I have had the privilege of working with various different curricula, both national and international in India and in Singapore. I never genuinely realized how daunting choosing a curriculum could be until I was a parent, sitting in an auditorium, overwhelmed trying to understand Which is the right curriculum for my child between IBDP and A Levels. We were faced with numerous possible choices. My child’s eyes were filled with dreams of going to a Law School in the UK. Then, I finally understood the enormity of the decision I was about to make.
While I cannot say with certainty that I came out of the experience with the ability to make accurate decisions for the numerous children that come to me for advice and direction. I gained a better understanding of the key things to keep in mind through my experiences as an educator and the Academic Head of Middle School.
So what advice do I have for a parent whose child is moving from secondary to senior school? How do I help you choose a curriculum that will enable your child move closer to securing admission into a good university? It is natural to feel apprehensive and concerned, and I have definitely faced this as a parent. As parents, we can debate endlessly trying to decide which one, the IB Diploma Programme or the Cambridge A-Levels, is superior and which better prepares our children for university and beyond. However, none of us can deny that a ‘good education’ implies far more than simply a set of grades.
Let’s try and delve a little deeper to try and understand what each of these curriculum entails:
What is an IB education?
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is for students aged 16-19. The Programme aims to develop students to have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge, giving them opportunities to flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally, and ethically. The DP curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the three elements of the DP core, comprising theory of knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the extended essay.
In addition to the six subjects, the DP core components aim to broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills. They are:
What are the benefits of a Cambridge education?
The Cambridge Advanced is typically for learners aged 16 to 19 years who need advanced study to prepare for university and higher education. The curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet international in approach. Cambridge students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university and in their future careers. The Cambridge International AS & A Level help develop a deep understanding of subjects and independent thinking skills.
At ABWA we offer a wide choice of subjects and students have the liberty of choosing them in a variety of combinations. This flexibility means students can build an individualized curriculum, choosing to either specialize in a particular subject area or study a range of subjects. Alongside this, we also offer the Cambridge International Project Qualification (Cambridge IPQ), which is an exciting new project-based qualification. By engaging in this, the students have the opportunity to develop skills by carrying out research into a topic of their choice.
The A Levels Program at ABWA is unique and is based not only on the core values of the Cambridge Program but is adapted to ensure that the students get to apply their classroom knowledge in real life situations through engaging in internships. This helps to give students that added advantage as they prepare to go into a university of their choice.
So which one is right for my child? Both the IBDP and the Cambridge International A Levels offer similar levels of education, both being post-secondary entry-level qualification courses for university admissions. Both the Cambridge board and the IB work with universities to ensure that students are equipped in terms of content and skills to tackle the rigors of university study.
According to one of the University Admission Officers’ Report, the IB Diploma was described as a course aimed at developing a more broad-based conceptual understanding encouraging a ‘global outlook’; while the A Level programme, was described as a course focusing on developing a more ‘in-depth’ expertise.
In my opinion, the IB Diploma is a good fit for students who are uncertain about their subjects of study at the University level and wish to maintain a broad range in their choice of subjects; while the A Levels offer a good option for students who have clarity about the subject area they wish to study.
The debate about which one is better can continue, however the reality is that admissions departments of all universities will scrutinize students based purely upon their individual merit and the suitability and preparedness for their chosen path of study. This primarily means that a student with accomplished A Level results is as likely to secure admission to Oxbridge or an Ivy League college, as is a student with excellent IB diploma points. In fact, research confirms that it is the non-academic activities that help develop well- balanced, versatile and sensitive individuals. In that regard, whether IBDP or A Levels, all ABWA students have the choice and the privilege of participating in a range of extra-curricular, co-curricular and community service activities that determine the hallmark of a ‘good education’.
The hardest part of being a teacher and a parent is equipping our children with the information that they need to take a decision and then standing by and letting them make the decision for themselves. I believe this is what each one of us should aspire to do for the young adults in our lives, in order that they learn to take ownership of their own choices and decisions.
While I cannot say with certainty that I came out of the experience with the ability to make accurate decisions for the numerous children that come to me for advice and direction. I gained a better understanding of the key things to keep in mind through my experiences as an educator and the Academic Head of Middle School.
So what advice do I have for a parent whose child is moving from secondary to senior school? How do I help you choose a curriculum that will enable your child move closer to securing admission into a good university? It is natural to feel apprehensive and concerned, and I have definitely faced this as a parent. As parents, we can debate endlessly trying to decide which one, the IB Diploma Programme or the Cambridge A-Levels, is superior and which better prepares our children for university and beyond. However, none of us can deny that a ‘good education’ implies far more than simply a set of grades.
Let’s try and delve a little deeper to try and understand what each of these curriculum entails:
What is an IB education?
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is for students aged 16-19. The Programme aims to develop students to have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge, giving them opportunities to flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally, and ethically. The DP curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the three elements of the DP core, comprising theory of knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the extended essay.
In addition to the six subjects, the DP core components aim to broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills. They are:
- Theory of knowledge (TOK): Students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know.
- Extended Essay (EE): An independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Students complete a project related to those three concepts.
What are the benefits of a Cambridge education?
The Cambridge Advanced is typically for learners aged 16 to 19 years who need advanced study to prepare for university and higher education. The curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet international in approach. Cambridge students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university and in their future careers. The Cambridge International AS & A Level help develop a deep understanding of subjects and independent thinking skills.
At ABWA we offer a wide choice of subjects and students have the liberty of choosing them in a variety of combinations. This flexibility means students can build an individualized curriculum, choosing to either specialize in a particular subject area or study a range of subjects. Alongside this, we also offer the Cambridge International Project Qualification (Cambridge IPQ), which is an exciting new project-based qualification. By engaging in this, the students have the opportunity to develop skills by carrying out research into a topic of their choice.
The A Levels Program at ABWA is unique and is based not only on the core values of the Cambridge Program but is adapted to ensure that the students get to apply their classroom knowledge in real life situations through engaging in internships. This helps to give students that added advantage as they prepare to go into a university of their choice.
So which one is right for my child? Both the IBDP and the Cambridge International A Levels offer similar levels of education, both being post-secondary entry-level qualification courses for university admissions. Both the Cambridge board and the IB work with universities to ensure that students are equipped in terms of content and skills to tackle the rigors of university study.
According to one of the University Admission Officers’ Report, the IB Diploma was described as a course aimed at developing a more broad-based conceptual understanding encouraging a ‘global outlook’; while the A Level programme, was described as a course focusing on developing a more ‘in-depth’ expertise.
In my opinion, the IB Diploma is a good fit for students who are uncertain about their subjects of study at the University level and wish to maintain a broad range in their choice of subjects; while the A Levels offer a good option for students who have clarity about the subject area they wish to study.
The debate about which one is better can continue, however the reality is that admissions departments of all universities will scrutinize students based purely upon their individual merit and the suitability and preparedness for their chosen path of study. This primarily means that a student with accomplished A Level results is as likely to secure admission to Oxbridge or an Ivy League college, as is a student with excellent IB diploma points. In fact, research confirms that it is the non-academic activities that help develop well- balanced, versatile and sensitive individuals. In that regard, whether IBDP or A Levels, all ABWA students have the choice and the privilege of participating in a range of extra-curricular, co-curricular and community service activities that determine the hallmark of a ‘good education’.
The hardest part of being a teacher and a parent is equipping our children with the information that they need to take a decision and then standing by and letting them make the decision for themselves. I believe this is what each one of us should aspire to do for the young adults in our lives, in order that they learn to take ownership of their own choices and decisions.
Image source-Freepik
Content source -https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum/
https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/what-is-an-ib-education-2017-en.pdf
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