As the title says, why do you think that more and more schools, both public and private in the ACT are turning to the IB?

Karen

Shine please remind me what IB stands for???

Irritable Bowel? nah, that doesn't sound right...Individual Bullsh*t? PSML. Sorry, I don't know what IB is either...

Heh, it's the International Baccaleaureat... umm, why? Advantages - internationally recognised qualification, externally marked, wide range of subject choices and an overall well-rounded program, makes entry into international universities easier..

Sorry, I'm in a rush, but happy to add more later if anyone is interested!

i thought it was irritable bowel too LOL

i don't know much about the IB but maybe it's because people are losing faith in the usefulness of the current senior education system?

Because if you're not happy with the ACT system the IB is a more versatile system than the HSC, and it sounds posher ?

An alternative to the NSW HSC ... and we know just how much the ACT doesn't want to adopt the NSW system.

Another one that did a double take at the title of this thread, lol.

I've heard from a teacher in the ACT one of the reasons we don't use the NSW system here is it would cost the Education Dept alot of money.
IMO an HSC style exam does not suit everyone and 2yrs continuous assesment evens the playing field.
My DS1 has finish school and has gone on to study the exact course he wanted at ANU a double degree in Engineering and IT without the IB.
cheers
Narelle

Our oldest was thinking of doing an IB stream in college when she was considering pursuing Asian Studies as it would give her more credibility to study in Asia if she wanted to, but when she decided on an Arts degree, she dropped the idea. It's supposed to give a student more influence when applying for uni, but it's supposed to be very difficult to complete.

I studied for the IB when I was at high school overseas! It was soo much work. I was up until 3am on a regular basis doing essays etc.

Not sure if has changed since I studied it (that would have been around 15 years ago) but you studied 6 different subjects, 3 at a 'higher' level and 3 at a 'subsidary' level. A requirement was that one of the subjects had to be a language.

I suck at languages!

I am guessing the large number of students here who have come from overseas either temporarily or permanently is also having an affect here, people want to know that it will be easy for their kids to get in to uni anywhere in the world.

Phew...glad I'm not the only one who didn't know what it meant...was beginning to feel like a neglectful mother who isn't up with the latest learning/teaching programs and standards Considering DS just started pre-school this is way out of my brain zone for awhile...Whoops a bit OT there sorry OP...

well it's definitely the opposite to what i thought! lol

Some school are implementing the PYP (Primary Years Program) so it is applicable to younger students as well. Red Hill Primary has done so for quite awhile. Radford Junior site is doing so as well. The ELC have been using inquiry based learning which flows nicely into the PYP.

Red Hill Primary has a great web page here:
http://www.redhillps.act.edu.au/internatio...ation_candidate

Sorry for the confustion

thanks for the responses

I'm a teacher in NSW, but I'm guessing that the ACT is more about the IB due to the amount of diplomats/international students that are based there.

With regards to the IB how does it work when someone wants to apply to a non-ACT University? In NSW you do HSC subjects, qualify for a Tertiary Entrance score, based on your HSC marks. I am just wondering that if some ACT schools do the HSC and some do the IB, how they manage to compare the 2 from a marking and University entrance score perspective?

The ACT has it's own assessment for Years 11 & 12 (def. not the HSC). We have the ACT Year 12 Certificate and Tertiary Entrance Statement instead. The exception to rule is Grammar, I think they are the only school to do the HSC in the ACT.