International schools in Hong Kong offer a range of curriculums and certifications, but the most well-known and probably well-respected of them all is the International Baccalaureate (IB). Here’s what you need to know about IB and its programmes.
Read more: Advice to parents: International Schools in Hong Kong 101 – Everything You Need to Know
What is the IB?
The IB is a rigorous high school programme designed in Switzerland in the 1960s. Originally designed as a curriculum for students moving between countries, today there are over a million IB students in more than 5000 IB World Schools in 150 countries and counting.
The IB currently has four programmes for students aged three to 19. These include the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme.
The oldest and most popular programme is the Diploma Programme (DP) for students 16 to 19 years old. It aims to build students’ inquiring mindset and prepares them to excel post-graduation.
What are the benefits of the IB programme?
IB students learn how to learn and are positively challenged to think critically. They also learn in a flexible environment that crosses disciplinary, cultural and national boundaries. They are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and in the IBDP, understand how knowledge is constructed, studied in the unique theory of knowledge (TOK) course.
What are the IB subjects?
IB students are required to complete classes in six subject groups, pass the IB exams and also complete three additional core requirements.
The six subject groups are as follows: language and literature; language acquisition; individuals and societies; experimental sciences; mathematics and computer science; and the arts. The three additional elements include the theory of knowledge (TOK) course; learning outside of the classroom (CAS); and a 4000-word essay (extended essay).
How does the IB prepare students for the future?
Although the IBDP is a high school programme, it is also known as a highly respected college-prep curriculum. Three of the IB programme areas are studied at “higher level”, which is considered equivalent to college-level work.
The programme requires interdisciplinary and independent thinking with oral presentations and first-hand research, which are characteristics of college courses. In university, many graduates find that they are able to cope with demanding workloads and manage their time better than their peers who did not study the IB.
The IB is especially impressive to universities as it is a great way to show admissions officers that students have experienced a range of difficult courses in a range of subjects, and are prepared to cope with college-level coursework.
