Read what the experts from the Best IB Schools in the World said about this topic!
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally-recognized school system that emphasizes intercultural understanding, caring and enrichment. It includes four programs that focus on teaching students how to think critically, and it culminates in six rigorous subject exams. The IB aims to provide a challenging and comprehensive education that would enable future adults to create a better world through cross-cultural communication, understanding, and respect.
The International Baccalaureate Programmes are very popular among expats families seeking a well-rounded and international education for their children, but how many can list the top Benefits of the IB?
Read the answers provided by the experts from some of the Best IB Schools in the World.
The questions
What are the IB Pros and Cons?
Full answers from the experts
What are the Benefits of the IB Program?
1 Real-world situations
IB programmes offer a curriculum that is broad and balanced, conceptual and connected and that stimulates students to develop critical and analytical skills in order to apply them in ‘real life situation’.
Experts Say:
IB learning strategy is based on real-world situations which not only makes it more interesting but also helps children understand the relevance of what they are learning.
2 Holistic Approach
The International Baccalaureate programmes emphasize education beyond the confines of the classroom, and focus on the fullest possible development of the students, encouraging them to become the finest version of themselves and enabling them to experience life and reach their goals.
Experts Say:
Subjects are not taught in isolation, but they are connected to each other, reflecting how the world works. Students are taught to think conceptually which allows them to apply their knowledge to various different situations.
3 Well Rounded Students
The vision of the International Baccalaureate programmes is that students experience a well-rounded academic journey that empathizes their critical thinking, and that expose them to a variety of points of view, in order to become confident individuals who are able to respond to challenges with optimism, and prepared to apply what they learn in our complex and unpredictable real-world.
Experts Say:
Through the IB, students are given a unique education that helps them develop strong academic, social, and emotional characteristics. As a result, students become very well-rounded, with an increased understanding of different languages, cultures, and globally significant ideas and issues.
4 Internationally Oriented Education
The International Baccalaureate works within global contexts, as it stimulates and increases understanding of languages and awareness of cultures, and explores globally significant ideas and issues in order to prepare students to be active participants in a global society.
Experts Say:
The IB programmes develop international-mindedness and encourage students to play a positive role in society. The global nature of the IB also eases the transition from school to school for students who move frequently.
5 Academic Success
IB programmes emphasize academic rigor and international mindedness and help students to develop a unique set of skills, attitudes, and perspectives they need to succeed at university and life beyond. IB students learn more efficiently and independently, and this allows them to be more confident and increases their chances to enter in the highest ranking universities around the world.
Experts Say:
IB Students are likely to perform well academically – often better than students in other programs and often more likely to be recruited by top universities worldwide.
What are the IB Pros and Cons?
Read the full answers from each IB Experts:
KIS International SchoolBangkok, Thailand
The IB doesn’t just teach students content or knowledge, but it also teaches them how to learn and how to think. Learning is based on real-world situations which not only makes it more interesting but also helps children understand the relevance of what they are learning. Subjects are not taught in isolation, but they are connected to each other, reflecting how the world works. Students are taught to think conceptually which allows them to apply their knowledge to various different situations. The programmes develop international-mindedness and encourage students to play a positive role in society. The global nature of the IB also eases the transition from school to school for students who move frequently.
The American International School · ViennaVienna, Austria
IB World Schools works within a global community, creating opportunities for shared learning and collaboration with others. Through the IB, students are given a unique education that helps them develop strong academic, social, and emotional characteristics. They are also likely to perform well academically – often better than students in other programs and often more likely to be recruited by top universities worldwide. Because the IB also encourages a global perspective, students become very well-rounded, with an increased understanding of different languages, cultures, and globally significant ideas and issues.