A Levels or IB?

[Missmissmissmiss]

DD is in Y10 and went to her first college open evening last week and was interested to find out about loads of humanities subjects as well as business, photography (she's taken it for GCSE) and biology. The biology lecturer asked about her possible course choices and predicted GCSE grades then suggested the IB might suit her as she's strong all-round student.

The head of IB made the course sound very exciting, especially the 'extras' but DD isn't keen on starting a language from scratch and isn't confident she'd cope with the maths.

Has anyone got experience of the IB? Do universities like it? And what about future employers? DD doesn't know what she'd like to do for a career yet either!

@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 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

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.

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.

@TizerorFizz Ab initio language is for students who are new to MFL whilst those with 8s and 9s can study at the higher level, surely? She did very well with French up to the end of Y9 but we encouraged her to choose subjects she'd most enjoy and therefore succeed in.

She's not dropping down in maths, more lacking confidence in her own ability and again, this would be one of her 'lower' choices.

You seem to be under the impression that she's not capable but I can assure you she is. My question really was about the merits of both pathways from people who'd experienced one or the other, not about DDs abilities as a student.

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.

Maths studies has not been available for years. The last Studies exam was in November 2020, the May 2020 was cancelled.

Languages come in 3 types.

Language A or Studies in Language and Literature
Literature based normally first language
Available at HL or SL

Language B
A language you have studied for a few years
Available at HL or SL

Ab initio
A new language
Only available at SL.

That's interesting about the maths @Shortbreadselection , I hadn't heard about that option before.

I completely agree, @JassyRadlett . Whilst many A level courses offer enrichment alongside, I don't think they give such a broad education overall.

Other people I've spoken to say the same about preparing for uni, @marcopront . I guess it's the element of self-directed learning and having to be quite disciplined and organised that helps.

You haven't heard of the option Shortbreadselection mentioned as it no longer exists.

It is the self directed learning, it is the EE, it is the TOK.

Sorry for the misinformation... the world has moved on!

You're the first to mention EPQ @londonmummy1966; it looks like a great option alongside A levels. And the option to swap courses if they find it's not the right choice is always good to remember. Thank you 😊

Thank you for making the language options really clear @marcopront. That makes a lot of sense.

My point stands. If you don’t enjoy MFL at gcse, and stopped it, why would you love it at IB. SL limited points. So could be a worse result than A level where you do choose what you’d prefer. I’m sure you know best though op. In my experience all round clever Dc do Gcse MFL.

OP, re the language B thing.

If your dd did French to year 9, she'd be in a really good place to do French ab initio as one of her SLs. Easier than starting a whole new language.

Ds took French, Spanish & 'Arabic basics for foreign teachers' brats' in year 7 & 8 (we're in an Arabic speaking country).

He then continued French to IGCSE, & took his Arabic IGCSE in year 9. I was rather proud of that as it involved switching to the native speakers' class & to classical Arabic!

So when he got to his IB options, he got to choose between continuing French at HL or SL, or Spanish Ab Initio, which was more interesting to him.

I wouldn't be put off by the language B thing at all. It's a fantastic opportunity, looks great for unis, & if you apply to UK unis offers are generally made based on the HL grades, so not the end of the world if she doesn't get a 7 in it.

He then continued French to IGCSE, & took his Arabic IGCSE in year 9. I was rather proud of that as it involved switching to the native speakers' class & to classical Arabic!

Wow! That's brilliant.

I was super chuffed, yes! Only foreign student in years to attempt it, 13 when he sat the exams. I was incredibly proud of him.

His IB is looking like a respectable but not earth shattering mid to high 30s scores (did I mention he's a bright lazy git?) but yes, it's been an amazing course for him.

Plus IB is enormous fun to teach - I teach Language A (English).

It really does make the buggers think. IB is a large part of why I stay with international teaching - for my kids' benefit & also professionally .

If your dd did French to year 9, she'd be in a really good place to do French ab initio as one of her SLs. Easier than starting a whole new language.

If she studied French to year 9, she shouldn't be doing it as an initio.

I'm aware that it's not exactly 'in the spirit', but in reality, if you've not studied it formally ie to public exam level, there's nowt to stop you.

Ds got pipped at the post for the SpanAb school award by a very nice classmate. Who happens to be Chilean. & whose mother happens to be an MFL teacher, specialising in Spanish.

It's very, very common for kids to pick up 'ab initio' language subjects that they've previously studied at a basic entry level prior to KS4 choices/have a family advantage with.

@CorvusPurpureus
So a lot of DC cheat then.

I really dispute it’s better for degrees. Which degrees? My DD did 2 MFL at A level and 2 MFL at university. She had essay A levels too. At no time has she needed a science or maths. She kept going with drama and music for pleasure and the confidence gained from drama has stood her in good stead as a barrister. She, like many DC doing A levels found her A levels to be of more use than wider study in subjects she didn’t need and won’t need as she’s not a scientist. She like thousands of others found university more than ok. Bright organised DC do. I would also say that for maths, engineering, and quite a lot of degrees that require precise skills, IB is not necessarily better.,

Ds switched from a school that offered IB to do A-levels + EPQ (which I guess is the extended essay at IB?). A levels are wonderful if you are able to choose well for yourself. Two years to study subjects you want to focus on and do a project/essay in an area that interests you or would be useful for your career.

Depends on the person and their goals. If your dc are looking to enter a UK university, then there is no advantage in an IB. But you still might prefer it.

What would your dc choose for A levels?

What would your dc choose for A levels?

That's precisely her dilemma! History and English are dead certs, I'd say. But then there are a number of other subjects that she's finding it difficult to choose between, hence the suggestion she look at IB.

If she had a career in mind, I'm sure choosing subjects would be much simpler.

Thank goodness she's only in Y10 right now, with plenty of time to think carefully before deciding 😊

@CorvusPurpureus
*
It's very, very common for kids to pick up 'ab initio' language subjects that they've previously studied at a basic entry level prior to KS4 choices/have a family advantage with.*

It is not common in schools that follow the guidelines properly.

@marcopront

It always seems to me that people who have been brought up with two languages in the house always gain an advantage somewhere. IB, it appears, is no different.

I had a quick search for the Ab guidelines, since it's not my subject, & what I found seemed to suggest that the effective benchmark was

Bugger.

...