The usual route to admission to UK universities is through UCAS points. In the sixth form, students will normally gain their points while they are between the ages of 16 and 18. Exam results determine how many UCAS points each student receives and which institutions they are eligible to attend.
The most common way to acquire UCAS points is through A-Level studies. But that isn’t the only option. The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is another option. It provides a well-rounded education and, most importantly, points that can be used toward UCAS.
What Is the International Baccalaureate?
The IB is an academic credential that gets students ready for undergraduate studies. Over 150 nations around the world, including English-speaking institutions, offer the IB programme. Although their study and examination approaches are considerably different, it might be seen as an alternative to A-Levels.
They are comparable in that both provide students the chance to obtain UCAS tariff points. The significance of your marks can be demonstrated to universities via the conversion of results of IB exams into UCAS points.
How Does the International Baccalaureate Program Function?
There are two IB programmes to choose from. The IB Diploma, a programme that covers a wide range of disciplines in preparation for university, is the most popular. The IB career-related programme is the other, and it trains students for certain vocations or careers.
The more common route to accumulating enough UCAS points for university is with the IB Diploma. Compared to A-level courses, where students typically study three or four distinct subjects in-depth and receive UCAS points for each, this is completely different.
The IB Diploma operates in a very unique way. It teaches the DP Core curriculum, which includes:
- Theory of knowledge
- Creativity, activity, and service
- An extended essay (4,000 words)
Then, over the two years of study, students will also explore six subject groups:
- Languages and literature
- Language acquisition
- Individuals and societies
- Science
- Maths
- The arts
Usually, three of these categories are studied at a higher level and three at a regular level by students. The goal of the IB Diploma is to provide students with a well-rounded education in a variety of topics. Additionally, it teaches kids life skills like critical thinking, analysis, and ethics.
How Are IB Points Calculated?
So how do these courses generate IB points? Written tests and coursework are required for the IB Diploma. Each is given a score between 1 and 7, with 7 being the best possible result. Each diploma course is graded, and IB points are given in accordance.
Each subject’s scores are added together to create the overall score. Students must pass each component with a combined score of 24 in order to receive the IB Diploma. 45 is the perfect point total. Although it may appear that the A-Level grading system is simpler than this one, both may be simply turned into UCAS points.
IB points to UCAS points conversion
You’ll need the scores for each component as well as your overall points in order to convert IB points to UCAS tariff points. Earn the most UCAS tariff points possible because higher level points are frequently seen as the most significant score by both UCAS and colleges.
Higher Level
Higher level grades to UCAS points:
- Grade 7 = 56 UCAS points
- Grade 6 = 48 UCAS points
- Grade 5 = 32 UCAS points
- Grade 4 = 24 UCAS points
- Grade 3 = 12 UCAS points
- Grades 2 and 1 = 0 UCAS points
To get your higher level UCAS points, take your three subject grades and add up the corresponding UCAS points.
Standard Level
Standard level grades are worth exactly half the UCAS points as higher level grades:
- Grade 7 = 28 UCAS points
- Grade 6 = 24 UCAS points
- Grade 5 = 16 UCAS points
- Grade 4 = 12 UCAS points
- Grade 3 = 6 UCAS points
- Grades 2 and 1 = 0 UCAS points
Once again, students should take their three standard subject grades and convert them to UCAS points.
IB Core
IB Core scores the extended essay and theory of knowledge components from grades A to E:
- Grade A = 12 UCAS points
- Grade B = 10 UCAS points
- Grade C = 8 UCAS points
- Grade D = 6 UCAS points
- Grade E = 4 UCAS points
Students should take their two grades and convert them to UCAS points.
Study with Rostrum
At Rostrum, students in the IB MYP and DP receive assistance from our team of subject-experienced tutors to complete their portfolios, personal projects, EEs, TOK essays, and internal assessments successfully. Every one of our IB instructors is an IB graduate who excelled in the topic they teach. All of the tutors at Rostrum have finished the IB curriculum and got top grades. Their goal is to help you and give you the resources you require to carry out the same task. From our extensive network of over 300 tutors, we will choose one to fit your needs. Contact us today and start your journey to the best IB score today.
