Universities and the IB Bryanston school 3 rd October 2014 Peter Fidczuk IB UK Development and Recognition Manager (formerly Director IB, Dartford Grammar.

Universities and the IBBryanston school 3rd October

2014Peter Fidczuk

IB UK Development and Recognition Manager(formerly Director IB, Dartford Grammar School)

[email protected]

What do Employers want?CBI Education & Skills Survey 2012

John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said:"It's alarming that a significant number of

employers have concerns about the basic skills of school and college leavers. Companies do not

expect them to produce 'job-ready' young people, but having a solid foundation in basic skills, such as

literacy and numeracy, is fundamental for work."

What do Employers want?CBI Education & Skills Survey 2013

What do Employers want?CBI Education & Skills Survey 2014

What do Universities want?UEA comments at the Westminster Education

Forum 2014Students starting at university have the following problems:• Forgotten much subject knowledge • Lack ability to inquire• Lack ability to read extended texts• Lack ability to select sources and extract relevant material

What do Universities want?Nottingham - cognitive skills

• Analysing • Synthesising • Critical thinking • Evaluating • Problem solving • Inquiring mind • Intellectual insight • Innovation • Argument construction • Intellectual risk

• The IB learner profile is the IB mission statement translated into a set of learning outcomes for the 21st century

• As IB learners we strive to be:– inquirers– knowledgeable– thinkers– communicators– principled– open-minded– caring– risk-takers– balanced– reflective

IB learner profile

The IB Diploma

Levels and Points• Standard Level – broadly similar to AS level• Higher level –broadly similar to A2 level• Usually 3 @ HL and 3 @ SL• Each assessed on a 1 to 7 scale• Total 42 points + 3 for Core = 45 max (146 in 2014)

IB Diploma

• Broad & balanced does not mean shallow• Linear, not modular (synoptic exams in May of Year 13)• Connections within subject areas• Connections between subject areas• Assessment: more ‘open question’ than A level (hard to

‘teach to the test’)• Standard Level (SL) courses are as challenging as Higher

Level (HL) • Theory of Knowledge (TOK) a very good indicator of a

student’s ability to think analytically, critically and independently

The IB Diploma Core

Theory of Knowledge(graded A-E)

4000 word Extended Essay (graded A-E)

Creativity, Action & Service

Theory of Knowledge

Sample TOK Questions1. Knowledge is generated through the interaction of critical

and creative thinking. Evaluate this statement in two areas of knowledge

2. ‘Through different methods of justification, we can reach conclusions in ethics that are as well-supported as those provided in mathematics.’ To what extent would you agree?

3. ‘What separates sciences from all human activities is its belief in the provisional nature of all conclusions’. (Michael Shermer). Critically evaluate this way of distinguishing the sciences from other areas of knowledge.

4. Using history and at least one other area of knowledge, examine the claim that it is possible to attain knowledge despite problems of bias and selection.

The Extended Essay

• Research project• Limited teacher input• Extended piece of writing• Structured argument central• Must demonstrate

inquiry/research/investigation/analysis

The Extended Essay• What are the key factors John Williams employs to create an original

soundtrack that is aurally appealing and a skilful underscore?

• Captain Corelli’s Mandolin: to what extent is there a relationship between culture and identity?

• Is artificial intelligence real intelligence? An analysis of internet systems and algorithms behind them.

• Can there be any moral justification for the war in Iraq?

• To what extent can the defence of Thermopylae and Artemisium be seen as a turning point in the Persian Wars?

• To what extent is Cillit Bang safe to use?

Creativity Action Service (CAS)

• Experiential Learning• About 150 hours over the course of two years• Must be completed and 8 learning outcomes

satisfied to pass the diploma• Changes students’ perceptions and takes them

out of their comfort zone

CAS• increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth• undertaken new challenges• planned and initiated activities• worked collaboratively with others• shown perseverance and commitment in their activities• engaged with issues of global importance• considered the ethical implications of their actions• developed new skills

Any questions?

Universities’ Perceptions of the Diploma

What do Universities say?Oxford comments at the IBSCA HE Conference 2014

IB is a “great qualification” as it is:• Challenging• Offers a global perspective• Integrated programme• Interdisciplinary• develops essay writing skills• Extended Essay is an extended piece of writing developing inquiry, independent study skills and research skills• TOK develops the skill of critical analysis

Entry to Higher Education in the UK• Accepted by all universities• UCAS tariff points• HEI very positive attitude to DP applicants• Higher offer rate than A level• HEFCE equivalence 34 points = ABB• Some examples of offers this year:

Oxford, English 38 + 666 @HLKings College London, Medicine 35 + 666 @ HLExeter, Spanish & Russian 34Leicester, Physics 32 + 55 @ HLAberystwyth, Geography 26Greenwich, Games Computing 24

20 most popular IB Universities 2012 2013The University of Edinburgh 1999 2044University College London 1833 1919 University of Exeter 1270 1606The University of Warwick 1369 1337 University of Bristol 1096 1316King's College London 1139 1247The University of Nottingham 1311 1226Durham University 1207 1223LSE: London Sch of Economics 922 1054 The University of Kent 962 1039 The University of Manchester 939 987 Oxford University 916 938University of Bath 827 935Queen Mary, University of London 755 925University of St Andrews 838 874University of Southampton 888 843Imperial College London 729 738University of Cambridge 777 735University of Leeds 785 712University of Glasgow 526 698

324 HEI in total

Offer rates for IB UK students

2013 IB offer rate 2013 all quals offer rateThe University of Edinburgh 58 37University College London 57 48 University of Exeter 90 81The University of Warwick 78 64 University of Bristol 68 55King's College London 72 39The University of Nottingham 81 62Durham University 66 56LSE: London Sch of Economics 26 24 The University of Kent 99 83

The University of Manchester 84 60 Oxford University 29 25University of Bath 84 74

Queen Mary, University of London 82 60University of St Andrews 59 44University of Southampton 87 63Imperial College London 61 46University of Cambridge 40 31University of Leeds 80 64University of Glasgow 82 58

Entry to Higher Education in the USA/Canada

The following universities have accepted IB students from the UK in 2014:

• Harvard• Columbia• Rutgers• Duke• Carnegie Mellon• McGill

Diploma Myths• Diploma students have difficulty getting to HE• Diploma students can’t access medicine courses because they can’t study triple science• If a student fails a subject they fail the Diploma• It’s too hard• It’s only suitable for the most academic students

Conclusion

Universities value Diploma students as they are :• HE ready• Well organised• Well skilled• Rarely ‘fail’• Able to cope with intense courses

THANK [email protected]