All About International Baccalaureate (IB)

[havok_ex]

stillwakingsleep:

A Level and IB equivalent grades here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rades.html

Wrong article to quote here. This is IB vs UK A-levels.

The UK A-levels has always been looked upon as inferior as compared to the SG A-level version. Its not unsurprising. Even NUS/NTU regularly rejects what is considered a 'good' A-level score if you take the UK version instead of the SG version.

[jetsetter]

Singapore has topped the Asia-Pacific region in the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma exams for the fourth consecutive year.


Of the 975 students here who took the exams in November last year, 43 students here achieved the perfect score of 45, up from 41 in 2012.

96.82 per cent of students here passed the exam, with an average score of 36.53 points. This is compared to the global pass rate of about 80 per cent and the global average score of 29.95 points. The IB results were released over the weekend to over 3,360 students in 22 countries in Asia Pacific.

There are 20 institutions in Singapore which offer the IB diploma programme, which is more broad-based than the A levels, requiring students to take six subjects and Theory of Knowledge, a course combining philosophy, religion and logical reasoning. Students also take a second language, undertake research, write a 4,000 word-essay and be involved in a community service project.

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-ne ... wG4Bw.dpuf

[dreamerz718]

Hi!

I’m really curious about the IB program me, it seems like an interesting and a refreshing change away from the A’levels.
If I intend ( and so do my parents) to pursue university education in the UK, is the A’levels a better route?
Thanks!

[nansk]

havok_ex:

The UK A-levels has always been looked upon as inferior as compared to the SG A-level version. Its not unsurprising. Even NUS/NTU regularly rejects what is considered a 'good' A-level score if you take the UK version instead of the SG version.

I am curious why the UK A-levels are considered inferior. :scratchhead:

[dreamerz718]

nansk:

havok_ex:

The UK A-levels has always been looked upon as inferior as compared to the SG A-level version. Its not unsurprising. Even NUS/NTU regularly rejects what is considered a 'good' A-level score if you take the UK version instead of the SG version.

I am curious why the UK A-levels are considered inferior. :scratchhead:

I heard that its considered 'easier', and there seems to be a form of grade inflation?

[micko07]

nansk:

havok_ex:

The UK A-levels has always been looked upon as inferior as compared to the SG A-level version. Its not unsurprising. Even NUS/NTU regularly rejects what is considered a 'good' A-level score if you take the UK version instead of the SG version.

I am curious why the UK A-levels are considered inferior. :scratchhead:

It's seen as easier than SIPCAL content-wise (you could probably cross-refer the syllabus of comparable subjects if you're interested). That, and in the UK, they use a modular system (like university), and allow for resits of individual modules. This makes it comparatively less stressful and easier than the Singapore format, where you are examined on 2 years' worth of knowledge all at once and you don't get the chance to resit.

[pirated]

micko07:

nansk:

[quote=\"havok_ex\"]The UK A-levels has always been looked upon as inferior as compared to the SG A-level version. Its not unsurprising. Even NUS/NTU regularly rejects what is considered a 'good' A-level score if you take the UK version instead of the SG version.

I am curious why the UK A-levels are considered inferior. :scratchhead:

It's seen as easier than SIPCAL content-wise (you could probably cross-refer the syllabus of comparable subjects if you're interested). That, and in the UK, they use a modular system (like university), and allow for resits of individual modules. This makes it comparatively less stressful and easier than the Singapore format, where you are examined on 2 years' worth of knowledge all at once and you don't get the chance to resit.[/quote]even the UK uni admission officers will tell you that the Singapore SEAB/MOE chose the harder more difficult version of the Cambridge GCE A level papers, and the admission officer do take that into account when deciding on borderline grade requirement for courses

[nansk]

Thank you for the responses.

[mathtuition88]

Personally, I would think that Singaporean students would have a good chance to rank favourably in IB (global programme).

Singaporean education system is currently stronger than many countries in terms of taking exams. (e.g. in PISA Singapore is ranked one of the top).

However, in A Levels Singaporean students are essentially competing against one another, since our A Levels are set and graded locally. Together with the "Bell Curve", this is not very good news for the students. (Note that the "IP" students from RI/HCI will be back in the competition)

Similar for O Levels, where a recent trend is that getting A1 for E Maths requires >90 marks.

[sinoboy]

dreamerz718:

nansk:

[quote=\"havok_ex\"]The UK A-levels has always been looked upon as inferior as compared to the SG A-level version. Its not unsurprising. Even NUS/NTU regularly rejects what is considered a 'good' A-level score if you take the UK version instead of the SG version.

I am curious why the UK A-levels are considered inferior. :scratchhead:

I heard that its considered 'easier', and there seems to be a form of grade inflation?[/quote]Some students do well in IB system and some in PSLE/O/A level system. The important thing is to make the change to a system that suits the student:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sin ... 70076.html