【IB Diploma】Why is it so popular? A breakdown of IB course features and benefits (with comparison to IGCSE and the Canadian curriculum)

During the annual results season, in addition to DSE top scorers, news reports also often feature IB top scorers, referring to students who have achieved outstanding results under another education system. IB enjoys a high level of international recognition and has become increasingly popular among parents and students in Hong Kong in recent years. Apart from international schools, some Direct Subsidy Scheme and private schools also offer the IB International Baccalaureate programme. So, what are the features of the IB programme? How should subjects be chosen? What are the benefits of studying IB? And how does it differ from DSE, IGCSE and the Canadian education system?

The full name of the IB curriculum is The International Baccalaureate, which has a history of over 50 years. It is currently offered by more than 5,000 schools in over 150 countries or regions. The IB International Baccalaureate curriculum is divided into four categories, including the primary level (IB Primary Years Programme, PYP), middle level (IB Middle Years Programme, MYP), pre-university level (IB Diploma Programme, IBDP), and IB Career-related programme (CP).

A comprehensive education consultant pointed out that the biggest difference between IB and DSE is the learning approach. DSE is relatively more academically focused, and students need to do a large amount of practice and drill past exam papers when preparing for examinations. IB is also not easy to pass, but the curriculum places more emphasis on training students’ way of thinking, encouraging them to discuss freely and express their opinions.

The IB Diploma Programme is highly recognised internationally. More than 5,000 universities in over 100 countries and regions worldwide accept IB results as part of their admissions assessment, including universities in popular overseas study destinations such as the UK, the US and Canada. As such, the IB programme is particularly suitable for students who intend to pursue further studies overseas. If their results meet the required standard, they can progress directly to an undergraduate degree; otherwise, they may first take a pathway course, such as a Foundation Course or International Year One.

Parents and students may worry that choosing IB means they can only progress to overseas universities. In fact, this is not necessarily the case. If they ultimately decide to study in Hong Kong, IB students can still apply to local universities via the Non-JUPAS route. However, they should be mentally prepared, as competition is more intense than through the JUPAS route.

IBDP is a two-year pre-university programme designed for students aged 16 to 19, with subject choices mainly divided into compulsory and elective components. The three compulsory core subjects include:

In addition, the IBDP curriculum requires students to choose one subject from each of the six subject groups, covering the following areas:

The assessment method of the IBDP comprises public examinations and internal assessment, with public examinations held globally every May and November. Each elective subject is graded on a scale of 1 to 7, with a maximum total score of 42. If students achieve outstanding results in the compulsory subjects “Theory of Knowledge” and “Extended Essay”, they may receive up to 3 Bonus Points. Therefore, the maximum overall IBDP score is 45, which is what we commonly refer to as an “IB top scorer”. The passing score is 24.

Please note that if a student does not complete the requirements of the “Creativity, Activity, Service” subject, they will not be awarded the IBDP certificate, regardless of how well they perform in other subjects.

According to data from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), as of September 2023, there were 59 schools in Hong Kong offering IB programmes, including at secondary, primary and pre-university levels. International schools such as Chinese International School, Yew Chung International School, King George V School and South Island School under the English Schools Foundation (ESF), as well as Direct Subsidy Scheme schools such as Diocesan Boys' School and St Paul's Co-educational College, all offer IB programmes at different levels. Please refer to each school’s announcement for details.

Some international schools and DSS schools offer a wider range of curriculum options. For example, IGCSE and IAL are part of the British curriculum and are secondary school examination and advanced-level programmes designed for overseas students; they are equivalent qualifications to GCSE and A-Level studied by local students. International schools and DSS schools that offer the British curriculum include Harrow International School, Diocesan Girls’ School and St Paul’s College.

In addition, some international schools offer curricula from other countries according to the background of their sponsoring bodies. For example, the Canadian International School of Hong Kong (DSC) offers the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) programme; the French International School, German Swiss International School (German Section) and the American School, meanwhile, offer French (DNC, BAC), German (DIA) and American (AP) programmes respectively.

The admission age and primary/secondary school year structure vary slightly between different curricula. Below is a summary of information on some of these curricula, to give interested parents and students a basic overview.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme is only offered by international schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme schools and private schools. Tuition fees are much higher than those of local subsidised schools, so preparing an education fund early through a savings plan can help ease future financial pressure. 10Life previously compared the potential returns and risks of common insurance plans used to set up an education fund. Parents who are interested can read the article for a basic understanding, or WhatsApp 3705 1599 to enquire with 10Life’s insurance consultants.

This English version of this article has been generated by machine translation powered by AI. It is provided solely for reference purposes. In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between this translation and the original Chinese version, the Chinese version shall prevail.