Please can anyone offer any advice? A Levels I get as I did them myself, MANY years ago, and I have a daughter who recently went down the A level route. The IB is another thing altogether!! Would you say it better suited the more able child or not? Is it fully appreciated by all universities in UK? Have tried researching online etc. but nothing beats parents experiences!! Thank you!! :)
Univerisities in the UK will accept either IB or A'level, however the delivery and quality of the either course here should be your main concern rather than per say the exams themselves, choice is limited. A lot depends on your child and which direction they wish to follow, a good school should be able to direct you and your child on the right path based on your childs individual needs and ability.
<em>edited by Sticky Wicket on 03/04/2011</em>
From my research, I would put IB candidates for university over A level ones any day. But UK universities don't. If I had the choice, I would put my child in for A levels as she is far more likely to do well in them, they're easier for her than the IB. That's not to say that A levels are a cinch, but they are easier for most children to get good grades in than the IB. If you want to go to a North American university, the mere fact you are taking an IB diploma will get you accepted. Not so in the UK, who for a reason I don't comprehend, require much higher grades from IB candidates than they do from A level students, despite the IB being a far more demanding course.
I would disagree also, It depends on the student and the schools delivery of courses. To now get in to Oxbridge/Ivy league you need to be getting a very high IB score. The IB course is not more demanding than A'levels it's different, many schools are now offering both at this level very much based on which suits the individual student better.
@ OP, this is the conversion tariff for IB to UCAS points.
http://www.ucas.com/students/ucas_tariff/factsheet/ib
<em>edited by spongemonkey on 03/04/2011</em>
From my research, I would put IB candidates for university over A level ones any day. But UK universities don't. If I had the choice, I would put my child in for A levels as she is far more likely to do well in them, they're easier for her than the IB.[b'> That's not to say that A levels are a cinch, but they are[/b'> [b'>easier for most children to get good grades in than the IB. If you want to go to a North American university, the mere fact you are taking an IB diploma will get you accepted.[/b'> Not so in the UK, who for a reason I don't comprehend, require much higher grades from IB candidates than they do from A level students, despite the IB being a far more demanding course.
Sorry but these comments are just wrong! The one about American Universities especially so!!!!
If I recall properly this was one of your first questions on this Board, simpleas, less than one year ago.
<em>edited by spongemonkey on 03/04/2011</em>
From my research, I would put IB candidates for university over A level ones any day. But UK universities don't. If I had the choice, I would put my child in for A levels as she is far more likely to do well in them, they're easier for her than the IB. That's not to say that A levels are a cinch, but they are easier for most children to get good grades in than the IB. If you want to go to a North American university, the mere fact you are taking an IB diploma will get you accepted. Not so in the UK, who for a reason I don't comprehend, require much higher grades from IB candidates than they do from A level students, despite the IB being a far more demanding course.
Please can anyone offer any advice? A Levels I get as I did them myself, MANY years ago, and I have a daughter who recently went down the A level route. The IB is another thing altogether!! Would you say it better suited the more able child or not? Is it fully appreciated by all universities in UK? Have tried researching online etc. but nothing beats parents experiences!! Thank you!! :)