International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP)

The International Baccalaureate Program has its existence since the 1960s and is an internationally recognized program. It helps the students in a better understanding of the subject and aims towards their holistic academic development. Most of the IB students thanks to the IB program for their academic development.

But many times, parents and students are found to be in a dilemma of joining or not an IB program. There are many factors that help them to decide whether IB is a good academic program for them or not. As is said that every coin has two faces, in the same way. IB program comes with both advantages and disadvantages.

Below we are going to discuss these pros and cons in detail in order to develop a better understanding of IB.

Advantages of IB Diploma

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Global Recognition

The most important advantage of the IB program is it is internationally recognized and accepted by most of the universities around the globe.

It becomes harder for universities to compare students based on country-specific exam results and hence IB is better. Regardless of from where you have done your IB, the result would be the same and accepted by admission officers.

If you have achieved a good score in IB then it will more likely to help you in getting admission to your dream university.

University Preparation

 IB Diploma program helps you to prepare for university-level courses by enhancing your learning skills.

Through its core elements ToK, extended essay and CAS, it helps you to hone your writing skills and prepare for research work.

Due to its heavy workload, it helps you to effectively manage your time between studies and other activities. It inculcates good study habits which will help you in a better academic career at the university level.

IB program focusses on how to do it rather than what to do and thus helps you to think out of the box and apply your skills and knowledge in solving real-life situations.

Holistic Academic Approach

IB program exposes you to a much wider range of subjects and helps to achieve breadth and depth of knowledge.

It not only focusses on your strengths rather on your weaknesses as well thereby making you an allrounder. It also helps to enhance your writing skills through its extended essay writing and in better research work. It helps you to enhance your skills and knowledge through enquiring.

Personal development

Through its CAS core element, IB program aims to develop creativity among students thereby emphasizing more on social and emotional development by involving them in community services.

It also helps you to develop your soft skills such as teamwork and empathy. It helps them to explore issues and concepts which have both local and global significance.

The other benefits of IB program are as stated below :

• Increase In Opportunities:  Students get opportunities to receive grants and scholarships.
• Interdisciplinary Teaching:  Helps students to develop into international-minded individuals.
• Teacher Development: Unlike other schools, IB grooms its teachers to meet up the demands of IB students.
• Risk Takers:  Students are trained to self-independent and explore new ideas, abilities, strategies and roles. They are trained not to be afraid of any situation and tackle them independently. They do not shy away from taking risks and apply their skills to those risks wherever possible.
• Liberal Minded:  IB students are able to understand their own histories and are open to accept and appreciate the values and traditions of other people.
• Highly Principled:  IB students tend to be more principled individuals who act with integrity and honesty and are coupled with the sense of fairness and respect for others.

Disadvantages of IB Diploma

Length of Study

IB program is no piece of cake but a marathon where you have to be consistent and give a good performance throughout the program.

Since the exams happen at the end of the year hence you have to have a strong understanding of what you have been taught in the beginning. IB has a very lengthy curriculum that requires proper time management to achieve good scores.

Heavy Workload

IB program consists of a heavy workload as it consists study of six group subjects along with three core elements i.e. ToK, EE and CAS. As a result,

It requires you to be more organized and diligent so that you can manage your time according to all the activities.

Less Flexibility

Though IB program has a wide range of subjects to choose from but not every school will be able to teach all the courses.

Also, it requires a deeper understanding of the subject which means lesser flexibility. You will have to study all the six subjects and if you want to leave the arts then you can do the double subject, but the triple subject is not allowed.

No Central Location of IB schools

There have been a lot many complaints about the location of IB schools as they are located in fewer affluence areas and hence students have to travel a lot to distant locations.

Not Accepted by Some Universities

There are some universities that still don’t recognize IB program.

Exam Style

IB exam doesn’t consist of multiple-choice questions rather it includes short and long answer type questions which means a lot of writing.

There are a lot of things that IB offers as compared to its counterparts, so it’s up to you whether what’s your choice of an academic program.

I hope the above article is helpful enough for you to decide on the choice of IB program. Ultimately, to take IB or not is your personal decision and you should decide wisely.

If you are aiming for international universities then IB can prove to be a good choice. So, all the best for the future.