Is attending an International Baccalaureate (IB) high school the best path to an international university?

By Joyce Szuflita and Jo Clark

I talk to a lot of 8th grade families who have an interest in international universities. They are very curious about International Baccalaureate high schools as well as regular high schools with an AP culture. I asked Jo Clark, a college counselor who specializes in supporting students who are looking at UK and European Universities, what she thought.

Jo Clark, College Counselor:
A good path? Definitely yes! The easiest path? Probably not.

The IB diploma is widely regarded as the gold standard in global high school education. However, UK and European universities often require high scores on final IB diploma exams to meet their entrance requirements, which can be challenging to achieve. In many cases, alternative academic pathways, such as AP exams, may provide a more accessible route to meeting these requirements.

If you’re considering an IB high school with the goal of applying to UK or European universities, it’s essential to check the school’s track record with IB results. For example, how many students consistently score in the high 30s or above? While US colleges often focus on GPA and may give additional weight to completing an IB curriculum, they usually do not require specific scores on final IB exams. However, top UK and European universities do, and an IB score below 35 can result in rejection. Understanding the IB high school’s emphasis on preparing students for strong final exam results is crucial, as this directly impacts their chances of admission to elite UK or European universities.

For the most elite institutions, such as the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, final IB diploma scores of 38+ are typically required, with many successful candidates achieving over 40. In comparison, Oxford requires a minimum of three AP exams with grades of 5,5,5, and Cambridge requires a minimum of five AP exams with grades of 5,5,5,5,5, allowing students to focus their studies on areas of academic strength rather than the broad curriculum required by the IB.

It’s worth noting that other top universities in the UK and Ireland, such as Trinity College Dublin and the University of St Andrews, can be more flexible. They may accept high school honors or advanced class grades in lieu of an IB diploma or AP examinations, providing additional pathways for admission.