Programme Overview booklet for further information.
IB learners are:
- encouraged to think critically and solve complex problems.
- drive their own learning.
- a core part in educational programmes that can lead them to some of the highest-ranking universities around the world.
- more culturally aware through the development of a second language.
- able to engage with people in an increasingly globalised, rapidly changing world.
IB students develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics. They are also likely to perform well academically – often better than students on other curricula. Our students list some of the key benefits of the program to be the ability to choose and explore topics within subject areas, to learn from their mistakes along the way, and that their result is a result of their own work and not a peer ranking. Those who successfully complete the IBDP graduate with a worldwide recognised qualification.
