KIS Summary:
- 25 Melbourne schools offer IB Diploma whilst Melbourne High School is also applying for authorisation.
- Your IB results translate to Australian university entry ranks using official QCAA conversion tables.
- Unlike ATAR, both Year 11 and 12 count toward your final score, you must study 6 subject areas, but you gain a globally recognised qualification accepted worldwide.
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The International Baccalaureate, more commonly known as the IB, is a secondary school credential founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland. It is different from the ATAR, but widely popular in Australia due to its universal application. If you are planning on getting an IB diploma in South Australia, this article has all the information you need to know.
Table Of Contents:
- What Is The IB?
- How Is The IB Different From The ATAR?
- Can I Apply To Australian Universities With An IB Diploma?
- Which Melbourne High Schools Offer The IB Diploma?
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What Is The IB?
The International Baccalaureate was designed to provide a universal, standardised and more importantly, transferable diploma for students who would move abroad.
Upon entering year 11, Australian students can choose the educational curriculum (ATAR or IB) they would like to pursue in order to complete their high school diploma. Whilst the ATAR used to be more popular, more and more students are now opting to undergo the IB program due to its challenging curriculum, and potential benefits upon applying for university.
How Is The IB Different From The ATAR?
The IB curriculum is known to be more vigorous and demanding than the traditional Australian certificates.
- For starters, in certificates such as the VCE and HSC, only results from year 12 assessments count towards a student’s ATAR. In the IB, however, both year 11 and 12 content counts towards the final grade.
- Secondly, the only compulsory subject in standard credentials in English (or a related subject such as Literature). On the other hand, in the IB, students must study one subject from six different subject areas.
To find out more about their differences, check out this KIS Academics article.
Australian Universities definitely accept students who completed the IB Diploma. Some even provide credit exemptions, such as University of Adelaide.
For university admission in Australia, your IB scores will be converted into ATARs. Over the years, this conversion has caused some controversy, with some arguing that the conversions are overly generous, while others say otherwise.
This is the most updated version of the conversion table released by QCAA:
| IBAS | Rank |
| 45.75 | 99.95 |
| 45.50 | 99.95 |
| 45.25 | 99.85 |
| 45.00 | 99.75 |
| 44.75 | 99.60 |
| 44.50 | 99.50 |
| 44.25 | 99.40 |
| 44.00 | 99.30 |
| 43.75 | 99.15 |
| 43.50 | 99.05 |
| 43.25 | 98.90 |
| 43.00 | 98.75 |
| 42.75 | 98.55 |
| 42.50 | 98.40 |
| 42.25 | 98.15 |
| 42.00 | 97.95 |
| 41.75 | 97.70 |
| 41.50 | 97.45 |
| 41.25 | 97.25 |
| 41.00 | 97.05 |
| 40.75 | 96.80 |
| 40.50 | 96.60 |
| 40.25 | 96.30 |
| 40.00 | 96.05 |
| 39.75 | 95.75 |
| 39.50 | 95.45 |
| 39.25 | 95.25 |
| 39.00 | 95.00 |
| 38.75 | 94.80 |
| 38.50 | 94.55 |
| 38.25 | 94.25 |
| 38.00 | 93.95 |
| 37.75 | 93.60 |
| 37.50 | 93.30 |
| 37.25 | 92.90 |
| 37.00 | 92.55 |
| 36.75 | 92.15 |
| 36.50 | 91.75 |
| 36.25 | 91.40 |
| 36.00 | 91.00 |
| 35.75 | 90.65 |
| 35.50 | 90.25 |
| 35.25 | 89.90 |
| 35.00 | 89.55 |
| 34.75 | 89.15 |
| 34.50 | 88.80 |
| 34.25 | 88.40 |
| 34.00 | 88.00 |
| 33.75 | 87.55 |
| 33.50 | 87.15 |
| 33.25 | 86.70 |
| 33.00 | 86.30 |
| 32.75 | 85.85 |
| 32.50 | 85.40 |
| 32.25 | 84.90 |
| 32.00 | 84.40 |
| 31.75 | 83.85 |
| 31.50 | 83.35 |
| 31.25 | 82.90 |
Which Melbourne High Schools Offer The IB Diploma?
- Albert Park College (Albert Park, VIC)
- Auburn High School (Hawthorn East, VIC)
- Australian International Academy, Caroline Springs Campus (Caroline Springs, VIC)
- Australian International Academy, Melbourne Senior Campus (North Coburg, VIC)
- Carey Baptist Grammar School (Kew, VIC)
- Creek Street Christian College (Bendigo, VIC)
- Geelong Grammar School (Corio, VIC)
- Grace Christian College Wodonga (Leneva, VIC)
- Islamic College of Melbourne (Tarneit, VIC)
- Ivanhoe Grammar School (Ivanhoe, VIC)
- Kardinia International College (Bell Post Hill, VIC)
- Lauriston Girls’ School (Armadale, VIC)
- Mansfield Steiner School (Mansfield, VIC)
- Melbourne Montessori College (Brighton East, VIC)
- Methodist Ladies' College (Kew, VIC)
- Presbyterian Ladies' College - Melbourne (Burwood, VIC)
- Preshil - the Margaret Lyttle Memorial School (Kew, VIC)
- Rivercrest Christian College (Clyde North, VIC)
- Sophia Mundi Steiner School (Abbotsford, VIC)
- St Leonard's College (Brighton East, VIC)
- Suzanne Cory High School (Werribee, VIC)
- The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School (Melbourne CBD, VIC)
- Werribee Secondary College (Werribee, VIC)
- Wesley College Melbourne - Glen Waverley Campus (Glen Waverley, VIC)
- Wesley College Melbourne - St Kilda Road Campus (Melbourne CBD, VIC)
Candidate Schools: Schools that have applied to the IB Organisation for permission to teach the IB programs and are awaiting authorisation.
- Melbourne High School (South Yarra, VIC)
Conclusion
To end off, the IB curriculum is very different from the ATARs and requires a lot of thought before deciding to pursue it. If you're still looking for relevant resources to help make the decision, we're sure these will be helpful! 👇
Manoj Arachige
Manoj Arachige
Choosing between IB and ATAR is one of the biggest academic decisions you'll make - don't go at it alone! KIS IB Tutors can help you determine which curriculum better suits you and even assist with your subject selections.
FAQs
Can I convert my IB scores to an ATAR?
- Yes you can! Find out more here.
- This also means you can apply for Australian Universities with your IB scores.
What is the IB equivalent of a 99.95 ATAR ?
An ATAR score of 99.95 converts to the maximum IB score of 45. IB scores are converted to an ATAR equivalent by VTAC each year.
How is the IB Assessed?
- Assessment includes a mix of internal tasks (marked by teachers and moderated externally) and external exams (marked by international IB examiners).
- Each subject is graded from 1 to 7. Up to three extra points can be earned for the core (TOK and EE), making 45 the highest possible score.
- Find out more in this article by KIS Academics.
Is IB Harder than the VCE?
The IB can be more demanding due to its breadth of compulsory subjects and core requirements. However, some students prefer its structure and international recognition.
Do Melbourne Universities accept the IB certificate?
Yes. All Australian universities recognise the IB, and many Melbourne IB graduates also gain entry into top international universities.
For tailored tutoring and subject support, KIS Academics provides expert assistance across all IB subjects.
