University admissions officers suggest DP as best preparation for workplace and university

‘Over the past ten years of the survey we have seen the IBDP repeatedly outperform the other main qualifications: it appears to give students the best preparation for the workplace and higher education. It is a challenging qualification but the results speak for themselves in terms of student readiness and ability to thrive at university and beyond,’ according to the head of school at ACS Egham International Schools commenting on the survey results of the annual University Admissions Officers report published at the IBSCA HE Conference in London this June.

Results show that IBDP is regarded as the best skills provider: 87% of the admissions officers view it as encouraging independent inquiry; 80% view it as developing global awareness and connectivity; 76% view it as developing self-management skills; 72% view it as developing an ability to cope with pressure; and 57% view it as developing workplace skills. On ‘developing in-depth subject expertise’, A-levels has a slight lead with 81% of the officers seeing it as doing well or extremely well; in close second is IBDP at 79%.

The survey was conducted through telephone interviews with 80 university admissions officers in the UK and 20 in the US over a two month time period. The survey covered 7 of 9 of UK University admission groups which included Guild HE & Associates, Million+, and Russell Group.

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