​We use the formal Middle Years Programme levels to report assessment for Grades 6-8 students. This means on the progress report, your child will receive a level from 0 to 8 in each subject area. Additionally, an assessment of the Approaches to Learning skills (Expert, Practitioner, Learner, Novice) will also be assigned. There will not be a letter grade or percentage.

Our focus on Approaches to Learning (ATL) is designed to support students in developing the foundational skills they need to be successful both in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme and beyond. These are the skills that we will be working to develop across all subject areas. There is no expectation that all ATL would be assessed in any given term.

The Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills are as follows:

Thinking skills

• Critical-thinking skills: Analysing and evaluating issues and ideas
• Creative-thinking skills: Generating novel ideas and considering new perspectives
• Transfer skills: Using skills and knowledge in multiple contexts

Communication skills

• Exchanging thoughts, messages and information effectively through Interaction
• Reading, writing and using language to gather and communicate information

Social skills 

• Collaboration; Working effectively with others

Self-Management Skills

• Organization skills: Managing time and tasks effectively
• Affective skills: Managing state of mind including mindfulness, perseverance, emotional management, self-motivation, and resilience
• Reflection skills: (Re)considering the process of learning; choosing and using ATL skills

Research Skills

• Information literacy skills: Finding, interpreting, judging and creating information
• Media literacy skills: Interacting with media to use and create ideas and information

 

Source: MYP: From principles into practice, International Baccalaureate Organization

ATL Assessment:

Expert (E): The student shows others how to use these skills and self-assess his/her usage

Practitioner (P): The student often demonstrates these skills effectively without being asked

Learner (L): The student uses these skills if they are demonstrated or specifically asked

Novice (N): The student rarely uses these skills​

In terms of the curricular content, each course contains four major criteria that teachers will assess throughout the school year (see below). The marking guidelines (known as rubrics) are posted within every course outline that can be found on our website under Teachers > MYP Subject Guides.  While all four criteria will be assessed throughout the school year, teachers will likely only focus on one or two criteria per term.