IB Grades: the A-Level Equivalents

Hey all,

I've been wondering... how to compare the A-Levels with IB? My friends take A-Levels, and now they have their results I was wondering how to compare them to my IB grades.

So... here's my conversion list:

7=A (DUH!)
6=A-/B+
5=B/B-
4=C
3=D
2,1=F

How does it look? Personally, I think that 6 in most IB subjects is equivalent to an A in A-Levels. What do you guys think?

Reply 1

grace

15

boonkoh

Hey all,

I've been wondering... how to compare the A-Levels with IB? My friends take A-Levels, and now they have their results I was wondering how to compare them to my IB grades.

So... here's my conversion list:

7=A (DUH!)
6=A-/B+
5=B/B-
4=C
3=D
2,1=F

How does it look? Personally, I think that 6 in most IB subjects is equivalent to an A in A-Levels. What do you guys think?

agreed. It is harder to get a 7 than it is to get an A at A-Level, so there isn't really an equivalent - if there was, it would be A*

Reply 2

ASNaC

I generally go with such a conversion, pointing out to my friends that in general a 7 is top 10 %, while an A is top 20%. I would also say in terms of diplomas anything 38 and over is the rough equivalent of AAAs (42 and up being more like AAAA or AAAAA).

Reply 3

boonkoh

OP

I agree!! getting a 7 is definately much more harder than getting an A. Anyways, I believe the entrance requirements for IB students at the top unis are outrageous... Also, the conditional offers are much more harder to obtain than A Level offers.

For A Levels, all you have to do is meet the min requirements for a few subjects (usually 3). For the IB, not only do you have to meet the requirements for 3 HL subjects, but also the overall points (which means good grades in all 6 subjects and TOK/EE).

Reply 4

ASNaC

Exactly - I was required 40 points with 7s in two specific HLs (English and History), which is far harder than being required 3 As, with As in English Lit and History.

Reply 5

vavavoom

10

ASNaC

Exactly - I was required 40 points with 7s in two specific HLs (English and History), which is far harder than being required 3 As, with As in English Lit and History.

Amen.

Reply 6

_Shines_

it would be A*

Yep that is for certain. A lot harder to get a 7 in IB than an A at Alevel- and then we get told to get more points for university places :tongue:

Reply 7

boonkoh

OP

YUp.. totally agree..
anyways, seems like the A-Levels are going to be replaced or seriously revamped given all the debate surrounding it. I think I heard that the brits are going to try to adopt some sort of baccalaureate diploma, kind of like the IB. It would be pretty cool if all the schools in UK adopted the IB (gives more credibility to us IB students) plus I just wondered how it would be like if every student in the UK did 50+ hours of community service...

Reply 8

Andres

boonkoh

YUp.. totally agree..
anyways, seems like the A-Levels are going to be replaced or seriously revamped given all the debate surrounding it. I think I heard that the brits are going to try to adopt some sort of baccalaureate diploma, kind of like the IB. It would be pretty cool if all the schools in UK adopted the IB (gives more credibility to us IB students) plus I just wondered how it would be like if every student in the UK did 50+ hours of community service...

150+ hours of community service

Reply 9

boonkoh

OP

Andres

150+ hours of community service

Its 50 hours of service, 50 hours of creativity, and 50 hours of action... and they don't all equal community service!

Reply 10

lilraj

an 7 is more than an A and for a higher level a 6 is eqivalent to an A in my opinion. for example if you can get a 6 in higher level maths u can get an A in alevel maths

Reply 11

ASNaC

lilraj

an 7 is more than an A and for a higher level a 6 is eqivalent to an A in my opinion. for example if you can get a 6 in higher level maths u can get an A in alevel maths

It is difficult to absolutely state that, as over 20% of those who do HL get 6s or above (I beleive), wherease with A-level it is almost exactly 20%. In terms of difficulty levels you may be right, alas statistics do not support you.

Reply 12

Jonatan

13

ASNaC

It is difficult to absolutely state that, as over 20% of those who do HL get 6s or above (I beleive), wherease with A-level it is almost exactly 20%. In terms of difficulty levels you may be right, alas statistics do not support you.

HL Maths is a special case. It is completely Insane. Ok, some of it is not as in-depth as A levels, but it is so broad... 7 in Maths HL sort of corresponds to A in A-level maths + a very good grade in A levels further maths.

Reply 13

ASNaC

Jonatan

HL Maths is a special case. It is completely Insane. Ok, some of it is not as in-depth as A levels, but it is so broad... 7 in Maths HL sort of corresponds to A in A-level maths + a very good grade in A levels further maths.

Yeah that's probably true. Many maths students I know did three maths A-levels (the rest all did at least two) - I don't think one would be nearly enough to prepare one for serious university level maths.

IB Grades: the A-Level Equivalents

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