IB Demystified: How the IB Program at MMC Prepares Students for Success

News

Friday, 11 Oct, 2024

Not quite sure what the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) involves? We’ve collected some facts and addressed some common IB myths.

Students in their final two years at Melbourne Montessori College (MMC) can choose to follow one of two different programs – either the Montessori Careers Program or VCE Vocational Major, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.

Although the IB has been around since 1968, there are still some myths and misconceptions about what it is, what skills students develop during the programme, which students are most suited to the IB pathway, what it can lead to, and how it compares to the VCE.

The IB has been offered at MMC since 2019 and it aligns closely with the Montessori philosophy, says Casper Buisman, Head of IB at Melbourne Montessori College.

“The IB and Montessori education are both holistic programs for education that go beyond mere subject knowledge and skills. The IB is student-centred, challenges each young person to develop their critical thinking skills and takes them out of their comfort zone,” he says.

So, what are some of the myths and misunderstandings about the IB – and what are the facts? We’ve delved into 6 common IB myths.

6 IB myths and actual facts

Myth 1: The IB doesn’t offer students as much variety as VCE

To complete the IB Diploma, students undertake six subjects of their choice and also study three core compulsory subjects.

The core subjects are theory of knowledge (TOK), creativity, activity, service (CAS), and an extended essay. “TOK invites students to think about how knowledge is produced and what knowledge actually is. For example, how does knowledge in the field of history differ from knowledge in maths?” says Casper.

CAS encourages students to think about how they can give back to their community – they might coach a kids tennis club, be a conversation partner with the elderly at a retirement home, work at Vinnie’s or organise a beach clean-up day.

The 4,000-word extended essay allows students to pick a topic, develop a research question, carry out that research and then compile an essay. Recent essays have explored everything from the many mathematical possibilities of how a knight can move on a chess board to how the female personas in Disney movies have evolved from the 1950s. Individual IB subjects at MMC include languages, humanities, the experimental sciences e.g. biology, physics and chemistry, mathematics and the arts.

Myth 2: The IB is only for young people who are highly academic

“In Australia, the IB Programme is often seen as prestigious and even elitist – there’s a misconception that it’s only suited to the very best academic students,” says Casper. “That is not the case. Students do not have to possess exceptional academic skills – they just need to be good workers who like to learn. It’s not solely a program for academic high-flyers.”

Myth 3: The IB is more competitive than the VCE

In the IB Programme, students do not compete against each other for a ranking, unlike in VCE.

“Every student can get a high grade, depending on how much work they put in. If you and your classmates all work hard, you can all get a high grade in the IB. For this reason, the IB encourages collaboration between students who support each other to do their best, because they are not in competition,” says Casper.

Myth 4: The IB isn’t as rigorous as VCE

As part of the IB, students are able to study three subjects of their choice at higher level and in greater depth.

All IB students also study a second language and the programme offers several languages ‘ab initio’ — which means students spend two years learning about the language and culture without having any previous knowledge of that language.

While the IB encourages students to be independent and self-directed learners, each student must meet strict criteria and standards to complete the programme and be awarded the IB Diploma. The IB is recognised by universities worldwide and each student’s work is assessed according to international standards.

Myth 5: The IB doesn’t prepare students for entry to university

A 2024 study by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) showed the percentage of IB Diploma Programme students offered a university place was 97.7% or more – about 10 percentage points higher than for Year 12 students who didn’t do the IB. “The IB challenges students to take charge of their own learning — an important factor for success in university and beyond,” says Casper.

Myth 6: Because the IB promotes independent learning, my child won’t get enough support

While the Montessori philosophy and the IB promote independence and self-direction, as through the rest of their school life MMC students are supported and guided by their educators to explore, investigate and discover what they are capable of. Individual learning plans and support ensure each student receives the encouragement and practical advice they need to meet the IB requirements. “Our classes are small and so the learning in the IB and across MMC is more personalised and our students thrive,” says Casper.

Whether senior students choose the IB pathway or the VCE Vocational Major, MMC educators are on hand to help them navigate their final few years at the school.

“We know most of our students from the earlier years of schooling and, as a small community by design, we build relationships with students that help them to overcome any difficulties or challenges,” says Casper.