UK University Application: AL v IB

Chole

Struggling between IB and A Level.   Do IB students got competitive edge inuniversity applications?

Appreciate your views.  Thanks!

ANChan59

Chole 發表於 15-11-2 10:51
Strugglingbetween IB and A Level.   Do IB students got competitive edge inuniversity applications?
...

For UK, GCE A level is more common. But a few years later, UK may restructure GCE A level, you need to consider too ......

For Oxbridge, they may consider IB marginally over A level, as Cambridge did a research to monitor the performance of IB students vs A level students, from the research, IB students graduation honour are higher than GCE A level in general.

slamai

回覆 Chole 的帖子

Before talking about competitive edge, the workload of IB DP is definitely heavier than GCE A level.  For the former, good in English is also a must.  Try to (i) evaluate the student's strengths & weaknesses and (ii) check against these exam frameworks for 'fitness'.

Chole

I buy the concepts of IB education and I think it is very good for the students' long term development.  However, my kid is not all rounded.  She's very good at English/Humanities but has major issues in Math/Science.  If she takes IB, she has to struggle with at least 2 subjects.  

There will be changes in A Level / AS exams as well as the UCAS tariff system.  Starting from 2017, A Level A* = IB High Level 7. A = 6 etc.  Based on statistics, %age of getting A* is lower than getting 7.  Nonetheless, workload of IB is much much heavier in my mind.  

A lot to consider so I wish to pick your brains here.

Chole

ANChan59 發表於 15-11-2 13:25
For UK, GCE A level is more common. But a few years later, UK may restructure GCE A level, you need  ...

Thanks for your reply.

Not surprised that IB students perform better in their undergraduate education.  

slamai

回覆 Chole 的帖子

If the target is higher scores in IB, Math Studies and Bio SL will be good choices for Math/Science group of subjects. But need to check against the preferred courses and universities if these choices will limit the chances of admission.  If Math/Science are real weaknesses that even a score of 5 cannot be obtained, better go for a narrow choice of subjects from GCE A level and exclude the weak subjects instead.

dc0115

回覆 slamai 的帖子

A very good reminder to me! Thank you.

Chole

Thank you for your advice!  Certainly will take it into consideration.

passers

If you prefer to enroll top 10 universities, I would suggest you choose IB, otherwise choose AL, but you have to spend double time in IB comparing with AL

slamai

回覆 passers 的帖子

I would consider IB having a competitive edge over A level in providing an all-rounded education which will be more obvious at the university and beyond rather than at admission stage, in particular for UK universities.

Wnnieng

外地升讀大學, AP或IB是否對入U讀doctor 和lawyer等較有用和好處?
如果 major in Eng writing 或 arts 是否分别不大?

joys2334

I know some of the students who want to study Engineering in Cambridge, it requires the subject of Further Maths.  But most of the IB schools will offer only IB maths instead of Further Maths.  So if you are a case like this, you better choose GCEAL

Shootastar

回覆 Wnnieng 的帖子

I think AP is, same as IB and AL, an entrance qualification to universities.
Each year, more than 2 millions of students take the AP examination. The number of students who take the IB examination is about 0.15 million and AL is about 0.4 to 0.5 million.

So AP is widely accepted as an entrance qualification to universities by most, if not all, universities in UK. I understand that all universities in Hong Kong would accept AP as entrance qualification.

Chole

passers 發表於 15-11-3 17:36
If you prefer to enroll top 10 universities, I would suggest you choose IB, otherwise choose AL, but ...

If the ranking is lower than 10, prefer to stay at HK..... my kid is not aiming at 神科

Chole

slamai 發表於 15-11-3 18:19
回覆 passers 的帖子

I would consider IB having a competitive edge over A level in providing an all- ...

That's what I think too but unfortunately my kid has serious time management issue and I can't imagine how she juggles the tremendous workload of IB.

passers

If you want to study in hongkong, then choose IB.