Students seeking admissions into colleges abroad have a really pertinent question playing on their minds about which board of education to choose for their final two years at school. As counsellors offering advice on admissions into colleges abroad, we are often asked these questions by parents and students – should we go in for an IB curriculum; would ICSE be a better bet as compared to CBSE; should we opt for A Levels? It is a classic conundrum for every student – which board would be ideal for me?
Each board is intent upon providing quality education to its students but differs from another in its content and execution. The decision to choose a board will finally depend on which board’s content and delivery aligns with the career goals of the student in question. In this blog we shall assess the CBSE and CISCE (ICSE and ISC) – the national curriculum in India on the one hand, and the A Levels and IB (international curricula) on the other; and which of them would better suit the career objectives of students who want to pursue college abroad.
The national education boards CBSE and CISCE – An overview and comparison
The CBSE syllabus follows the NCERT curriculum, and the board is managed by the central govt in India. Most competitive examinations for admission into colleges in India are based on the CBSE curriculum. CBSE is recognized by almost every university and college around the world and in India.
The ICSE exam for Grade X, and ISC exam for Grade XII are administered by the “Council of the Indian School Certificate Examination” better known as CISCE, a privately governed board of education in India. Just like CBSE, marks obtained in Gr 12, ISC are recognised by all universities in India and abroad.
CBSE is relatively less difficult as compared to ISC but has a great advantage because most competitive exams for college admissions in India are based on CBSE syllabus. ISC has a more comprehensive curriculum than CBSE, with equal emphasis on all subjects, and has a more complex syllabus for English. CBSE has a traditional approach towards subjects like science and maths, though it offers both theoretical and practical application of knowledge, while ISC offers greater depth in arts, languages and sciences.
International exams – A Levels and IB – overview and comparison
A-levels and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or just IB in short, are qualifications equivalent of CBSE/ISC Grade XII exams certificate in India. A Levels are a UK subject-based qualification while IB is an international qualification that does not have a “country of origin” and is recognised the world over, including in the UK. Both A Levels and IB are recognised for admissions to higher education institutes across the world.
For A levels, students have to opt for a minimum of three subjects (any combination) while IB requires students take up six subjects in all. There is a compulsory core program in IB that includes Theory of Knowledge, an Extended Essay and an evaluation of a student’s CAS (Creativity, Action and Service). A Levels are graded by letters, with A* being the top grade; and IB grades on a points system – the perfect score is 45, and 24 points is the basic minimum needed to secure an IB Diploma.
A Levels students say that the curriculum choice allows them to concentrate their energies on what they wish to pursue at university as they study only three subjects. Those students, who do not want to narrow their choices to just three subjects in their final two years at school, prefer to opt for IB. Students looking for a more challenging curriculum and a broader range of subjects prefer the IB curriculum over A Levels.
The final question – which board is ideal for me
The first question you need to ask yourself is this – do I want to pursue college abroad?
The content and methodology adopted by each board is a bridge between what the student is pursuing at school and would like to study at the college level. More important than ‘what’ the student wishes to study in college is ‘where’ he wants to pursue his/her college. If the student’s aspirations are to study abroad, then certainly A Levels and IB give him/her a clear head start in getting accustomed to the content and methodology of teaching-learning that is going to be adopted in the higher institutes abroad. This is because most schools abroad follow the international curriculum.
But remember what we are saying here is the advantage that comes with being used to a certain kind of curriculum and methodology. Following the IB curriculum during school would help enormously once you are enrolled into the college. But as far as getting admissions is concerned, choosing a particular board does not gain you any advantage in getting admissions abroad. Whichever board you choose, a stellar academic score in CBSE will have the same weightage as one in IB, or for that matter, one in ISC or A Levels.
Then what advantage does IB offer in terms of admissions?
Considering that CAS – Creativity, Activity and Service is a compulsory part of IB diploma, even if ungraded, the students will automatically have a social service component added to their profile. This could be of significant advantage when seeking admissions to colleges abroad, especially in the US, as colleges are looking for students who are not just academic achievers but have also contributed to giving back to society in the form of unpaid, voluntary work. But then, students pursuing a national curriculum in Grade XI and XII can make up for this by opting for voluntary work in their personal capacity.
When would A Levels be ideal for me?
If the student has made up his/her mind to pursue higher studies in UK, then naturally A Levels would be an ideal choice during school. UK universities are highly competitive, and A-Levels play an important role in admission. You should contact the university that you are aiming for and find out what scores they ask for. Universities look for applicants with at least three A-Levels with top grades in subjects closely related to what they want to pursue in college.
Conclusion
If you are seeking admissions to universities abroad for undergraduate studies, both A Levels and IB would work to your advantage. The IB curriculum includes analytical, logical reasoning and language skills which are tested for SAT, TOEFL and IELTS. Moreover, it is also helps in profile building, as IB lays strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities and social action. A Levels would be a natural choice if you are decided on UK as your college destination.