[ClevaClogz]

Hi boffins,

Im currently in year11 doing my GCSEs so ive got to come to decision soon about wether to do IB or A-lelvels.

Ive been reading through some of the topics on this forum and some of them seem pretty intense, wayyyy above GCSE level. Some of the TOK and EE titles seems especially scary and impossible. I can imagine getting pretty damn stressed over it all which doesnt appeal to me, unsurprisingly. Even though im looking for A/A* in all my GCSEs im not sure if the course would suit me. Ive also read through the Alevel/IB thread and generally you guys seem happy with it which is great to hear (well read actually).

Anyone regret it?

Anyway, the main thing I wanted to ask was whether universitys really prefer it or not. Is it worth all that extra hard work??
Im hoping to get into dentistry (at this moment anyway) and I read that Queen Marys requires around 36points atleast yet wouldnt it be much easier to get 3 As at Alevel??

The IB people at my school say they have more career options and are better prepared for uni whilst the Alevel people claim IB students get no sleep,have no social life and do alot of extra and perhaps not essential work (to put it bluntly)

Do you think itll still be a couple of years before the IB is truly recognised and favoured???

Sorry for the questions, im sooo confusedd

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks

[~Lc~]

my friend is doing Alevels, she got 3 A* and 3A's in her IGSCE's and 4 A's in her As levels. she's predicted 4A's in her A2 level, but is in the edge of her seat with her uni acceptances. She applied for dentistry at queen marys and hasn't gotten a reply yet after her interview. Now this could be because she's an international student and applying for dentistry, but she has gotten 4 rejections so far! I mean international or not with her grades she should get into oxbridge right? another friend of mine who does A levels applied to 6 uni's and got into 1 and he got mostly A's and Bs in all his subjects... now I dunno again this might be an international student thing, but I think 5 rejections is ridiculous for an A student. Or maybe it's the major. me and my classmate who do IB however have gotten all acceptances (thank God). But then again you hear of a lot of A level students getting into excellent uni's this might just be the bad luck of my friends...

but if you want the truth, when I joined IB I was excited about it, and still am. I felt like I joined a society not an educational system. say TOK to an Alevels student and watch the "huh" expression on his/her face! IB gives you a school life not just an education, and to be frank I didn't feel the pressure of IA's until february of this year. One month of pressure and the rest of the 2 year was really no different than IGCSE pressure. Sure the subjects are more advanced, but to tell you the truth they're very similar to Alevels syllabi, only in IB you get the experience of coursework, lab reports, languages, social sciencies... etc. I mean this looked more appealing to me than just having 3 subjects to study for 2 years, that seems like a waste of time it helps out in uni... I mean look at all the madness we have to go through to get our diploma! surely Alevels students will struggle at the beginning of uni, but we have already been struggling since 11th grade so we have an advantage.

I can't really talk con IB because I love it so much. But I really should warn you it's no walk in the park! u need motivation and persistence! so be cautious when u start and avoid procrastination hehe

Good luck

EDIT: you also become very repetitive and write too much in posts

[AfroChino]

Has your school got plenty of experience with IB? If it hasn't I say no. That's the only thing I regret. I was in the group of students who were the first to take IB at my school. The school were not prepared and not very knowledgable of it.

But if the school has been running IB for a few years now I say go for it. I went from GCSe's to IB too, and at first it was hard to get used to because in my opinion the way in which the IB is marked and asessed is very different from GCSE's. But as long as you make your self familiar with the subject criteria and requirments from the very begining, you should be fine.

I also think that you do alot of 'growing' in terms of handling your work, your time, and how your approach things. For example, in World Lit. I had to do 2 oral examinations at A Level you don't do any Oral exams. It puts you in a better position when it comes to taking on things like seminars at University.

Good Luck.

[HMSChocolate]

Erm...what do I say now? Ditto to everything Lc said.

I have never regretted taking IB. I didn't have a choice between IB or A levels, I just had a choice between IB and a regular high school diploma. If I had a choice with A levels, however, I think I would still had taken IB, because in the early days of my IB naivety, IB sounded more impressive. And I don't think I would had regretted that decision either.

Seriously, IB is great. There were definitely time when I was so stressed with work that I hate it, but even then I didn't regret starting it.

As for do universities appreciate it more than A levels, well I'll assume that you're going to apply for UK unis. there's a certain degree of recognition for IB in UK but as you will see if you read the A levels vs IB thread, that we don't feel it's enough. however I really do think you do get more career options with IB as you don't have to specialise so completely like A levels. As for IB being no sleep and no social life, it's not that bad. Seriously if you can plan your work, you get plenty of sleep and an adequate social life. And still get 35+. However, you will still have to be prepared to be sacrificing some time around this time of your second year to concentrate on internal assessments and exams (which, as if any of you needed reminding, is in 2 months!).

I think IB is worth is not only because it got me relatively easily into uni (I'm in Australia though), but also because of the satisfaction I got after having got through it. You know, IB is supposed to be this really hard thing but then you realise at the end of your exam that you've gotten through it and you're still alive and probably will get some really good grade, and then it doesn't seem as hard as you thought it was at the beginning of the first year.

(Original post by ~Lc~)
EDIT: you also become very repetitive and write too much in posts

I agree

[~Lc~]

(Original post by AfroChino)
Has your school got plenty of experience with IB? If it hasn't I say no. That's the only thing I regret. I was in the group of students who were the first to take IB at my school. The school were not prepared and not very knowledgable of it.

But if the school has been running IB for a few years now I say go for it. I went from GCSe's to IB too, and at first it was hard to get used to because in my opinion the way in which the IB is marked and asessed is very different from GCSE's. But as long as you make your self familiar with the subject criteria and requirments from the very begining, you should be fine.

I also think that you do alot of 'growing' in terms of handling your work, your time, and how your approach things. For example, in World Lit. I had to do 2 oral examinations at A Level you don't do any Oral exams. It puts you in a better position when it comes to taking on things like seminars at University.

Good Luck.

I do agree the school should be prepared for IB, but I don't agree about the experience. I'm the 2nd batch of IB from my school, and the first batch were very promising. 8 people got over 38! a 45, 2 42s, 2 41s, a 39 and a 38... pretty amazing. in the end if you work hard enough you'll get there, you of course need the support of the school, but this support has nothing to do with how many years they've been teaching it...

[Bandev]

(Original post by HMSChocolate)
I think IB is worth is not only because it got me relatively easily into uni (I'm in Australia though), but also because of the satisfaction I got after having got through it. You know, IB is supposed to be this really hard thing but then you realise at the end of your exam that you've gotten through it and you're still alive and probably will get some really good grade, and then it doesn't seem as hard as you thought it was at the beginning of the first year.



I agree

Wat are you saying about Australia that we are stupid and inferior. Lol. In Australia it can be pretty hard to get into some courses unless you have an almost perfect score, eg. Melbourne Uni Medicine, Vet, Law which require a 43. But I do kind of agree with you too, Australia seems to have a sub standard education system, resulting in a large number of international student places and few government supported places, it is shame for Australia really. But politicians being politicians have no brains except for game playing, *sigh*.

[HMSChocolate]

Erm...I didn't SAY that! Ok, I can see that I was not very clear in my meaning. I'm saying that, to me, it seems that Aussie unis seem to appreciate IB more than UK and US unis since all I needed was my IB grades and I got an offer, as opposed to US unis where you have to take ridiculous SATs and UK where 38 IB points is equal to AAA or whatever, that you guys have argued was unfair ad nauseum in the IB vs A levels thread.

Perhaps I should add that my admission process was quite easy because I handed my application in person to the university representatives and actually talked to the vice-dean of my faculty at this university fair. they told me when I handed in my application that with 37 IB points, I'd definitely get an offer. So it's sort of like there's already this sort of informal interview on the spot already. Also having IB made my admission process much faster because they know what the IB is. If I only had a high school diploma, they'd have to look into my school's grading system/curriculum etc.

[Forester]

So many people get AAA at my old school that it's not funny. out of the 250 people who sit A levels, I think at least 50 get AAA. Around 10 get AAAA and like 5 get AAAAA.

if they did ib, only 20 would get 40+....thats my opinion. And of course less than 5 would get 45

[alleycat393]

i think that if you want to do the IB you should go to a school that either has a few years of experience WITH good results because it isn't very nice being a guinea pig! am one and our school sounded all enthusiastic about the IB but due to inexperience we have not finished out Math HL syllabus and had to rush our way through a few others....

as far as how A levels and the IB compare...well the IB allows you to do a core or higher and options so you don't end up knowing anything and everything there is about a subject because some of it is irrrelevant to the field you plan to get into later....

the kind of lab work we do makes us think and really gives us a feel of doing our OWN work! i want to go into research so it makes all the difference! ee helped there as well....at least you know where your interests lie...

actually when it comes to TOK it's not all that hard especially if your into social issues and debates and generally like to know about the world that exists apart from your text books and how your text book knowldege applies to the world!

i think the most important part is that you have to enjoy what your doing and if that's the way you look at the IB then it wont be just another exam with pressure and loads of homework....

ps:-unis love to see the diploma to your name...one has even given me an unconditional offer before i've got mine!

[HMSChocolate]

Now that I've read the other comments and thought about it: yes, it's definitely better if your school has some IB experience and, more important, have teachers who are experienced IB teachers. My school, as small as it is, falls into that catergory. We've been doing IB since 1997 (or 1996, I can't remember) and all our teachers have at least 5-10 years, if not more, of IB experience so they all know their course requirements back to front. it's good when you can get that because then you can rely on their information to be accurate and you don't have to panic and go onto an internet forum to ask for, say, tasks for Math portfolio because your teacher failed to give it to you.

I guess it must suck to be the guinea pig if half the time your teacher end up asking you what you have to do for WL or something. if you're stuck in that situation then it's just more stress for you, and as if IB wasn't enough stress already. But I guess that's what TSR IB subforum is for!

[Bandev]

(Original post by HMSChocolate)
Erm...I didn't SAY that! Ok, I can see that I was not very clear in my meaning. I'm saying that, to me, it seems that Aussie unis seem to appreciate IB more than UK and US unis since all I needed was my IB grades and I got an offer, as opposed to US unis where you have to take ridiculous SATs and UK where 38 IB points is equal to AAA or whatever, that you guys have argued was unfair ad nauseum in the IB vs A levels thread.

Perhaps I should add that my admission process was quite easy because I handed my application in person to the university representatives and they told me when I handed it in that with 37 IB points, I'd definitely get an offer. So it's sort of like there's already this sort of informal interview on the spot already. Also having IB made my admission process much faster because they know what the IB is. If I only had a high school diploma, they'd have to look into my school's grading system/curriculum etc.

Sorry for imposing my view on your words.

Anyway on whether to do IB or not, from my point of view, which is that of someone wanting to go to an Australian uni, it is worth it because it translates well into the Australian system.

Aside from that it is generally much more enriching than other high school year 12 certificates/diplomas. If you like learning it is great. In most schools there is generally a nice IB community feel which is nice.

[HMSChocolate]

(Original post by Bandev)
Sorry for imposing my view on your words.

Anyway on whether to do IB or not, from my point of view, which is that of someone wanting to go to an Australian uni, it is worth it because it translates well into the Australian system.

Aside from that it is generally much more enriching than other high school year 12 certificates/diplomas. If you like learning it is great. In most schools there is generally a nice IB community feel which is nice.

no worries. I knew you weren't that serious about the "stupid and inferior" comment. But yes, IB does translate ridiculously well into Aussie systems. So I've heard anyway. Either way, though, to do stuff like Dentistry and Med at my uni, I think you only need something like 34 or 36 points at IB.

[Deus]

I demand that you choose the IB. Therefore, IB is what you shall do!

[~Lc~]

(Original post by Deus)
I demand that you choose the IB. Therefore, IB is what you shall do!

good tactic Deus.. I think u got him/her

OP please specify ur gender since it is unclear and we will eventually offend u...(well I will ) *remembers incident with elvito*

[heronumbazero]

What about diploma vs. certificate? Is the certificate still taken into account when you apply for university?

[Deus]

Hardly. Most UK universities specifically state they want a diploma. But I suppose you can e-mail them and ask.

[-Aimee-]

My IBC last year told us that some dude got into Oxford with a certificate because he didn't do his CAS, but got 776 or something like that at HLs. But I agree that you should ask, these people are evil

[Sparky1]

Ask yourself one thing. Why are you doing it?

So many people go into IB for the wrong reasons

• Parents want then to
• Friends go into
• They feel they are better than others
• They feel it is a better education

IB is a great program for many reasons but it is not the end all and be all of education. Quite frankly in my school the smartest kids are not in IB and want nothing to do with the program. The reason being is that they feel the program is insular and elitist, hardly a reflection of the real world. In addition, the best teachers refuse to teach IB for the same reason.

Choose IB if you want a different challenge than the regular program provides or if you want to attend a university outside the boarders of your own country but not because of an image you want to portray or a group of people you want to impress.

[HMSChocolate]

(Original post by Lc)
OP please specify ur gender since it is unclear and we will eventually offend u...(well I will ) *remembers incident with elvito

feel free to neg me if I'm wrong and offended you (but please don't ), but I think the OP is female. You know, Cleva sort of implies female and all...just as elvito implied male.

(Original post by Sparky1)
IB is a great program for many reasons but it is not the end all and be all of education. Quite frankly in my school the smartest kids are not in IB and want nothing to do with the program. The reason being is that they feel the program is insular and elitist, hardly a reflection of the real world. In addition, the best teachers refuse to teach IB for the same reason.

Funny, at my school it's the opposite. But I guess in I can see why in bigger schools where you have choices between IB, A levels or AP or something, IB may be considered elitist.

[~Lc~]

(Original post by HMSChocolate)
feel free to neg me if I'm wrong and offended you (but please don't ), but I think the OP is female. You know, Cleva sort of implies female and all...just as elvito implied male.

let's the lady/guy tell us yea?