Senior School Programs

The Middle Years Programme (MYP)

Bridging the Gap: A Continuum of Excellence Designed for students aged 11–16, the Middle Years Programme at Qatar Academy Al Khor is a vital bridge between the curiosity of the PYP and the academic rigour of the Diploma Programme. As an IB Continuum school, we prioritize making practical connections between studies and the real world, preparing students for success in their future lives.

A Framework for Future-Ready Learners The MYP curriculum is defined by three distinctive characteristics that ensure a holistic education:

  • Broad & Balanced Curriculum: Students engage with eight subject groups— Language & Literature (Arabic and English ), Individuals & Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Physical & Health Education, and Design. This ensures balanced exposure to different disciplines and ways of thinking.
  • Global Contexts: Learning is never isolated. We use real-world themes to frame inquiry, helping students understand the relevance of their education in a complex, interconnected world.
  • Approaches to Learning:  We teach the skills necessary for lifelong learning. Through the MYP, students master thinking, research, communication, self-management, and social skills, empowering them to manage their own learning effectively.

Grade 10: The Culmination of the Journey

Grade 10 represents a significant milestone for our students. It is a year of consolidation and preparation for the Diploma Programme. During this final year, QAK students demonstrate their readiness through three critical components:

  • The Personal Project: Students embrace their passions by undertaking an independent, self-directed project. This is the capstone of the MYP, allowing students to showcase the ATL skills they have developed over five years.
  • ePortfolios: Moving beyond traditional testing, our Grade 10 students curate and submit ePortfolios to the IB. These digital portfolios showcase their best work, creativity, and critical thinking abilities in specific subject groups.
  • Service as Action: At QAK, education goes beyond the classroom. Before graduating from the MYP, every student is required to complete their Service as Action outcomes. This ensures our students grow into empathetic leaders committed to making a positive difference.”

GRADING IN THE MYP

Grades are reported using a seven-number system based on the International Baccalaureate grading system where 7 is the highest overall grade and 1 is the lowest.

Grade Boundary
Guidelines 		Descriptor
1 1 – 5 Produces work of very limited quality. Conveys many significant misunderstandings or lacks understanding of most concepts and contexts. Very rarely demonstrates critical or creative thinking. Very inflexible, rarely using knowledge or skills.
2 6 – 9 Produces work of limited quality. Expresses misunderstandings or significant gaps in understanding for many concepts and contexts. Infrequently demonstrates critical or creative thinking. Generally inflexible in the use of knowledge and skills, infrequently applying knowledge and skills.
3 10 – 14 Produces work of an acceptable quality. Communicates basic understanding of many concepts and contexts, with occasionally significant misunderstandings or gaps. Begins to demonstrate some basic critical and creative thinking. Is often inflexible in the use of knowledge and skills, requiring support even in familiar classroom situations.
4 15 – 18 Produces good-quality work. Communicates basic understanding of most concepts and contexts with few misunderstandings and minor gaps. Often demonstrates basic critical and creative thinking. Uses knowledge and skills with some flexibility in familiar classroom situations but requires support in unfamiliar situations.
5 19 – 23 Produces generally high-quality work. Communicates secure understanding of concepts and contexts. Demonstrates critical and creative thinking, sometimes with sophistication. Uses knowledge and skills in familiar classroom and real-world situations and, with support, some unfamiliar real-world situations.
6 24 – 27 Produces high-quality, occasionally innovative work. Communicates extensive understanding of concepts and contexts. Demonstrates critical and creative thinking, frequently with sophistication. Uses knowledge and skills in familiar and unfamiliar classroom and real-world situations, often with independence.
7 28 – 32 Produces high-quality, frequently innovative work. Communicates comprehensive, nuanced understanding of concepts and contexts. Consistently demonstrates sophisticated critical and creative thinking. Frequently transfers knowledge and skills with independence and expertise in a variety of complex classroom and real-world situations.

Diploma Program

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)

Over recent years, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) at Qatar Academy Al Khor has grown steadily in both student enrollment and the range of courses offered. While our cohorts remain intentionally small—our largest graduating class to date being 38 students—this allows us to maintain a highly personalized approach, ensuring that every student is known, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential.

Our programme has continued to evolve in response to both global changes and the needs of our students. Through periods of uncertainty, including the challenges presented by the pandemic, we remained committed to the high standards and academic rigor that define the IB. Our teachers and students demonstrated resilience and adaptability, successfully navigating both virtual and in-person learning environments while maintaining the quality of education for which Qatar Academy Al Khor is known.

The IBDP is a holistic and academically demanding programme that requires students to study six subjects across key disciplines: languages, sciences, individuals and societies, mathematics, and the arts or an additional elective. At QAK, we continually review and expand our course offerings to reflect student interests, university pathways, and global trends. This commitment involves ongoing professional development for staff and strategic recruitment to ensure expertise across all subject areas.

Our success is rooted in the strength of our teaching faculty, whose experience, dedication, and commitment to student growth are complemented by excellent facilities and strong instructional leadership. Together, these elements create an environment where students are encouraged not only to achieve academically but also to develop independence, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning.

QAK Diploma Programme students consistently achieve strong results and gain admission to leading universities in Qatar and around the world. However, our vision extends beyond academic success. We are equally committed to developing young people of character—individuals who embody the IB learner profile as caring, knowledgeable, and principled members of society.

As we look to the future, the Qatar Academy Al Khor IBDP continues to build on its strong foundations, preparing students to thrive in a rapidly changing world and to contribute meaningfully to their communities both locally and globally.

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IB COURSE REQUIREMENTS, ASSESSMENT & GRADING IN THE DP

SUBJECTS IN THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

Subjects in the Diploma Programme are grouped according to their content. These groups are numbered 1 to 6.

Group 1:

  • Arabic Language and Literature SL
  • English A Language and Literature SL

Group 2:

  • English B HL

Group 3:

  • Business Management SL/HL
  • Geography SL/HL
  • Digital Societies SL/HL
  • Environmental Systems and Societies SL (This subject is a Group 3 and 4 subject)

Group 4:

  • Physics SL/HL
  • Biology SL/ HL
  • Chemistry SL/HL
  • Design Technology SL/HL
  • Environmental Systems and Societies SL (This subject is a Group 3 and 4 subject)

Group 5:

  • Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL/HL
  • Mathematics Applications and Interpretations SL/HL

Group 6:

  • Visual Arts

Students in Grade 11 and 12 are also required to take Theory of Knowledge classes, complete an Extended Essay and fulfill the IB requirements for Creativity, Activity and Service. There is a further requirement from our Ministry that all students must study Islamic Education.

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