Portuguese Studies
Ensino Secundário at CIV culminates school education. Students will acquire a solid preparation through their unique ability to deal with abstract thinking and be a part of national and international research projects.
Considering that students should progress from the simplest to the most complex (the methodologies do not exempt systematic and sequential observation), the demand in Ensino Secundário is very high and strives to be above the requirements needed for further studies.
CIV students at this phase enjoy an intensive education (in small groups, accompanied by a tutor) in specific subject areas, a bilingual environment, a humanistic and scientific education, internships and contact with national and international research centres linked to prestigious universities.
In 11º and 12º anos, students benefit from individual support in the application process to Portuguese and/or foreign universities.
In a decisive phase in their lives, CIV provides outstanding preparation for the Portuguese National exams. In addition to the mock examinations, students are offered individual or small group preparatory sessions.
The various learning experiences provided in different contexts include not only a solid academic background, but above all an outstanding personal and social education.
English Studies
Cultural Diversity is an integral part of CIV’s reality. Many of the students who enroll for Sixth Form have been students from a very early age. The skills attained previously are conducive to success and personal well-being.
Active participation in school life helps students develop a sense of belonging and knowing that they make a difference. The SRC (Student Representative Council) is led by students in Sixth Form, who take on a leadership as well as a solidarity role. They work on community projects that involve responsibility and decision-making, giving them an opportunity to unite the student body in achieving common goals.
As an IB World School, CIV offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma in Grades 11 and 12, a two-year programme that prepares students between 16 and 19 for success going into, and throughout, university. The IB Diploma is widely accepted as the best globally available curriculum for students in their last two years of secondary education and is recognised by universities all over the world. It offers a holistic approach to learning with a keen focus on developing an international mindset and intercultural awareness so that students can excel on a global scale.
IBDP students learn to explore and understand the world around them through inquiry, critical thinking and open-mindedness. By selecting six optional subjects in addition to the IB programme's three core subjects, they benefit from a robust, customised curriculum tailored to their individual interests and future goals.
Benefits of Studying the IB Diploma
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offers reliable, world-renowned academic preparation, fostering international-mindedness, an entrepreneurial mindset, and an understanding of intercultural differences. It opens doors to the best higher education institutions worldwide and improves individual career prospects. Universities regularly cite IBDP students as the best prepared for higher education since IBDP graduates excel at university and often begin their studies with advanced standing.
With a student-centred approach, the IB Diploma Programme focuses on developing learners intellectually, emotionally, physically and socially, instead of preparing them for test-taking only.
The IB programme offers an excellent balance between academic depth and breadth: students have to study two languages, mathematics, a natural science and a social science in addition to the core elements of the programme - CAS, Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. This ensures the development of the widest possible range of skills and attributes, including excellent literacy, numeracy and analytical abilities, communication, creativity, independent thinking, effective management of heavy workloads, collaboration, and leadership skills.
IB Diploma Curriculum Structure
The IBDP curriculum, as implemented in our school, equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in adulthood.
DP students complete courses from six subject groups, ensuring a depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding:
- Studies in Language and Literature
- Language Acquisition
- Mathematics
- Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- Individuals and Societies: Business & Management, Economics, Psychology, Geography, History
- The Arts: Music, Drama, Visual Arts, Design & Technology
By engaging with a wide range of subjects, students experience a comprehensive education that encourages them to apply what they have learned. The study of an additional language is also required, as well as the completion of a compulsory core programme consisting of three components:
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK) challenges students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we know what we claim to know
- The Extended Essay (EE) introduces students to the demands and rewards of independent work prior to entering university, requiring them to produce a self-directed piece of research in an area of personal interest
- Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) is an experiential learning component where students engage with a wide variety of extracurricular activities, including community service and athletic options
IB Requirements & Assessment
Three subjects are chosen at a Higher Level (HL), the others at a Standard Level (SL). Students are able to make their choices flexibly; this means they can decide which subjects to study more deeply with a view to future university attendance. The Higher-Level subjects are studied more deeply and extensively than those at Standard Level. At both levels, various skills are developed, especially those of critical thought and analysis. At the end of the course, students’ achievements are evaluated by means of external examinations. Many subjects also involve tasks that are internally assessed by the teachers and externally moderated by the International Baccalaureate.
Assessment and examinations at the end of DP courses provide an IB certification which is recognised by worldwide standards, measuring student understanding and providing a passport to university.