Students who have completed secondary school will face the decision of whether to choose IB or A Levels if they are choosing to enter Junior College. This decision is an important one – for the next two years, students will have to live with their choice. Students will make this decision based on their personal strengths, interests, future prospects, and institution reputation.
There are some differences between IB and the A Levels programme.
IB (International Baccalaureate)
- The IB is a broad-based curriculum which has students take 6 subjects (3 at the Higher Level and 3 at the Standard Level), along with three core components: Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS).
- The final grade of the IB is based on a combination of internal assessments (IAs) and their final exams
- The IB emphasises critical thinking, research skills, and a holistic approach to education
- The IB diploma is an internationally recognised and valued by universities worldwide
- The IB encourages thinking and reflecting on your experiences and learning journey, which could help students in their university application essays and interviews
A Levels (Advanced Levels)
- Students typically focus on a smaller number of subjects (usually 3 to 4), which allows students to undertake an in-depth look at the topics
- The final grade is based on the final exams
- Students will get a good foundation of the concepts they will need for university
- The qualification is internationally recognised and well-respected
Which should I choose? IB or A Levels?
- If you are someone who does well in a specialised setting, such as Humanities or the Sciences, A Levels may be a better fit for you.
- If you like writing, thinking about the world around you, and getting philosophical, the IB my be a better fit.
- If you are someone who likes to do many different things at once because you are someone who is organised and can manage time well, the IB offers a more well-rounded education which includes CCAs and research projects.
- The IB prepares you more for university because of its strong focus on research and academic writing.
- Check the requirements of the universities you want to attend to see whether they have a preference for IB or A Levels.
Get a 7 for IB Chemistry (HL/SL) with the IB Chemistry Clinic today!
As the name suggests, the IB Chemistry Clinic does not only fix a student’s grades - it helps students with critical components of the IB Programme, namely the Internal Assessment (IA) which is worth at least 20% of a student’s grade and their Extended Essay (EE) in Chemistry. The IA and EE are a non-negotiable part of the Chemistry curriculum - without them, students will not be able to graduate with an IB Diploma.
However, there are many difficulties associated with conducting experiments for the IA and EE - many replications are required and the standard for the final deliverable - the research report - is high. Students need to undertake statistical testing and present their final results coherently and concisely.
Although the IB school provides mentors for the EE and teachers at school can guide students through their IA, attention to each student is often limited in a classroom setting and many students are left to figure things out by themselves. This results in difficulty completing internal deadlines on time, especially when a student needs to juggle all their 6 subjects and the additional components of the IB, along with their CCAs and other commitments.
The IB Chemistry Clinic is here to answer all your questions - whether it is about content knowledge or fixing errors in your experimental setup as you undertake your IA journey, our skilled tutors with a strong background in Chemistry research and 30 years of experience teaching Chemistry are here to help!
Contact us at +65 9616 1651 to book your slot today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to get a 7 in IB?
With time and effort, students who know the syllabus well and are well-prepared and have well-written assignments will easily get a 7 in the IB.
Is IB harder than A Levels Singapore?
The A Level exam is more difficult than the IB exam, but IB involves the Internal Assessment (IA) which features independent research which could be harder than the A Level exam.
Is 43 in IB a good score?
An IB score of 43 is an excellent score.
What is the hardest IB subject combination?
One of the hardest IB subject combinations is PCME, which involves HL Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, along with SL Economics.
What IB score is needed for Harvard/Oxford?
The minimum IB score for Harvard and Oxford is 40 points out of 45 points.
Is 28 a bad IB score?
The average IB score throughout the years has ranged between 28 to 30 points. All students need to score a minimum of 24 points across 6 subjects to be awarded an IB diploma.
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