What are the Benefits of an IB Diploma?

Do you remember the good old days when all you had to choose was whether to use a Faber Castell pencil or a Ticonderoga pencil? Well, further you climb the ladder of education, you’re forced to make plenty of choices. The good thing here is that with a wider variety of choices, the higher are your options.

Recently, the IB Diploma program has seen an increase in popularity among schools as well as parents and kids. More than 4000 schools have embraced the International Baccalaureate Program, and over one million students graduate with an IB degree worldwide every year.

What is IB?

The diploma program by IB (International Baccalaureate) is a two-year educational program. It is primarily aimed at students who are in the age group of 16 to 19 years. It is recognized by all universities all over the world and provides the requisite qualification for admission to higher studies.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) is administered by the International Baccalaureate and is taught in approximately 140 countries. It is taught in French, English or Spanish. For a student to participate in this program, it is required for him/her to attend an IB school.

The curriculum is made up of six subjects covering major fields of learning.

According to IB, approximately 240 hours or 3 subjects studied at HL (Higher Level) to allow for specialization in certain areas and 150 hours or 3 subjects studied at SL (Standard Level) to ensure a broad education.

Participation in an interdisciplinary course entitled Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

• composed of questions.

• the most central of these is “How do you know?”

• assessment is via a 1400 to 1600 philosophical essay and oral presentation.

Engage in a substantial piece of research resulting in an Extended Essay (EE)

• undertake a substantial piece of original research and write an extended essay of about 4000 words.

Participation in an extra-curriculum program entitled Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)

•  finish a project that is inclusive of these three concepts.

Benefits of taking an IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma

• Academic Rigor

Students understand how to learn, analyze, and reach thoughtful conclusions. IB Diploma candidates function at the level of an introductory college student.

• Comprehensiveness

Students encounter rigor throughout all disciplines. They refine areas of strength, and developmentally improve areas of weakness.

• Internationalism

The program encourages students to think globally and the curriculum is based on international standards. Coursework and exams are graded by an international grading team.

• Acuity

IB diploma holders are known to be more creative and imaginative while dealing with everyday problems and dilemmas.

• Taking all classes

Students take classes with peers having common ambitions.

• Consistent application

Students emphasize on research and critical thinking skills to a wide range of subject matters.

• Risk Takers

Students taking IB are trained not to be afraid of approaching uncertainties. Students are taught to be independent, explore new strategies, ideas and be expressive enough to be able to defend their beliefs.

Many schools prefer the IB approach: IB students are “more authentically educated” than their AP counterparts, who use “brute memory, not thinking” get through exams that are generally half multiple choice. 

Universities are eager to attract IB diploma students because:

• They are recognized as being prepared to accept educational challenges.

• They have self-confidence with university-level material.

• They have developed the capacity for independent research and study.

• They have cultivated sound thinking and communication skills.

• They have engaged in extracurricular activities alongside academic studies.

• They have thought in global terms and have a cultural sensitivity and international orientation.

Conclusion

Educationally, these 2 years are the most important year of a student’s life. The workload will get progressively higher and students must work hard and submit work punctually and to the highest standard, they are capable of. And there is a need that parents must support and monitor their children.