Why choose the IB?
The IB Diploma is a very well established and highly regarded international qualification and students are choosing to study for the IB rather than other qualifications such as traditional British A Levels.
- With the IB Diploma students are accepted at the best universities and colleges worldwide. The depth and breadth of the Diploma enables students to offer that bit extra, not only at higher education institutes but also within future careers.
- The structure of the course enables students to study a wide range of subjects, rather than narrowing their choices as they would in the A Level programme.
- The CAS element of the IB allows students to continue with sports or arts subjects as part of their course. Or they can try something completely new!
- As an international qualification students can follow university or career options within a global market.
- Consistently, education research and reports show that the make up of the Diploma develops a well rounded individual with challenging views.
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 78%. 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.
Head of Careers, Melanie Moorhouse, has an in depth knowledge of what universities are looking for and provides valuable, continuous admissions advice on her blog.
Yasmina O’Sullivan – British
Gap year volunteering with Project Trust, India
St Clare’s is not like other schools where students are simply spoonfed information. I realised this in my first week. Teachers expected more from me and all at once I was at the helm of my own education. I won’t deny that this was shocking and strange, but now, two-years on, I couldn’t be more grateful. I have attained greater independence and new-found appreciation for my subjects. St Clare’s has bolstered me for the dynamic world ahead. I now enter it knowing that I can take whatever comes my way.
Further Reading
IB Orientation Olympics
The orientation weekend would not be complete without the Orientation Olympics. This is an annual event for new students arriving to study Pre-IB or IB and each student is assigned a team: Blue, Green, Yellow or Red. They play a range of fun games...
Bletchley Park Visit
On the 29 April 2018, 11 IB students and 4 teachers visited Bletchley Park, the place which was once the central site for British codebreakers during World War Two. The location, famous for where Alan Turing broke the enigma code is perfect our history students as...
Career Launch Day
On Monday 26 March the IB1 students were given a career's launch day where they attended career focused sessions tailored to their application plans and subject interests. This ranged from talks on taking a gap year to writing personal statements. We were extremely...
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