The Diploma Programme (DP) consists of learning in 6 subject groups, an Extended Essay of 4,000 words, learning through experience in the CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) programme and the theory of knowledge course which develops critical thinking.  The assessment in each subject group is based on the determination of the level of student performance against the established criteria, and not on the ranking of students in a given group. External assessment includes a number of tasks emphasizing higher-order cognitive thinking skills, and which may take the form of essays and test sets. Internal assessment carried out by the teachers and moderated by the IB, is part of the final assessment of the student.