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GCSE results and the IB

The IB Diploma is accessible to a broad ability range such that students with mainly grade 6s who would have struggled with A levels, were successful in the IB. 

The surprising truth is that the IB works especially well for those who are not necessarily the highest flyers but who really want to step up. The table below shows seven anonymised BGS students from BGS who had achieved GCSE scores, that only just met the admission criteria to enable them to continue into the Sixth Form. In some cases they had looked at A level combinations but did not have the grades in individual subjects to be admitted onto the courses. You can see how from their original GCSE grades they went on to achieve very respectable IB results which in turn placed them into the courses they wanted at some very good universities.

This table shows anonymised data for some students whose GCSE results were borderline for successful entry into the Sixth Form and yet who achieved very successful IB outcomes and university places.

GCSE attainment

IB Points

University

Course

48 points 26 Bournemouth

Psychology

48 points

31

Leicester

Law

48 points

32

City, University of London

Business 

48 points

31

Apprenticeship

KPMG 

48 points

34 

Exeter

Law

48 points

31 

Sussex

Psychology

49 points

37

Oxford

English