IB Diploma results to be released to Australasian students from January 4, 2011

Diploma programme results released

2134 students at Australian Schools will receive their International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme results from January 4 from their schools or online from the IB Organization website with access provided through their schools.

 Australian students excel in IB Diploma

Australian students usually excel in the IB Diploma, confirming that this country has one of the best education systems in the world. Australian students have consistently received higher than world averages in most subjects and the Diploma average.  They also have a much lower failure rate than the 20% worldwide rate of failure. In 2009 a number of Australian students received perfect scores, equivalent to an ATAR of 99.95, making them top of the world as well as their State or Territory!

The IB Diploma programme

The International Baccalaureate Diploma programme is an academically challenging pre-university matriculation course offered to more than 100,000 students in over 2000 schools in more than 130 countries worldwide. The programme has been offered across the world for over forty years and is growing rapidly, with student numbers doubling every five years.  Students who receive a Diploma may apply to Universities in Australia and overseas as the Diploma is Internationally recognised.

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The IB educational programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Students who study the Diploma programme must complete:

• A first language (Group 1)
• A second language (or second first language if they are truly bi-lingual) (Group 2)
• A humanities subject (Group 3)
• A science subject (Group 4)
• A mathematics subject (Group 5)
• An arts subject (Group 6) or second from groups 1-5
• A 4000 word research essay in an area of their choice
• An introduction to philosophy course called Theory of knowledge, linking the subjects
• CAS: a community service, physical activity & creativity programme akin to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

Academic subject results are awarded on a seven-point scale (1 is the lowest, 7 the highest) so that students can achieve 42 points maximum from such subjects.  Up to three bonus points may awarded from performance in the extended essay and theory of knowledge.  The maximum total is 45 which equals an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 99.95 (i.e. the top of Australia). IB Diploma scores have direct conversions to University entrance scores in Australia.

Independent International and Australian recognition of the strength of the IB Diploma

Australian Universities prefer the IB Diploma to State based programmes.  In independent research performed by the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) in 2007 the IB Diploma was the preferred entry qualification by Universities across Australia

The full research paper can be read attached to this post.

In 2006 UCAS (The United Kingdom Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) effectively recognized the IB Diploma as the world’s best preparation for University entry. More information can be found at: http://www.ibo.org/media/pressreleasejuly06.cfm

In Australia the Queensland Government has launched a series of IB Diploma only Academies to cater for more than 900 of the State’s most gifted local (not international) students, acknowledging the IB Diploma programme’s rigour and superiority to the State Curriculum in terms of it’s ability to extend students.

More information about the Queensland academies can be found at can be found at:http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/educational.html

For further information:

The official IBO website: www.ibo.org

Conversion of IB scores to ATAR/University entry scores: www.aaibs.org/scores

Fast facts about the IB for journalists on the official IBO website:http://www.ibo.org/facts/fastfacts/index.cfm

The Australasian association of IB school’s (AAIBS) website: www.aaibs.org

Contact Details:

Mr Antony Mayrhofer

Director of International Baccalaureate

Diploma Programme Coordinator

St Paul’s Grammar School

Email:                  [email protected]