New studies released on the postsecondary achievement of IB Diploma Programme students
The IB is pleased to announce the release of four new studies on the postsecondary achievement of IB students. While the studies looked at university and college performance in the US and UK, the students themselves came from IB schools around the world. Findings indicate very encouraging patterns of higher education enrolment, performance, and graduation, as well as post-tertiary achievement. These studies join a growing body of evidence supporting IB programmes.
SRI International, and independent non-profit research institute, looked at the college enrolment, performance and graduation rates of Diploma Programme students from high schools within and outside the US who went on to enrol in US universities, and graduates from Florida high schools who enrolled in the University of Florida. The studies examined enrolment patterns, destination types, graduation rates, and the relationship between IB exam scores and college performance in the same subject. Highlights include:
- The majority of IB Diploma Programme students enrol directly in a four year higher education institution (67% of domestic, and 84% of international students).
- The majority of IB Diploma Programme students enrolled in “somewhat selective” or “more selective” institutions (64% of domestic, and 79% of international students).
- Graduation rates for both groups were found to be generally higher than institutional and national averages.
- There is a positive association between students’ scores on an IB exam and grades in the first college courses in that subject.
The UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has also just provided us with a report on IB students studying at higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK. The report identifies characteristics and trends of IB students compared with students holding the more traditional A level and other similar qualifications. Findings indicate that IB students were more likely to:
- be enrolled at a top 20 HEI
- achieve first class honours and to leave with an award in most subject areas
- go on to further study after university
- be employed in graduate level jobs and in higher paid occupations.
These studies are part of a growing body of research on the IB as evidenced in part by the dozen plus papers presented last month at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association (AREA), one of the world’s most influential educational research institutions. Presentations on the IB were given by individuals from Harvard University, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, and New York University, among others.
To read more on these studies and others, please visit the IB Research Programme Validation Studies page: http://www.ibo.org/research/programmevalidation/index.cfm. For more information on, or questions about IB Research, please contact: research@ibo.org.
