IB Diploma Program: A strong predictor of success in university
Research confirms IB students are prepared for university.....
A study by the The United States' Education Policy Improvement Center (EPIC) confirmed that IB students have the knowledge and skills for success during their first year of university study. EPIC aligned the Knowledge and Skills for University Success, a set of standards endorsed by 28 leading research universities, with the standards of the IB Diploma Program.
EPIC findings:
The IB Diploma Program is exceptionally strong in the areas of key cognitive strategies, problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, research and writing skills. Through the IB languages curriculum and the core components, including the extended essay and theory of knowledge, IB students develop the ability to interpret, analyze, think critically and present arguments. They learn to question and reflect on what they know. They also learn to research, write and present what they have learned. The IB curriculum meets or exceeds the standards for key content knowledge. IB students, in many cases, go beyond what is required for success. According to findings from the study, mathematics and science standards are exceptionally strong with many standards going beyond what students are expected to know in their first year of university. Through the preparation for the IB assessments and participation in the Diploma Program, IB students also learn academic behaviors and contextual skills that allow them to adapt well to university courses and campus life. The IB Diploma Program encourages the development of the attitudes and habits of mind that encourage emotional maturity, responsibility and interpersonal skills.
(David Conley and Terri Ward, Educational Policy Improvement Center, Eugene, Oregon, USA)