The Benefits of an IB Education

An overview

There is no doubt that any student who has successfully completed the IB is highly prepared to take on the academic challenges in university. Some would say that they arrive more prepared than their new classmates in first year. This is highly beneficial because it allows IB students to use their time more effectively and get a significant head start on classwork and revision. This was the case in my university, which allowed me to complete tasks without having to cram everything towards the deadline.

Higher and Standard Levels

Depending on what you wish to study, universities will send you an offer based on your higher and standard level predicted grades. For example, if you want to study biochemistry, then you would need to take biology and chemistry higher level and achieve higher marks such as a 6 or even a 7. The benefits are that you get to choose your higher and standard levels. If you still don't know what you want to study, you can tailor your IB programme to pursue liberal arts or even a foundation year, making it a very 'student-tailored' programme.

The Extended Essay

The extended essay is a university-style research paper that is given to IB students as a task to complete in their senior year. The purpose of this essay is to not only produce high-quality research towards answering a fundamental question in a subject but also to prepare the student for the amount of effort, time, and skills required to write such a paper. One of the key skills that is learnt through this paper is referencing correctly. Referencing is a vital skill in university, and it must be done properly to avoid committing plagiarism. During university, you will have to learn to do so in tutorials, but IB students arrive with a great head start.

Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)

Completing CAS is one of the requirements for obtaining an IB diploma. In the process of completing this two-year programme, IB students learn the importance of extra-curricular work. Whether it is volunteering, fundraising, or starting a new sport, CAS is a driving factor in creating a globally-minded student. In most European universities, extra-curricular work is highly regarded and is seen as a strong point in student applications. Furthermore, volunteering during university with societies can lead to earing an award during graduation, which will make you stand out during a job interview compared to other students.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

Another significant benefit of an IB education is the ability to question the knowledge and information that is given to you. TOK helps IB students learn about the significance of self-reflection, scrutinizing information, and being open-minded. These qualities not only help students in the long run but allow them to think critically about their learning, which is a vital quality to have during university. In TOK, students are asked to prepare a presentation. Mine focused on how political satire was a driving force in the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris. I looked at all perspectives, including the gunmen's reality and why they believed their actions were justified. I also compared the worldwide condemnation by analysing and contrasting different media perspectives and sources of information, and this allowed me to gain a global viewpoint on the issue.

Conclusion

An IB education, like the one I received at St Stephen's, is ideal for students wanting to pursue higher education not only in Europe but anywhere in the world and grants many benefits. Not only does the IB Diploma strengthen your application, but it also enhances your ability to think critically, solve complex problems, and be creative. Not only with the subjects that you choose but also with TOK, CAS, and your Extended Essay, you will gain the necessary skills needed to tackle the academic challenges of university. And most importantly, this programme helps students achieve a global mindset, which in turn helps them excel at university and prepares them in the best possible way to solve the world's most significant problems in the future.