University admissions officers favour the IB Diploma Programme over A Levels

According to UK university admissions officers the IB Diploma Programme (DP) provides the best preparation for university for young people in the UK, with 97 percent of admissions officers scoring the DP four or five out of five, compared to 87 percent being scored similarly for A Levels.

The 11th annual University Admissions Officers Report, conducted by ACS International Schools asks admissions officers to rate three exam systems: A Levels, the DP, and BTEC, ranking them against factors such as ‘encouraging independent inquiry,’ ‘encouraging citizenship’ and ‘developing self-management skills.’ The DP ranks top in 14 out of 16 different factors.

All UK university admissions officers surveyed agreed that being able to think and learn independently is the most important element in students being ready and equipped to thrive at university. The report also shows that more admissions officers believe that the DP is the route that most encourages independent inquiry among its students (95 percent), compared to A Levels (just 48 percent).

Dr Peter Fidczuk, the IB’s UK Development and Recognition Manager, said: “The Diploma Programme is consistently rated by university admissions officers as the best preparation for university, enabling students to confidently undertake independent study. It develops students who have expert knowledge in a number of different subjects, as well as the skills they need for academic success, such as time management, essay writing and referencing.”

The results of the report are supported by figures released earlier this year from a study conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), which revealed that DP students have a 57 percent greater likelihood of attending one of the top 20 UK universities than their peers who study A Levels.

Click here to read the full article on the International Baccalaureate website.