Bath Spa - HUGE discrepancy A levels and IB - Psychology
How is this possible? In IB grades BBB-BCC would be 555-544. You’d be lucky to get a total of 32 with those grades….more likely 28/29. Unless your SLs are all 6 and 7. Time to revise entry requirements maybe?
“A Level - grades BBB-BCC preferred. If studying Psychology, then a Grade B or higher is required. If Psychology is not an option at your school or college, then another A Level subject will be accepted, but a keen interest in psychology will need to be described in your personal statement.
BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.
T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
International Baccalaureate - a minimum of 32 points are required. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.”
“A Level - grades BBB-BCC preferred. If studying Psychology, then a Grade B or higher is required. If Psychology is not an option at your school or college, then another A Level subject will be accepted, but a keen interest in psychology will need to be described in your personal statement.
BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.
T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
International Baccalaureate - a minimum of 32 points are required. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.”
Original post by Dutchie07
How is this possible? In IB grades BBB-BCC would be 555-544. You’d be lucky to get a total of 32 with those grades….more likely 28/29. Unless your SLs are all 6 and 7. Time to revise entry requirements maybe?
“A Level - grades BBB-BCC preferred. If studying Psychology, then a Grade B or higher is required. If Psychology is not an option at your school or college, then another A Level subject will be accepted, but a keen interest in psychology will need to be described in your personal statement.
BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.
T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
International Baccalaureate - a minimum of 32 points are required. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.”
“A Level - grades BBB-BCC preferred. If studying Psychology, then a Grade B or higher is required. If Psychology is not an option at your school or college, then another A Level subject will be accepted, but a keen interest in psychology will need to be described in your personal statement.
BTEC – Extended Diploma grades from Distinction Distinction Merit (DDM) to Distinction Merit Merit (DMM) in a related subject. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.
T Levels – grade Merit preferred in a relevant subject.
International Baccalaureate - a minimum of 32 points are required. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement.”
Am I missing something? You're saying the IB grade requirements are too high, and have quoted the requirements for every qualification except the IB.
For other interested readers:
"International Baccalaureate - a minimum of 32 points are required. Applicants will need to show a keen interest in psychology in the personal statement."
Original post by Dutchie07
IB was at the bottom of the post. All the requirements were included for reference, enclosed in quotation marks.
Apologies. I missed that.
I don’t think 32 is an especially demanding requirement. Bear in mind it likely includes the bonus points.
It’s not an exact science equating 6 subjects and other activity against 3 AL’s. These will likely be based on student outcomes from the course.
It’s not an exact science equating 6 subjects and other activity against 3 AL’s. These will likely be based on student outcomes from the course.
Average IB result this year was 30 - this result is a combination of 6 A level subjects (3 higher level, three standard. Maths is mandatory), a 4000-word essay and CAS and TOK. Not really “bonus points” but hard work. https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/about-the-ib/pdfs/the-ib-dp-and-cp-statistical-bulletin_en.pdf
Average A level results for 2023 were mostly Bs.https://www.statista.com/statistics/282980/a-level-results-in-england-y-on-y-by-result/#:~:text=In%20Summer%202023%2C%2026.3%20percent,achieving%20a%20'C'%20grade.
So I’d say the IB entry requirements for this course should be closer to 30, really. It was just an observation. There are schools that rank higher in Psych that have lower IB requirements. That’s all.
Average A level results for 2023 were mostly Bs.https://www.statista.com/statistics/282980/a-level-results-in-england-y-on-y-by-result/#:~:text=In%20Summer%202023%2C%2026.3%20percent,achieving%20a%20'C'%20grade.
So I’d say the IB entry requirements for this course should be closer to 30, really. It was just an observation. There are schools that rank higher in Psych that have lower IB requirements. That’s all.
I’m aware that there’s work for the bonus points. It’s just a term used internally as they’re not associated with the academic subjects.
Ultimately you won’t find complete consistency with the IB grades being asked for, because the IBDP is massively different to AL’s. Likewise you can’t 100% match them to grades being asked in the French Bacc, India Class XII etc. Unis set them at a level they’re comfortable with having seen students from those qualifications on the course.
Ultimately you won’t find complete consistency with the IB grades being asked for, because the IBDP is massively different to AL’s. Likewise you can’t 100% match them to grades being asked in the French Bacc, India Class XII etc. Unis set them at a level they’re comfortable with having seen students from those qualifications on the course.
Sadly, there is a little less appreciation of the rigour of the IB Dip in the UK compared to the A levels. I guess every UK university knows the UK A levels but not necessarily the course content of the IB Dip. It has been acknowledged many times that there is less equivalence between the min A levels grades compared to what the universities are asking for with respect to the IB. IB students have HL requirements (regarded similarly the the 3 A levels subjects) AND also have to meet the overall IB score requirement (which A levels students do not have a secondary requirement).
The only thing I can say is, if you have a choice between A levels and IB, take the A levels. Far more straightforward.
The only thing I can say is, if you have a choice between A levels and IB, take the A levels. Far more straightforward.
Having worked in UK admissions for many years, I’m about as familiar with the IBDP as you can be without actually having completed it. It’s not a big unknown in the UK, it’s the second most common qualification that we see for undergrad entry.
Ultimately there is not much to be gained about worrying about these small variations, (and again, 32 is a low requirement), as you’re free to take any qualification you wish or apply anywhere you fancy.
Ultimately there is not much to be gained about worrying about these small variations, (and again, 32 is a low requirement), as you’re free to take any qualification you wish or apply anywhere you fancy.
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