

The extended essay and coursework gave me confidence in expressing my ideas and analysing academic research. “The breadth of the programme is a unique asset, allowing me to continue studying subjects such as Mandarin, which I would have otherwise had to drop. “The IB is challenging but it prepared me for the style of learning at university, where self-discipline and initiative are essential for success,” she says. Rhiannon Durant, 19, completed the IB at Sevenoaks School and is now studying biochemistry at the University of Oxford. It has made me a more versatile thinker and learner.”

“We have a friendly rivalry at school between students doing A levels and the IB, and we each think we are doing the best set of qualifications. “I love the more varied scope of subjects,” she says. Sixteen-year-old IB student Gabrielle Deegan is studying English, French and politics at higher level and Spanish, maths and environmental systems and societies at standard level at Wellington College and plans to study law at university. “Sevenoaks currently has students from 46 countries in the sixth form, and this is partly due to the IB and the global perspective and appreciation.” What makes it popular with students?

The IB allows young people to keep their options open while developing in their teenage years. “It is also too young to close doors to university by making decisions too soon. The working world of today requires young people to be independent thinkers with good interpersonal skills. We believe that, at 15 or 16, pupils are too young to give up core subjects such as English or maths. “Every student at Sevenoaks takes English, maths, a science and a language. “The IB offers breadth and a balanced education which other qualifications do not offer,” he says. And while A levels are usually assessed with end-of-course (or terminal) examinations, the IB has a more multilayered approach, with coursework and other assessment elements as well as examinations. A levels allow students to study three or four subjects in depth, while the IB is more about breadth and depth, allowing young people to continue studying subjects they enjoy alongside those that will shape their university degree or career choices. “Comparing the IB with A levels is like comparing apples with pears,” says James Dahl, master of Wellington College. Some UK independent schools offer only the IB while others have a twin track and give sixth formers the choice of IB or A levels. About 4,500 students in the UK take the Diploma or Career-related Programme every year. There are currently 130 IB World Schools in the UK, 60 per cent of which are in the independent sector, and most of which offer the Diploma Programme. The IB is offered by 5,300 schools in 158 countries worldwide and is studied by 1.4 million students. There is also an IB Career-related Programme for 16 to 18-year-olds, which gives an academic grounding with career-related study. They also do a theory of knowledge component to develop critical thinking and a 4,000-word extended essay. Students tend to study three subjects at advanced level, and three at standard level. These groups are: languages and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts. The most popular IB programme in the UK is the Diploma Programme, which comprises six subject groups studied over two years.
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How to spot a good school: five things to look for.The Week Independent Schools Guide 2021.
