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
Celebrating our best ever IB results!
Once again our students have produced a remarkable set of results in the prestigious IB Diploma. We are relatively unselective in intake, making the average of 36.7 points (equating to better than 3 A grades at A level) even more impressive, and the...
What is Theory of Knowledge (TOK)?
Theory of Knowledge is a core component of the IB Diploma. TOK promotes intellectual curiosity through critical thinking and reflection about what we know. Although TOK is not a philosophy course. It draws on aspects of epistemology in a very practical way. Mainly in...
Share and Care shortlisted for ISA award
Shortlisted for ‘Outstanding Community Involvement’ awardOur CAS group, Share and Care came about when students Marc, Jan, Shudath and Marius, noticed the growing number of homeless people in Oxford. What started off as the students independently buying...
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