Assessment and Grading in the IB Career-related Programme (CP)

Assessment in the IB Career-related Programme (CP) is unlike any other qualification. Instead of focusing on memorization or final exams alone, the CP evaluates students through a combination of academic rigor, personal reflection, and applied learning.

Every element — from IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses to the CP Core and Career-related Study (CRS) — is assessed in a way that measures what you can do with your knowledge, not just what you can recall.

Understanding how grading works helps students manage time, plan effectively, and approach learning with purpose and confidence.

Quick Start Checklist: What’s Assessed in the CP

DP Courses – externally examined by the IB.
CP Core Components – internally assessed, some externally moderated.
Career-related Study (CRS) – assessed and certified by the CRS provider.
Language and Cultural Studies (LCS) – assessed through reflective progress and practical communication.
Reflective Project – externally moderated by the IB.

The CP doesn’t just grade results — it evaluates skills, understanding, and growth.

1. The Philosophy Behind CP Assessment

The CP’s approach to assessment reflects the IB’s broader educational philosophy: learning through inquiry, reflection, and application.

Instead of measuring learning at a single point in time, the CP assesses how students:

Develop understanding across contexts.
Apply academic knowledge to real-world situations.
Demonstrate ethical reasoning and intercultural awareness.
Reflect on their personal and professional growth.

Assessment is therefore continuous, authentic, and student-centered — preparing learners for both university and workplace evaluation styles.

2. How Assessment Is Structured Across the CP

The CP’s assessment model is multidimensional, covering three interconnected parts:

Diploma Programme (DP) courses – standardized IB exams and coursework.
CP Core components – internal and reflective assessments.
Career-related Study (CRS) – external certification or school-based evaluation.

Each component contributes uniquely to a complete picture of achievement, combining academic excellence with applied learning.

3. Assessment in DP Courses

All DP subjects within the CP are assessed exactly the same way as in the full Diploma Programme.

DP Assessment Includes:

Internal assessments (IAs): Projects, lab work, oral assessments, or essays graded by teachers and moderated by the IB.
External assessments (EAs): Final written exams marked by IB examiners.

Grading Scale:

DP subjects are graded on a 1–7 scale, with 7 being the highest.
Each subject’s score reflects a blend of internal and external performance.

Why It Matters:

DP course results often play a major role in university admissions and scholarship decisions. They also demonstrate academic depth alongside career readiness.

4. Assessment in the CP Core

The CP Core consists of four interconnected components, each assessed in different ways but unified by reflection and practical application.

1. Personal and Professional Skills (PPS)

Assessment: Internal (no final exam).
Evidence: Portfolios, journals, presentations, and reflections.
Focus: Skill growth — communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and ethics.

2. Community Engagement

Assessment: Internal (no external exam).
Evidence: Project documentation, supervisor feedback, and reflective logs.
Focus: Action and impact — how learning contributes to real communities.

3. Reflective Project

Assessment: Internally marked, externally moderated by the IB.
Evidence: Written or multimedia project (approx. 3,000 words or equivalent).
Focus: Research, analysis, and reflection on an ethical issue in the student’s chosen career field.

4. Language and Cultural Studies (LCS)

Assessment: Internal and reflective.
Evidence: Language portfolio, recordings, written reflections, and progress tracking.
Focus: Practical communication and intercultural understanding.

Together, these components demonstrate personal development and applied learning — two of the CP’s most distinctive features.

5. Assessment in the Career-related Study (CRS)

The Career-related Study (CRS) is assessed and certified by the course provider (e.g., BTEC, Microsoft, SCAD, WAoS, or local institutions).

CRS assessment is industry-aligned, emphasizing:

Project work.
Practical performance.
Competency-based evaluation.
Professional standards and certification exams.

CRS results are reported separately but form part of the overall CP qualification.
The IB ensures that each CRS meets quality criteria for fairness, validity, and rigor.

6. How CP Students Earn the IB Career-related Programme Certificate

To be awarded the IB Career-related Programme Certificate, students must successfully complete all three main areas:

At least two DP courses with passing scores.
All four components of the CP Core.
The approved Career-related Study (CRS).

Students who meet these requirements receive:

The IB Career-related Programme Certificate.
The CRS provider’s qualification (e.g., BTEC Diploma).
Any national high school diploma or equivalent their school issues.

This combination of certifications gives CP graduates a strong foundation for university, apprenticeships, or direct employment.

7. External Moderation and Quality Assurance

To maintain fairness and consistency worldwide, the IB uses a system of external moderation and verification.

DP courses are moderated and examined by international IB examiners.
Reflective Projects are externally moderated.
PPS, LCS, and Community Engagement are internally assessed but subject to school verification visits or audits.

This ensures every CP student — regardless of country or school — is held to the same global standard.

8. How Grades Are Reported

When results are released, students receive:

DP course grades (1–7 scale).
Feedback on CP Core completion.
CRS certification results from the provider.
Overall confirmation of the IB CP Certificate (if all requirements are met).

IB results are released in July (Northern Hemisphere) and January (Southern Hemisphere). Students and schools access them via the IB’s secure online portal.

9. How Assessment Encourages Reflection and Growth

Unlike exam-heavy systems, CP assessment emphasizes reflection and personal development.
Students are evaluated not only on what they know but also on how they think, act, and grow.

Throughout the programme, students reflect on:

Their evolving understanding of ethical issues.
How their skills apply across subjects and projects.
Their strengths, challenges, and learning goals.

This reflective approach makes the CP assessment process a tool for personal growth, not just academic measurement.

10. The IB Grading Philosophy: Beyond Numbers

The IB believes grades should inform learning, not define it.
That’s why the CP’s assessment model focuses on:

Process over product: How learning happens matters as much as the result.
Authentic evaluation: Tasks mirror real-world applications.
Transferable skills: Communication, analysis, and ethics are valued equally with content knowledge.
Global standards: Consistent, fair assessment across all IB schools.

In this system, every student’s achievement tells a story — not just a score.

11. Academic Integrity and Assessment

The IB holds strict standards of academic honesty. Students must always:

Cite sources correctly.
Produce original work.
Follow ethical research and collaboration practices.

Violations can lead to disqualification, so maintaining integrity is part of learning professionalism and responsibility.

The Reflective Project and other written components help students build these habits early — skills that carry forward into university and career environments.

12. How Universities and Employers View CP Assessment

Because the CP integrates DP academic results with career-related certification, it’s widely recognized by universities and employers.

Universities value the academic rigor of DP subjects and the research depth of the Reflective Project.
Employers value the CRS component and the transferable skills from PPS and Community Engagement.

Together, these assessments show that CP graduates are both academically capable and practically ready — a combination increasingly sought after worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are DP exams mandatory for CP students?
Yes. All DP courses are assessed through IB examinations and internal assessments, just like in the full Diploma Programme.

2. How is the Reflective Project graded?
It’s marked internally by teachers and externally moderated by the IB using a set of global criteria.

3. Do CP students receive an overall score like DP students do?
No. CP results are reported as a combination of DP course grades, Core completion, and CRS certification — not a single composite score.

4. What happens if a student fails one component?
Students may still earn individual certificates for completed DP courses or CRS units, but the full IB CP Certificate requires completion of all elements.

5. Can CP assessments be used for university applications?
Yes. Many universities accept CP results — especially DP course grades and the Reflective Project — as evidence of academic and applied learning ability.

Conclusion: Assessment That Reflects Real Learning

Assessment in the IB Career-related Programme (CP) is about more than grades — it’s about growth.
By combining academic rigor, practical application, and ethical reflection, the CP provides a more complete picture of what students know and who they’re becoming.

Every task, project, and reflection builds the skills and confidence needed to thrive in the real world.

In the CP, assessment isn’t the end of learning — it’s proof that learning has meaning.