Universities Officer’s Report
Members may be aware that over the last year I have been reviewing UK universities’ websites to understand how the 50 universities most popular with IB applicants present themselves to IB applicants. You will be pleased to hear that virtually all universities make a ‘fair’ equivalence between their A level entry requirements and those of Diploma Programme applicants based on IB applicants’ Higher Level subjects. Indeed most of the Russell Group use a very straightforward equivalence which is more positive than the UCAS tariff and equate a level 5 to a grade B (the tariff makes it a C) and a level 4 to A level grade C. I understand that you may not consider that this is a fair equivalence as the wider scope of the Diploma Programme is not acknowledged. This is a problem not just for us but for applicants holding A levels as well.
For instance, very few universities give credit to the EPQ although they all praise it. No universities give credit to the IB Diploma Core but some universities make alternative offers whereby applicants can achieve their offer through total points or higher level grades. The alternative offer takes the emphasis off achievement in the higher levels and spreads out achievement to the standard levels and the core. Three universities stand out in this respect: Cardiff, Exeter and Kent.
The other more problematical areas are:
The Career-related Programme
Diploma programme Courses
The use of MYP eAssessment grades instead of GCSE grades if applicants do not hold GCSEs or iGCSEs.
The acceptance of IB English qualifications in place of a SELT to evidence English Language Requirements.
Requirements for extra subjects, often English and maths because all applicants are treated the same as international applicants.
Lack of acceptance of mathematics: applications and interpretation, particularly at SL.
As a follow up I have written to all the universities to ask them to review their requirements in areas in which they do not provide transparency and await their responses. I do not expect any changes before the next cycle and so I will review the situation in June and July when the 2024 webpages open and report back to the Association on progress.
Peter Fidczuk
Universities Officer, IBSCA