A Levels or IB?

DD2 started IB but quickly realised that she was actually studying a number of subjects she hadn't enjoyed at GCSE (Maths, German and Biology) and switched to humanities A levels and EPQ at the autumn half term of lower 6th. It was definitely the right outcome for her. Her school allowed anyone to attend ToK whether doing IB or A levels. If the main attraction of IB is the extended essay then an EPQ is worth looking at.

There is the option of 'maths studies' which is easier than standard level - my son said it was similar to GCSE.
Unless they need maths for their degree course the unis seem happy with this option.

I am desperately hoping the government will see sense and scrap A levels by the time my DS gets there, if not I will strongly encourage him to do the IB as it seems a much better, broader qualification.

It's so ridiculous to go so narrow so early.

I am an IB DP coordinator. I think it is a fantastic programme and for most students the best preparation for university Many of the components particularly the EE make the first year at university easier.

A couple of clarifications on CAS. The C is creativity and as far as I know has always been.
A is Activity but has been Action in the past
S is service.
There is no longer a requirement for hours it is about meeting the learning outcomes and reflections.

Let me know if you have any questions

@Missmissmissmiss
Why didn’t she do MFL at gcse? That seems odd for a bright DC. Especially as you now seem to think it’s a good idea. Starting from scratch for IB won’t be easy when other DC are going in with a 9 or 8 at GCSE. She is handicapped from the start. She was poorly advised and probably isn’t that good at MFL if she dropped it, so how will she cope now?

She is already dropping down at Maths and MFL. This sounds like more of a dream as opposed to something that’s a sensible plan to maximise her results.

I think it really depends on the child. Two of mine have been very focused so A levels suit them well and dropping less favoured topics has been eagerly anticipated. They wanted/ needed high scores so made sense to go with their strengths. The youngest is more broad in their interests, a little like your dd and IB might well suit them, so I would keep an open mind and let her explore all the options.

Well, it's not that you have to do a language from scratch. It's an option to acquire another, for many.

Eg. Ds did igcse Arabic in year 9, igcse French in year 11 & has just completed Spanish ab initio for IB.

He's found it a hard slog, because he's a lazy git, but it's been very good for him. I'm a big fan of the TOK, EE & CAS elements.

Ds ran a village Saturday school teaching English to local kids as part of his CAS (we live in Forn Parts). He's now off to do a gap year TEFLing in Cambodia before uni.

I suspect it's also done him a power of good in terms of independence, organisation & general maturity - you do really need to keep on top of it, which was a big challenge with ds's dyspraxia - excellent life skills.

The IB is a great qualification, and I've had students do it. The only downside I'd say was that many found the qualification much harder than A levels, but this is not necessarily reflected in the offers universities make. Many have quite high IB grade requirements, which doesn't really reflect how much harder the IB is in reality. So having one or two weak areas that pulls down your marks means lower grades compared to a student who does A level and selects their 3 best subjects. It can be a disadvantage.

I did mean to add that she had time for music and many other activities during her 6th form career. That’s what made her a rounded person.

Back in the day, DD1 was all round pretty bright. 9 A*s at gcse. However she didn’t really love maths and the sciences. Therefore IB would not have been suitable. She liked MFLs above all and did 2 at A level. She hasn't needed sciences at all since snd even the maths element in her job has been learnt and coped with without having an A level in it. Not everyone will ever be expected to be an all rounder after 18!

IB undoubtedly offers a broader education in sixth form. It depends what the goal is - if the goal is this solely then it’s a great option. If the goal is entry to a top UK university, A levels are a much easier route! There is no advantage to IB at UK university level. Entry requirements are quoted as IB score requirement or A level score, so the additional work required isn’t recognised.

Local to us there is a mass exodus at sixth form away from the outstanding SS grammar that offers IB to schools that offer A levels instead.

@CalmerChamaeleon
Don't worry. I think if she enjoys humanities more than MFL or Maths, play to her strengths. IB is expensive to run and 6th forms do woo DC to do it to keep numbers up.

No university will turn her down with A levels and she can always do other activities for fun to complement her A levels and broaden out learning.,

Oops. I've managed to sign into my old account!

@TizerorFizz Thank you for sharing a different perspective. She's a great all-rounder, with predicted grades of 8s and 9s across the board. As a Y10, she's interested in exploring all that's on offer, and I was quite surprised that she wanted to look into the business course when her real interests lie in the humanities. I expect that's the route she'll take in the end, probably English, history and RS at A level.

@Missmissmissmiss
If your DD is having to start a language from scratch, I would avoid this. I’m assuming she’s not doing one for Gcse so there’s a big gap to make up. I also think being less confident in maths doesn’t help the case for IB either. A levels allow her to play to her real strengths. If she chose A levels, ask yourself, would (or could) she choose a MFL or Matjs? If the answer is “No” then the IB would be a mistake.

What are her possible grades for gcse and make sure, if she does A levels, she doesn’t do too many new subjects. Think about her known strengths and possible careers. A levels can keep lots of options open - you just need to choose the subjects that do that! Business and Photography won’t do that. However mixed in with traditional subjects, that’s fine: eg Biology and Geography work ee together.

Ooh, CAS may have changed, when I did it was Community, activity, service

I did IB many years ago when I was at an international school. It was highly rated by universities even back then and I could have easily gone to uni with it anywhere in the world as many of my classmates did. I went to Scotland and skipped the first year and started in second.

I loved TOK, the CAS was fine, I did volunteering work in an orphanage and helped out with the elementary school. I also did DoE so that counted for the A element.

The extended essay was full on but we could chose anything we liked so it was actually really interesting to do.

I did higher Biology, Chemistry and English Language, subsid French, Geography and maths. Did Marine Biology at uni.

It is absolutely not pointless!

why?

It's pointless doing an IB if you can do A levels that's just bizarre

I also have a dc in yr10 and we are looking at the same for her. I’ve just been reading some old mn threads on this from the last couple of years and they have some good info if you do a search.

Both my younger dc want to study in Europe so IB is going to be better for them, my eldest did a levels because she knew exactly what she wanted to do at uni in the uk.