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A comprehensive guide to the International Baccalaureate

There are many benefits to the International Baccalaureate programme. But if your only experience is with traditional or public education systems, a potential switch to IB can bring up plenty of questions. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll try to answer all of those queries — and more. We’ll look at how the International Baccalaureate qualification works, the pros of the programme and how to find the right IB school for your family.

What is IB – International Baccalaureate?

The International Baccalaureate is a non-profit organisation whereby schools sign up to a franchise network to access the IB services like branding, publications, and assessments. IB schools, therefore, are franchises of this non-profit organisation and they must be certified in order to deliver the curriculum.

The International Baccalaureate is taught in more than 140 countries in either French, Spanish, or English. There are four different IB educational programmes: 

The history of the IB

The International Baccalaureate was founded by teachers in 1968, using the writings of Marie-Thérèse Maurette, a pioneer of International Education, as a core ethos. It was her piece entitled ‘Educational Techniques for Peace. Do They Exist?’ from 1948 that kick-started the efforts to create what we now know as the International Baccalaureate or IB.

Copenhagen International School (CIS) is an International Baccalaureate World School that offers all three International Baccalaureate Programmes to its students: IB Primary Years, IB Middle Years and the IB Diploma. Our school was one of the founding IB schools and so has a long and successful history in delivering this framework.

The first programme offered was the IB Diploma Programme with the other programmes arriving much later (the MYP in 1994, and the PYP in 1996).

What does the IB program consist of today?

As previously mentioned, there are four branches of the IB Programme. In this section, we’ll go through each one in detail.

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP)

From age 3 right up to age 12, the PYP aims to develop children to be both culturally aware and caring. There is a strong emphasis on learners being active participants in their education and learning.

Through the PYP, learners are encouraged to take ownership and responsibility of their own learning and be reflective. They develop their knowledge, skills, and conceptual understandings in order to make a difference both in their own lives and beyond.

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP)

The MYP covers five years of education. It is a challenging programme where students are encouraged to link their studies with the outside world. In order for the MYP to be broad and balanced, there are eight subject groups.

The eight subject groups student in the IB MYP include:

For the final two years of the five-year programme, when the student is around 14 years old, these choices can be narrowed down to six of the eight subject groups.

Compared to other curriculums for this age group, the IB MYP is designed to be taught in context so students can relate their learning to real-world experiences. The idea of global contexts and concepts are explored deeply, so learners develop an idea of common humanity and responsibility.

The IB Diploma Programme (DP)

Next, an IB student will go through the IB Diploma Programme. At this stage, the aim is to develop learners to flourish emotionally, intellectually, ethically and physically.

This is the programme that students follow between the ages of 16 and 19. Many go on to university courses after completing the IB Diploma Programme.

The curriculum is divided into six subject groups as well as the DP core.

The six subject groups include:

And the three core elements are:

Students do have an element of choice in their subject groups and there are two levels for each subject. These are standard level (SL) or higher level (HL). Students take three or four HL subjects and the rest as SL subjects.

As most people are interested in the IB DP, let’s look in more detail at the subject groups.

Language Acquisition

It is in this group where students can choose to study a modern language course, whether as a beginner or as a prior learner. At Copenhagen International School, students learn Danish and are taught in English as standard, so that both languages develop.

Language and Literature

Students can choose literature, language and literature, or literature and performance (though this is only available to Standard Level).

Individuals and Societies

This subject group covers topics that help students understand the world around them. Business management, digital society, economics, global politics and information technology in a global society all feature. As do history, geography, philosophy, social and cultural anthropology, and world religions.

Sciences

In the Sciences subject group, students can learn biology, chemistry, computer science, design technology, environmental systems and societies, physics, and sports, exercise and health science.

The arts

The arts subject group includes dance, film, music, theatre, and visual arts.

The IB Career-related Programme (CP)

While the DP focuses more on academia and access to university, the CP is a separate programme that focuses on access to apprenticeships and employment as well as further/higher education.

Students who take on the CP, take on at least two IB Diploma Programme courses with four components. They also do a career-related study. Essentially, the CP prepares students with real-world approaches to learning.

How does the IB compare with other curriculums?

Studies show that IB students in the PYP and MYP typically outperform non-IB peers in reading, mathematics and writing. What’s more, these students are more able to cope with the expectations and rigour of college. 

For older students, research also shows that IB students are more globally minded than their peers in other non-IB schools in different countries.

Common questions about IB

How long is an International Baccalaureate?

When people talk about the IB, they usually mean the diploma programme. This programme is two years long.

The PYP, on the other hand, covers ten years, and the MYP covers five years.

CIS offers a full continuum curriculumcurriculm spanning all programmes, from ages 3-18.

What is the International Baccalaureate equivalent to?

The IB Diploma compares to the UK equivalent of A-Levels, France’s Baccalauréat, or Spain’s Bachillerato — it’s the qualification taken at the end of secondary education before entering university.

Grade-wise, an IB grade of 33 (the average) is equivalent to 3 UK A-Levels at B grade, a European Baccalaureate at 74/75, and an Access Diploma at 70. In the Danish system, this would equate to 8,5.

The difference in results is that the IB final grade score is the total sum of all of the grades. In comparison, the French Baccalauréate (and similarly the Swiss Maturité) results show the average grade achieved in all subjects taken.

Can you transition from IB schools into local schools?

Transferring from an IB school to a local Danish school is possible. Here is a conversion scale that shows what IB points are worth.  

Can students get into university and college with an IB certificate?

Yes! The IB is a world-class education that prepares students well for university life. Lots of universities already collaborate with the IB programme. Typically, universities expect the IB holder to have at least 18 points, with 3 points minimum per subject.

4 benefits of the IB (and what sort of results can you expect)

From its inception over fifty years ago, the IB has aimed to develop learners to be committed to helping and respecting themselves, others, and the wider world.

Here are the benefits of an IB education in more detail.

1.      A student-led approach

The IB programme is learner-centric. It helps students to become: 

The IB places an emphasis on self-inquiry and creativity. It encourages students to be in charge of their own learning and prepares them well for life beyond school and education.

2.      A holistic approach

The IB programme offers a holistic approach to learning and education. It takes a much broader view of what learning and education should be about. It doesn’t just focus on core subjects like language skills and mathematics, but it also develops other skills like empathy, problem-solving, and a growth mindset.

3.      International recognition

The clue is in its name! The International Baccalaureate is an internationally-recognised qualification. There are already more than 140 countries worldwide where the IB is offered, which means people with an IB qualification have lots of opportunities wherever they wish to go.

For parents, getting children on an IB programme means they’re free to move around without too much disruption to their child’s education and learning. Whether in the Armed Forces or other transferable roles, a child studying an IB in Denmark, for example, will easily be able to transition to an IB school in Germany with minimal disruption.

4.      A strong global community network

The basis of the IB is to develop learners into world citizens — people who are open-minded and inclusive. With these characteristics developed in students, it’s no surprise that IB students and schools have a strong sense of community spirit.

This community spirit is something that CIS really works hard to achieve and maintain — not just for students, but for their entire families. There are parent-specific community benefits here too, including exercise classes. Don’t be surprised if you pass a sports hall that’s entirely full of parents taking part in an exercise class! CIS places a strong emphasis on community and prides itself on helping the whole family settle into their new life in Copenhagen.

5.      Real-world situations

With its broad and balanced framework and its connected and conceptual philosophy, the IB develops analytical and critical-thinking skills that students will need for real-life situations. The learning is based on the real world, which makes it more interesting for students and helps them link their learning with relevant real-world examples.

6.      Academic results

Of course, students (and their parents) want to trust in the academic potential of any education system. The good news is the that International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme has a pass rate of 88.96%.

There are over 170,000 students each year who achieve this qualification and their average diploma score is around 33, with each grade averaging 5.19. At CIS, our students’ diploma results remain consistently above the world average of 30 points. Almost every year, several of our students score above 40 points — an exceptional achievement.

How to find the right IB school for your family

International Baccalaureate schools were traditionally designed for learners whose parents travelled for work: diplomates, businesspeople, Armed Forces families, and so on. Nowadays, however, more and more families are choosing an IB school simply because of the rigorous education on offer, as well as their focus on community and the wider world.

The International Baccalaureate website has a dedicated page to finding an IB school. It lists all schools in the world that offer the IB. You can also choose to narrow down your search with keywords, the language of instruction, boarding facilities, gender, the programmes offered, and whether you want a state school or a private school.

When choosing a school, you need to bear in mind some of the following things:

Accreditation

No matter which IB school you choose, it will have to be accredited. There are certain requirements that schools need to meet in order to be an authorised IB school and the process is not easy. 

IB world schools (as they’re known) are required to work closely with a consultant before being accredited. They have to submit a candidacy application, which outlines their commitment to upholding the IB standards. They also need to submit documentation including legal information and a budget breakdown. There is a fee to apply, too. 

While going through the candidacy process, there are several remote visits as well as site visits. At the end of this period, the IB team prepares a detailed report. This states how prepared the school is to become an IB world school.

When the school is ready, they apply to become an authorised school. There is a final verification visit and a comprehensive report on its findings. If all is as expected and to standard, the authorisation is finalised.

The point is, when you select an IB-accredited school, you know that it has undergone a rigorous process to be accepted onto the IB programme.

Websites

When conducting research about which IB school is best for your child, you’ll need to explore their website — and social media, too! Check out their calendar of events and look out for extra things like sports, extra-curricular activities, parents’ meetings, etc. Visiting the website will give you a feel for the school before you visit it, especially if there are virtual tours to explore too.

School culture

Academics aside, you need to look at the school’s culture, philosophy and vision. As the IB is designed to develop students to be reflective and community-oriented, it’s important that this is developed in the wider school culture too.

For IB schools in Denmark, why not read more about what Copenhagen International School has to offer. As one of the founding IB schools, CIS has a wealth of experience and knowledge and we pride ourselves on being one, big community.

Start your family’s IB journey today

The International Baccalaureate has a long and impressive history and is well-established throughout the world and especially at Copenhagen International School. The reasons why the IB was initially created are still relevant today, if not more so, and that’s just one of the reasons why many parents choose this option for their children.

If you’ve got questions about the IB programme at CIS, how it works and what to expect when you join the CIS community, then get in touch with Lena Donde or Taj Seth Mand, our admissions coordinators, today.

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