Sixth Form BAC or A Levels?

[lojomamma]

DD School has been doing the bac for 4 years now and It is time to start thinking of sixth form, would you consider the All Girls sixth form which does the A Levels or her Coed which would be BAC, the school are not much help and even with Parents Evening I am confused, what criteria would you consider.

TIA

Our school does A levels and IB (assuming this is what you mean by bac?). The pupils choose which to study. My DS2 is studying the IB because the range of subjects he wanted would have been odd as A level combination. He is really enjoying the course and will do anything to earn CAS points

My others have all done/ will do A levels.

IB is a heavy workload but no exams at the end of Y12 and the final exams are earlier than the A levels, meaning they finish school in May and get their results a whole month earlier. To me it is a more well-rounded course.

What does your DD think about it?

If the bac is the International Baccalaureate, and your daughter wants to go to university, don't even think about doing A-levels.

Well, traditionally the issue re: UK university applications - in case that's something you're factoring in - has been that British degree courses, especially at the more old fashioned universities, are very specialised and so the 'specialisation' gap between the IB (or indeed the French Bac or German Abitur) and A-levels might be considered a problem. But tbh the depth of A-levels has been so reduced in recent years that I think this is becoming less and less of an issue, even for the most traditional/narrow/competitive degree courses. (I was involved in admissions this year and myself and my colleagues, at least, are not put off by the IB.)

Thanks, Yes I did mean the International Baccalaureate, sorry.
She is as confused as me to be honest. I know that most of her friends will be staying at the school to do the IB, but, what do Uni's think of the IB?

Thanks Arionater, I crossed your post there. So it is ok for UK uni then? When we went for the Parents Evening the Head Teacher was going on about international Uni's but didn't really touch the UK ones.

We have been doing Uni visits and all have been happy to accept the IB. It seems to be easier to get the points than from A levels. My DS has had suggested anything from 24 points to 32 and reckons he's predicted at least 30.

UCAS is very favourable towards the IB, giving it quite a points premium over A-levels. All but the most competitive universities/courses are happy to go along with UCAS.

so what would 30 points be ie bbc ?

BBC is 280 UCAS points, plus, say a B in the fourth subject of AS will give you an extra 50, so make that 330 (27 IB points).

For IB, 30 points = 419 UCAS, equivalent to 3 As at A2 and an A in your fourth AS subject.

Cambridge entrance requirements are:
"Offers are regularly made on the International Baccalaureate, at a level of between 7,6,6 and 7,7,7 in the Higher Level subjects, with overall scores between 38 and 42 points out of 45 . For matriculation purposes, grade 5 or above in the Standard Level of the IB is considered equivalent to GCSE grades A, B or C. For advice about suitable subject choices see course requirements." (For A Levels it is a minimum generally of AAA).

Yes, in my experience universities are fine with it. Oxford has similar rubric to the Cambridge bit given by Lilymaid. I think it is worth being aware that a higher level IB in, say, a language, is not quite as advanced as an A-level in it - but on the other hand, the IB students do have the advantage of greater breadth, and often they have been able to pursue subjects which are 'complementary' to their main interest in a way that might not be possible with A-levels.

Thank you for your help, In Jan we/dd will have to apply for sixth form, to be honest I think she will end up seeing if she can stay and do the IB.

Thanks again.

My kids are nowhere near this age yet, but I already think the Baccalaurea would be a good option. It gives them a broader range of subjects which has to make them more intresting and keep options open longer.

whoops - can't spell it. Should have put IB!

DD2 is doing Welsh bac,Performing Arts BTEC and English A level at college. Welsh BAc is compulsary but she chose what else she wantes to do. DD3's cschool will be starting Welsh Bac next year and the studentswil do thiss along side A levels.