IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) | The International Village School - UK / USA Qualified Teachers, International Curriculum, Serene Campus

Where primary school curiosity meets the demands of real academic rigour.

At International Village School, the IB Middle Years Programme picks up exactly where the PYP leaves off. Students in Grades 6 through 10 (ages 11 to 16) study eight subject areas through real-world contexts, learn to take ownership of how they learn — not just what they learn — and complete two independent projects that no written examination can replicate.

Book a School Tour Learn About Admissions

What Your Child Learns

The IB MYP curriculum organises learning through six Global Contexts — real-world frameworks that anchor every subject to something students can see, question, and act on outside school. A mathematics unit might examine fairness in resource distribution. A science unit might investigate the consequences of technical innovation. Same subjects. Sharper purpose.

The Six Global Contexts

Identities and Relationships

Who students are, how they connect with others, and what shapes them during adolescence.

Personal and Cultural Expression

How people communicate meaning through language, art, and creativity across cultures.

Orientation in Space and Time

The historical, geographical, and social forces that continue to shape the world today.

Scientific and Technical Innovation

How science and technology change human life, and the responsibilities that come with that change.

Fairness and Development

The distribution of rights and opportunities across communities, and what students can do about it.

Globalisation and Sustainability

The systems connecting people, economies, and environments, and what it means to act responsibly within them.

The Eight Subject Groups

Eight subject groups ensure students receive a broad, balanced education throughout the MYP. Each subject is taught for a minimum of 50 hours per year, giving students genuine depth rather than surface coverage.

Language and Literature:
Students develop critical reading, analytical writing, and the ability to interpret texts across a range of forms and contexts.

Language Acquisition:
A second language is studied not just for vocabulary or grammar, but for the cultural understanding that comes with genuine communication across different communities.

Individuals and Societies:
History, geography, economics, and social studies taught as interconnected disciplines rather than isolated subjects.

Sciences:
Experimental investigation sits at the centre. Students design, test, and evaluate — developing scientific thinking rather than reproducing memorised content.

Mathematics:
Abstract reasoning is developed alongside real-world application. Students learn to model problems, not just solve them.

Arts:
Visual Arts, Music, Drama, and other creative disciplines are assessed with the same rigour as any academic subject.

Physical and Health Education:
Physical development, health literacy, and the habits that support long-term well-being are part of the academic timetable at IVS, carrying the same weight as any other subject group.

Design:
The MYP Design subject is where students move from understanding the world to actively changing it. The design cycle teaches students to identify a real problem, research it, build a solution, and assess honestly whether it worked. At IVS, Design spans both digital and product design, supported by a dedicated Design Lab and Makerspace where ideas move from concept to working prototype.

Service as Action

Service as Action is not a standalone programme at IVS. It runs through every year of the MYP as a natural extension of classroom learning. When a student investigates fairness and development in Individuals and Societies, the MYP follows with a direct question: What will you do about it? Students identify genuine needs in their communities, act on what they find, and reflect on what that process reveals about responsibility and their own place in the wider world.

The Community Project and The Personal Project

The MYP has two signature milestones that no written examination can replicate.

The Community Project is completed in Grade 8. Students identify a need within a community, plan and implement a response, and document the entire process. The project requires a minimum of 15 hours of sustained engagement and can be completed individually or in small groups. It is the first time students experience what it means to take a problem they identified themselves all the way through to a real outcome — start to finish, on their own terms.

The Personal Project is completed in Grade 10, at the close of the MYP. Each student independently selects a topic of genuine personal interest, investigates it over an extended period, and produces both an outcome and a 15-page reflective report. The report is externally moderated by the IB, holding every student to a global standard. For most students it is the most demanding piece of independent work they produce before the Diploma Programme. It is also the clearest measure of how far the MYP has taken them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are students assessed in the MYP? Is there a board examination?

MYP assessment is criterion-based. Each subject uses four assessment criteria, rated on a scale of 1 to 8, and teachers assess students throughout the year through projects, investigations, and subject-specific performance tasks. At Grade 10, students may sit externally assessed eAssessments conducted by the IB, leading to the IB MYP Certificate. The Personal Project is externally moderated by the IB as a standard requirement across all MYP schools.

For parents familiar with CBSE or state board systems, the difference is immediate. There is no single high-stakes examination at the end of Grade 10. A student's ability is measured by what they can demonstrate across five years, not what they can reproduce in three hours.

How is the MYP different from CBSE secondary or IGCSE?

CBSE secondary education prescribes national content, with student performance measured through board examinations at Grade 10. IGCSE assesses each subject independently through end-of-year examinations, with strong depth within individual subjects. The MYP works differently. Eight subject groups are taught through six Global Contexts, so every unit of study connects to a real-world question rather than a content list. A student is assessed on what they can do with knowledge, not how accurately they recall it. A detailed comparison of all four frameworks is available on our IB vs IGCSE, ICSE and CBSE page.

Is the IB MYP recognised in India?

Yes. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) recognises the IB MYP, which means students can move into Indian higher secondary programmes after Grade 10 if needed. For most IVS families, the MYP is one stage of a longer educational journey within the IB framework rather than a standalone qualification.

Can my child transition to another curriculum after completing the MYP?

Yes. AIU recognition means the MYP is accepted as equivalent to Grade 10 by Indian universities, giving students the option to continue in CBSE, ISC, or state board streams if circumstances require it. The MYP develops independent learning habits, strong research skills, and the ability to manage sustained academic work. Students carrying those capabilities into a new system tend to find their footing quickly.

More FAQs

Some Things Are Better Seen Than Read

Tours run throughout the year, led by students and IVS faculty. Seats per session are limited. Book yours early.

Schedule a School Tour Speak to Our Admissions Team