A Levels or IB?
10th October, 2023

Specialist Education Consultant and former teacher Beatriz shares her advice on what to consider when choosing between these two pathways.
Should I take A Levels or the IB?
When making the decision between A Levels and the IB, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ decision – only one that ticks the boxes for you.
So, what are the differences and how can you pick to best suit your preferred learning style?
Do I want depth or breadth?
A Levels offer students the opportunity to go through three or four (sometimes five if you are brave) subjects in full depth – in you go! – while the IB Diploma is much more widening the scope to several subjects – out you go!
To choose your A Levels, you must have a much better idea of what you want to be doing at university and which universities you will be applying to.
The IB Diploma choice allows you to study those subjects you wish to pursue later at university (normally done at Higher Level), while at the same time as you also continue to explore other complementary subjects (usually at a Standard Level), or subjects you simply enjoy.
If you are confident you know what you would like to do after sixth form, A Levels are perfect for you, but if you enjoy a broader approach to your subjects or are not too sure about what to do after school, it might be worth exploring the IB Diploma.
What kind of assessments do I do better in?
While most A Levels require final examinations only, your IB Diploma encompasses coursework and internal/external assessments alongside your final examinations. The amount of work you need to put into your A Levels or the IB Diploma will inevitably depend on the combination of subjects you decide to go for – adding to it what you wish to obtain by the end of these 2 years.
Think about how you’d prefer to be assessed; would you prefer to have assessments spread across the course of your study, or only at the end?
Where am I going to apply?
From a UK University perspective, both A Levels and the IB are highly regarded and can earn you many UCAS points.
Only 4,500 students sit the IB in the UK each year compared to 250,000 who sit A Levels, so it’s no surprise that the vast majority of students at UK Universities will have experienced the latter system. The subject-specific ‘deep dive’ nature of A Levels fits well into the specific study of a single subject at UK Universities.
However, if you are planning on studying abroad, the IB will be the more widely known and easily comparable qualification. The process is much more akin to the US College way of learning, so you may find this to be the best route if you’re wanting to keep your knowledge broad ahead of heading to the States.
So, what next?
If you’re not sure which path would be best for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a consultation. Taking into account your goals, strengths and learning style, we’re here to help you confidently decide as you take this exciting next step.