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
How we support your personal career journey
Pre-IB work-related learning day Our Pre-IB work-related learning day took place on Wednesday 13 February 2019. The aim was to promote teamwork and give students the opportunity to develop key employability skills. Our students were asked to design and construct a...
St Clare’s global citizens making a difference
St Clare’s global citizens making a difference Nicholas Zane, an International Baccalaureate student at St Clare’s, has undertaken a range of work to commemorate the Holocaust and raise awareness of the Kaifeng Jews. It was in early 2018...
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...
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