🎓 University Guide

International Baccalaureate Middle Years
The IB Middle Years Programme is the choice for students in grade 6-10. At the end of the programme, students will be able to complete the MYP certificate or individual certificates (similar to the DP) by taking the eAssessment.  Students applying to universities requiring iGCSE or similar O-level, SEC, or Grade 10 exams for admission may be able to submit their MYP exams. See more about the equivalency here. Acceptance of MYP courses in lieu of iGCSE or other exams should be confirmed with the university prior to applying for admission. 

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBDP)
Students start this two-year pre-university course in the last two years of high school. This is a globally recognized qualification, thus giving one a very good chance of getting into a top university world over. The IBDP is a great preparation for tertiary education, developing those essential skills that students will need at university. Clearly outlined on the university’s website are the IBDP point requirement indicating entry criteria as a guiding baseline.

Here is an interesting read on the IBDP being a great passport to university.

 
International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP)

At Verdala we have expanded the range of options available to our high school students. Currently we offer the MYP (Middle Years programme), the High School Diploma, the International Baccalaureate Programme (IBDP) and the IBCP which is the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme Certificate route. In May of 2023 VIS graduated our first IBCP cohort. The components of the new programme are:

• 1. BTEC International Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (Equivalent to one A-Level).

  2. IBDP Courses (Minimum 2, Maximum 4, preferably at Higher Level (HL).

  3. The Core Curriculum consists of four components: Personal and Professional Skills (PPS), Language Development in Mandarin (LD), Reflective Project (RP) and Service Learning (SL).

Which path is most suitable for you?

The IBCP is an alternative route to university, further education or the workplace. It gives a rounded qualification, which imparts academic and professional skills, thus bridging the academic/career related study divide.

UCAS Tariff Points are allotted to the components of the programme, making the IBCP a recognized entry qualification to targeted undergraduate studies, predominantly Business related programs in selected universities and places of further education.

For anyone of you seeking a real world approach to learning or if you already know your career direction, this is the programme to pursue.

HELPFUL LINKS

• SELECTING IB courses for the IBDP

• LIST of universities that accept IBDP, IBCP, and IB MYP

• GUIDE to university admissions from the IBO

Didn't get the IB diploma? Don't panic!     Read the guide here.

Overview

Anticipated grades are used by universities and the IBO to determine how students will perform on their final exams. The teacher of each subject predicts grades for their students, drawing upon their professional judgement and experience based on the criteria below:

• • • previous examination performance

    • performance under test conditions in school

    • data drawn from internal assessments

    • IB grade descriptors

    • classroom performance and engagement with the subject

    • comparative performance against the standards achieved by previous students on the course

    • any extenuating circumstances that may have caused under-performance

As such, VIS anticipated grades are based on evidence and professional judgement and are therefore an honest assessment of the student’s most likely achievement.

Collection of Anticipated Grades

Below are times in which anticipated grades will be collected. Students shoul use the most recent grade which has been collected for their application.

• End-of-year Term 3 reports of Grade 11

• Mid-November of Grade 12

• Early February of Grade 12 (mock exams)

Questions or concerns about Anticipated Grades can be addressed to the University & Career Advisor.

The High School Transcript is an important part of the university application to countries like the USA, Canada and the Netherlands amongst others. All grades from Grade 9 through to 12 are recorded here. It contains information such as the classes one takes, when taken, and how well one did in them. This document is regularly updated as courses are completed. Universities accept official copies of transcripts, those bearing a seal of VIS and those issued by the office of the University Counsellor to the university. School reports are available to reference in Managebac and can also be downloaded in PDF format if needed.

See the official HS Transcript request process HERE.

Upon graduation from VIS, students will receive an official transcript as well as their VIS diploma accredited by MSA (Middle States Association).

Standardized testing stipulated by universities complement the IBDP, PGs and Transcript, as indicators of one’s academic performance. Though important in essence, they are not considered to be the sole determinant for achieving a place at university. However they remain important indicators of a student's achievement and aptitude.

The battery of university admission testing includes the SAT, BMAT, UKCAT, LNAT, HPAT - just to mention a few tests which students may be asked to take, depending on the university’s geographic place and programmes chosen.

See the Exams page for more information.

Recommendation letters are sometimes requested by applications and advocate for the student and are as important as any other document in one’s application. They highlight the student’s academic and personal abilities, strengths and limitations, potential to thrive in tertiary education, work ethic, how a student handles obstacles, and student’s personal passions. Reference letters help to give an impression of who the student is and what they will bring to the university. Whilst UCAS for UK universities has changed their platform for the 2024 applications, it is still a reference section from the school on the student’s behalf. For Common App in the US, it is common practice for example, to request a reference letter from both the counsellor and a teacher as part of the application procedure. While programs in Ireland, the Netherlands and Canada don’t usually require recommendation letters.

See the Requests for Recommendation page for more details on the process.

The Personal Statement or College Essay is one’s chance to document skills, experiences and goals. It tells the story of one’s life experiences, personal integrity, social maturity, CAS activities and any voluntary work pursued. One’s critical judgement and problem-solving skills, the ability to pursue independent study, one’s adaptability, and values are all factors touched upon in this statement.

The Personal Statement needs to show evidence of why one is interested in a particular area of study, what fires up one’s academic interest and passion and how one can contribute to society once qualified. In a nutshell this document is the student’s personal brand profile, communicated to admissions officers. 

Check the Guide to Personal Statements page for more details.

Super-curriculars are an essential part of any application and helpful to ensure you are best prepared for your intended program of study.

Check the Guide to Super-curriculars page for more details.

Universities may request an interview. This could be conducted in-person or online, typically over Zoom. Some interviews are subject dependent, such as for Art, Nursing and Pharmacy courses to mention but a few.

Typically UK universities like Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College London and University College London, tend to interview applicants as an integral part of the admission procedure. The following may support your search and preparation.

Some universities in the US strongly recommend interviews, like MIT, whilst others consider the interview as optional, such as Stanford and John Hopkins Universities.

At VIS mock interviews are organized on request. The University and Career Advisor needs to be informed well ahead of the actual interview date, giving ample time to organise interviews according to the specific discipline and university.

Creative Arts students are typically asked for a practical art portfolio as part of the application process into Art and Design Schools and Universities. This collection of work, or a ‘visual diary’, shows how skills and ideas have developed over time. Very often portfolios are supported during an interview. More information can be obtained here.

Some examples can be seen here.

The National Portfolio Day Association also has free portfolio reviews and events for those interested in art schools.

A CV and/or Cover Letter may be required for your application. See the below links for help creating a strong CV and Cover Letter.

• Create a CV using Europass

• How to Write a Resume for College Applications

• College Application Resume for 2024 [With Examples, Tips & Template]

• Sample Resumes from UPenn