A-Levels v International Baccalaureate

[Aiden]

For a few months now I've been swopping between choosing the traditional A-Levels and International Baccalaureate for my course when I start college. I've asked multiple teachers around my school what they think and should do and all there answers fit into one of these groups when speaking about the IB:

"It's rubbish"
"It's an opportunity"
"What is it?"

I wanted to know the one you think would be the best to take. Here are the subjects I've applied for. Both courses are at the same sixth form college.

A2: English Lang
A2: Biology
A2: Business
AS: ICT

Higher: English Literature
Higher: Biology
Higher: Psychology
Standard: Mathematics
Standard: Spanish
Standard: Economics

[Kardan]

Do you have any idea what you want to do after college?

[FlyingJesus]

It really depends on where you want to take them - A levels are the sort of "normal" thing to do to get into most university courses, but IBs can be used for those too if you know what they're worth and are looking for something specific to what those courses will teach you. As Kardan implied, knowing what you want to move on to after college is probably going to be the defining factor here

[Kardan]

Generally IBs are 'harder' than A-Levels. With A-Levels people generally study 4 subjects and go down to 3, so you are able to study more in-depth into these subjects. IBs you have 6 subjects so you study them much broader - the level of difficulty of the higher subjects for IB are closer to degree level standard than A-Level (this could be a good/bad thing depending on how you are with that subject).

With the IB there's extracurricular stuff you have to do and then every week you have to write about that. Because of the amount of work you have to put in with the IB, your time at college will be closer to time spent at university rather than time spent at school, you have to be very self sufficient with how you work.

In terms for getting into university, it is certainly easier to get in with A-Levels. I think I read somewhere that 80% of people that apply to universities with A-Levels get a place, but only 69% of people with IBs get in, and that is probably down to the fact that the entry requirements are higher with IBs than with A-Levels.

Take a random university course: Mathematics at Loughborough University.

To get in with A-Levels, you need A*AB if Mathematics is grade A.
To get in with IB, you need 36 points including a 6 at Higher Maths.

So to compare the 2, let's look at the UCAS points you would get with both entry requirements.
At A-Level, A*AB is worth 360 UCAS points.
36 IB points is worth 523 UCAS points, so in A-Level terms you would need to get A*A*A*B or AAAAE in A-Level terms to get the same UCAS points.

So getting in with an IB certainly shows you're better but of course that means a hell of a lot more hard work. Obviously, it all depends on your university and what course you want to do as well. Also worth noting it's harder to get the top grade in IB than it is in A-Levels.

At the end of the day it comes down to you as a person, if you're willing to put in the extra work that IB requires, but if you do, it will help you out better at university than A-Levels would. Of course, the majority of the country does A-Levels and it's not doing them any harm.

[Aiden]

I don't really know what I want to do when I leave education. All I do is I don't want a 'traditional' job like doctor, lawyer, teacher, police officer, nurse, office, etc. I'm thinking maybe journalism, business, writing, etc but they require talents haha.

I think I want to travel a lot with a job but I guess that's more a dream than easily achievable goal.

[Kardan]

Also, just noticed that you've already picked ICT as your AS subject and the other 3 for A2. Does your college require you to do that? It seems really odd that you would decide which one you want to 'drop' for A2 before you've even been to any lessons. What most people do is they choose at the end of Year 12 which subject they disliked the most, or which subject they aren't doing as well in to drop. Of course, some people don't even drop any because they are doing well in all 4 subjects.

Also worth noting that if you do drop a subject and only continue with 3 for A2, it will be those three subjects that define your grades for getting into university. If you mess up one exam and that brings your grade down that could be the difference between you getting into uni or not. Of course, it all depends on the uni and course. Some will ask for grades from 3 whole A-Levels, some will ask just for UCAS points, so theoretically you could do 10 AS levels and try and get in - others ask for a mix, say 300 UCAS points that include 2 whole A-Levels.

[Aiden]

It's not compulsory I just had no preference on the fourth subject and the college doesn't allow to do 4 a-levels. :/