When a student joins a UK sixth form, the biggest academic decision is the programme itself. Most boarding schools offer A-levels, some offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, and a number offer both. UK universities accept both routes, so the real question is not which one is better, but which one suits your child.
A-levels at a glance
Students usually choose three subjects, sometimes four, and study them in depth for two years. There are no compulsory subjects, so a future engineer might take maths, further maths and physics, while a future lawyer might choose history, English literature and economics. A-levels are linear, with assessment mainly through exams at the end of the course, and they are graded from A* to E. Many schools also offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), an independent research project taken alongside A-levels.
The IB Diploma at a glance
The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year course for students aged 16 to 19. According to the International Baccalaureate, students take six subjects: one from each of five groups (studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences and mathematics), plus an arts subject or, instead, a second subject in the sciences, individuals and societies or languages. Each student takes three or four subjects at higher level (HL) and the rest at standard level (SL).
Around the subjects sits the core:
- Theory of knowledge (TOK), a course on how we know what we claim to know
- The extended essay (EE), an independent research paper
- Creativity, activity, service (CAS), a programme of activities alongside study
Each subject is graded from 1 to 7, and TOK and the extended essay together can add up to 3 points, giving a maximum of 45. To be awarded the diploma, a student needs at least 24 points, must complete CAS and must meet some further minimum conditions.
How the experience differs
- Breadth or depth. The IB keeps maths, a second language and a science in every student's timetable. A-levels let students drop subjects they find difficult or uninteresting.
- Assessment. A-levels rely mainly on final exams. The IB combines final exams with coursework-style internal assessments in each subject, plus the extended essay and TOK.
- Workload. The IB asks for steady organisation across six subjects and the core for two full years. A-levels allow more depth, but leave little room to recover from a difficult exam season.
- Language. The IB requires a second language. Ask whether the school can offer Turkish within the programme, as this can play to your child's strengths.
Which students tend to suit each route
A-levels often suit students who already know what they want to study at university, love particular subjects and prefer to go deep. The IB often suits all-rounders who enjoy many subjects, write well, are well organised and want to keep their options open. Neither is an easy option. A student who dislikes maths may struggle in the IB, where everyone studies it; a student with wide interests may feel limited by three A-levels.
Students coming from Turkish schools are used to studying many subjects at once, so the breadth of the IB can feel familiar, while A-levels can be a relief for those who want to focus. Either way, the bigger adjustment is usually the move to essay-style answers and independent study in English.
University offers are framed differently too. For A-levels, offers are usually expressed as grades, such as A*AA. For the IB, they are usually a total points score, often with required scores in higher level subjects. Check the entry requirements of the courses your child is considering before choosing; our article on building a university shortlist can help.
Questions to ask before deciding
- Which subjects, and which combinations, does each school actually timetable?
- Does the school offer both programmes, and can a student switch in the first weeks?
- How much English support is available in the sixth form, especially for essay-based subjects?
- Which subjects do the university courses your child is considering require?
- How did last year's leavers do on each programme, and where did they go next?
- By when must the choice be made, and what happens if results or interests change before the course starts?
If the school your child prefers offers only one programme, that may settle the question. Our guide to GCSE and A-level explains how the sixth form fits into the wider system.
How YES can help
We talk through your child's strengths, interests and university hopes, and help you compare the sixth-form programmes and subject combinations at each shortlisted school. See our boarding school and sixth form service, or contact us in Turkish or English.
Questions families ask
Do UK universities prefer A-levels or the IB?
UK universities accept both and publish entry requirements for each. What matters is the grades or points achieved and, for some courses, the specific subjects taken.
Can my child take the IB if their English is not yet strong?
It is possible, but the IB involves a lot of writing in English across six subjects, TOK and the extended essay. Strong English before starting makes the programme far more manageable.
Is the IB harder than A-levels?
It is different rather than simply harder. The IB demands breadth and organisation, while A-levels demand depth in fewer subjects.
