The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma is an internationally respected and recognised qualification. Success in the IB will ensure access to good universities throughout the world.

What is special about the IB?

The IB Diploma makes sure that students do not specialise before they go to university. This means that students study six subjects, three at standard level and three at higher level. Students must choose a range of subjects, i.e. the objective of the IB is to encourage BREADTH as well as DEPTH across the curriculum. In addition, every student must take part in a CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) programme which is awarded points and which contributes to the final mark achieved in the Diploma.

What is the pass mark?

The pass mark is 24 points. Click through for a full and detailed breakdown of the grading system.

What marks do you need to get into university?

The higher the mark, the more choice you will have in terms of the universities to which you can apply. A top ten university (Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Warwick, etc.) will want a mark of between 38 and 42 depending on the degree subject.

Do Universities prefer A Levels or the IB?

Over the last 15 years, the percentage pass rate for A Levels has increased to almost 100%, i.e. it is now very difficult to fail an A Level. A great deal of concern has been expressed about "grade inflation" and there is a widespread perception that the A Level is no longer the "gold standard" of the British education system as it was in the past.

In contrast, the percentage pass rate for the IB Diploma has remained constant over the last 20 years at about 82%. This means that the IB is just as challenging now as it was in 1987. This fact is accepted by universities worldwide. The IB is recognised as a first-class qualification which prepares students for study at university.

There are also other elements of the IB which universities find compelling.

• The Theory of Knowledge, a practical philosophy-based course, is a compulsory element of the IB. This course helps train young minds to question and think in an analytical way, skills essential for success at university.
• The Extended Essay. This is an original piece of research relating to one of the subjects being studied, e.g. an Economics student might look at the performance of a company or business. The research is written up into a 4000 word paper. Again this is a skill which is extremely useful in preparing students for the academic challenge of university-level work.

For further information contact our Admissions Registrar, Chris Osbourn: chris.osbourn@stclares.ac.uk