0. Slides for coordinators
Research findings about the IB Diploma Programme
These slides are intended to support IB coordinators in promoting the Diploma Programme to students and their families.
More detailed information about research on the IB can be found at:
Through focus groups with students and coordinators, we have identified several areas of interest to prospective IB students:
the impact of the Diploma Programme on the high school experience
the impact of the Diploma Programme on college admission and enrollment
the impact of the Diploma Programme on college readiness and success
the impact of the Diploma Programme on college credits.
01 January 2012

1. Experience the Diploma Programme
The video Experience the Diploma Programme features students from the United States discussing what it is like to be a DP student and their aspirations for after high school. programme/
Key messages about the IB and the ‘High School Experience’:
The IB offers engaging, challenging learning opportunities; students are offered the support to succeed
IB students are part of a close-knit community of students and teachers
IB students are active in the school and community; students do more than just study
The video ‘Experience the Diploma Programme’ LINK features diverse IB Diploma and certificate students in the United States talking about the way the DP has impacted their high school experience.
01 January 2012

2. What does research tell us about the Diploma Programme?
How will the Diploma Programme impact my high school experience?
Will participating in the IB Diploma Programme help me get into college?
How well will the Diploma Programme prepare me for college?
01 January 2012

3. What does the research say about the impact of the IB on students’ experience in high school?
01 January 2012

4. IB students are more engaged in high school
A 2009 study compared the academic, emotional and social engagement of IB students against non-IB students in eight IB high schools. It also compared IB students to non-IB students in a national sample.
On all measures IB students were more engaged in school than non-IB students.
“Across each of the domains of student engagement, IB students rated their levels of engagement more highly than non‐IB students. This held true for both the targeted sample of eight schools, as well as the national sample.”
This 2009 study used student responses on Indiana University’s highly regarded ‘High School Survey of Student Engagement’ to examine student engagement. This survey measures the academic, emotional and social engagement of students in the high school years. The responses of 3,499 IB students were compared with 4,193 non-IB students for eight IB world schools. The study also looked at a national sample of 42,754 students and compared the 6,720 IB students against non-IB students.
High School Survey of Student Engagement Study Citation:
A summary of this study can be found here:
01 January 2012

5. What does the research say about the Diploma Programme impact on college admission and enrollment?
By Ad Meskens (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( or GFDL ( via Wikimedia Commons
01 January 2012

6. IB students more likely to attend selective colleges
In a 2012 study of diverse alumni from IB programmes in Chicago public schools, researchers from the University of Chicago found that, compared to a matched sample, DP students are more likely to:
enroll in college
attend a more selective college
stay enrolled in college.
Key messages about the IB, and college admission and enrollment:
IB students have a better chance of getting into college
IB students are accepted at selective and highly selective universities
college admissions officers recognize IB students as having chosen the most challenging academic options.
In 2012, researchers from the University of Chicago compared a sample of 1888 diverse students who participated in the Diploma Programme in Chicago public schools graduates to similarly high achieving Chicago public schools peers who did not participate in the IB DP. The study found that IB DP students are more likely to attend a more selective college and are more likely to persist in college for more than two years.
A summary of the ‘University of Chicago study of Chicago Public Schools study’ can be found here:
This study suggests that IB students are not only going to better colleges in greater numbers but are performing better once there.
01 January 2012

7. IB students more likely to attend selective colleges
A study of almost 25,000 IB Diploma and certificate students found:
IB students were more likely than the national average to attend college full-time, with nearly 70% attending selective or more selected colleges.
A 2011 study by SRI International examined a national data set of nearly 25,000 DP students and Diploma Certificate students. This study found students in both categories attending college, particularly selective colleges, at rates higher than the national average.
A summary of the SRI International post-secondary study can be found here:
01 January 2012

8. What does the research say about the IB impact on college preparation?
By Hoodr (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
01 January 2012

9. IB students more prepared for college
2012 study of Chicago public schools interviewed Diploma Programme alumni and found that:
Students reported they felt prepared by the Diploma Programme to succeed in college.
Students reported that they:
felt prepared to succeed and excel in their coursework
had strong academic skills, especially related to analytical writing
learned academic behaviours like work ethic, motivation, time management, and help- seeking that were sources of strength in the transition to college-level work
identified preparation in the IB programme as the source of their success as college students.
Key messages about college readiness and success
IB students report feeling more able to tackle the challenges of college
IB students do better in college, with IB participation predicting college GPA and better performance on IB exams predicting better performance in college courses
IB students have higher persistence and graduation rates in college
As part of the study of IB students in Chicago public schools cited in the previous slide, researchers conducted qualitative analysis of interviews with 25 primarily low-income and minority Chicago public schools Diploma Programme alumni. Researchers found students felt very well prepared for college in terms of academic skills and behaviours. As cited in the previous slide, the quantitative analysis in this study demonstrated that students were more likely to attend, and persist in, college.
A summary of the Chicago Public Schools study can be found here:
01 January 2012

10. IB students more prepared for college
In 2011, a study of IB students in Florida who attended the University of Florida, looked at student performance in first college classes in seven subjects. The study found:
The higher the students’ scores on IB subject exams, the better the grade earned in the first college course in that subject.
A 2011 study by SRI International of over 4,800 IB students in Florida who attended the University of Florida examined student performance in first college classes in seven subjects. The study found:
A positive correlation between IB scores on subject exams and the grade earned in the first college course in that subject.
The University of Florida study looked at Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, English, Spanish, and French.
A summary of the SRI University of Florida study can be found here:
01 January 2012

11. The DP curriculum prepares students for college
A 2009 study looked at the standards for seven Diploma Programme courses and compared them to a set of standards for college-readiness.
Researchers found:
a high degree of alignment with college readiness standards in all subject areas
many individual IB standards were more advanced than those required for success in entry-level college courses
IB standards address key cognitive strategies (critical thinking, intellectual inquisitiveness and interpretation skills) that have been identified by college instructors as necessary for college success.
Knowledge and Skills for University Success (KSUS) standards were developed with input by faculty at leading research universities to measure college readiness. A study by EPIC that examined seven DP courses to create a set of standards and determine alignment with the KSUS standards found:
a high degree of alignment with KSUS standards in all subject areas
many individual IB standards were more advanced than those required for success in entry-level college courses
IB standards address key cognitive strategies (critical thinking, intellectual inquisitiveness and interpretation skills) that have been almost universally identified by college instructors as central to success
complete alignment between the algebra, trigonometry, statistics, natural sciences, chemistry, biology, and the concepts of environmental science embedded across the IB science course.
This KSUS study looked at the following subject areas: Language A1, Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, Mathematical Studies, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
A summary of this study by EPIC can be found here:
01 January 2012

12. IB students more likely to succeed in college
A 2010 study that looked at performance on IB exams and college GPA of over 1500 IB students enrolled in the University of California system found:
IB students earned higher GPAs and graduated at higher rates than a matched comparison group. This held across all family income levels
performance in the Diploma Programme was the strongest predictor of college GPA.
In a 2010 study that examined performance of over 1500 Diploma alumni in the University of California system, IB students were found to be earning higher GPAs and graduate at higher rates than students in a matched comparison group. This was consistent for all income levels and among this sample of DP students.
A summary of the University of California study can be found here:
01 January 2012

13. IB students graduate from college at higher rates
The 2011 study of IB students’ experiences after high school found that IB students graduated from college at higher rates, with 81% of IB students graduating within 6 years of enrolling full-time at a 4-year institution, compared to the national average of 57%.
In the 2011 SRI International study of the post-secondary outcomes for nearly 25,000 Diploma alumni, researchers found that at institutions with high IB enrollments, graduation rates for IB students were generally higher than the institutional average. Overall, 81% of IB students graduated within 6 years of enrolling full-time at a 4-year institution, compared to the national average of 57%.
A summary of the SRI International post-secondary study be found here:
01 January 2012

14. What do colleges say about the IB?
By Jbak87 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
01 January 2012

15. IB prepares students for college success
“IB is well known to us as excellent preparation. Success in an IB programme correlates well with success at Harvard. We are pleased to see the credential of the IB Diploma Programme on the transcript.”
Marlyn McGrath Lewis, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Harvard University, USA
“The IB is a first-rate programme, one we are familiar with, and it prepares students well for a university like ours.”
Fred Hargadon, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Princeton University
Colleges and universities recognize the effort students put into their studies in the Diploma Programme, preparing them well for success in college.
01 January 2012

16. IB prepares students for college success
“We respect the IB programme for its academic rigour and the dedication it requires of students to earn the diploma. Over the years, we have found IB students to be exceptionally well-prepared for a challenging college experience.”
Lorne Robinson, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Macalester College
“Connecticut College highly values the IB programme as it prepares students for the liberal arts in ways that few secondary school curriculums can... Students who have graduated from schools with the IB curriculum are extremely well prepared when they arrive on our campus.”
Martha Merrill, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Connecticut College
Colleges and universities recognize the effort students put into their studies in the Diploma Programme, preparing them well for success in college.
01 January 2012

17. Colleges recognize the value of an IB education
“We know the quality of IB courses, and we think the IB curriculum is terrific.”
Christoph Guttentag, Director of Admissions, Duke University
“The rigour of IB Diploma requirements meets our recommendation for the strongest high school preparation possible. ... In sum, the IB diploma candidate who has met the challenge successfully receives strong consideration from the William & Mary admission committee.”
Allison Jesse, former Associate Dean of Admissions, William and Mary College
Colleges and universities appreciate the quality of an IB education.
01 January 2012

18. Colleges recognize the value of an IB education
“In our minds, there is no more challenging curriculum than the IB curriculum. Not only does it prepare students for a demanding college programme, but the IB curriculum also instills in students a love of learning and an understanding of the truly interdisciplinary nature of education. Instead of working on each subject in a vacuum, IB students are shown how each of their classes connects both with the other classes and with the world around them.”
Thyra L. Briggs, Dean of Enrollment, Sarah Lawrence College
Colleges and universities appreciate the quality of an IB education.
01 January 2012

19. Colleges seek IB students
“We're looking for students who are engagers—students who are maximizing opportunities in the classroom, maximizing opportunities outside of the classroom. What's very unique about IB is that through its curriculum it allows students to be able to satisfy the requirements of the types of students that we're looking for.”
Kedra Ishop, Vice Provost and Director of Admissions, UT Austin
Colleges and universities look for students with the qualities and experiences of IB students.
01 January 2012

20. How does participation in the IB Diploma Programme impact college admission?
01 January 2012

21. IB students acceptance rate Total population acceptance rate
University or college
IB students acceptance rate
Total population acceptance rate
IB students vs total population
University of Florida
82%
42%
+40%
Florida State University
92%
60%
+32%
Brown University
18% 9%
+9%
Stanford University
15% 7%
+8%
Columbia University
13%
+4%
University of California - Berkeley
58%
26%
Harvard University
10%
+3%
New York University
57%
30%
+27%
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
71%
51%
+20%
University of Miami
72%
+42%
The IB surveyed all IB world schools in the United States registering students for Diploma exams in May 2011 and all US 12th graders registered for exams about their college application process. According to student self-reports, IB students are admitted to college and universities at higher rates than the general population.
This slide shows the Universities most commonly applied to by US Diploma candidates, and demonstrates that IB students have higher acceptance rates than the average acceptance rates for the university.
Source: IBDP Graduate Destinations Survey 2011/12 conducted by i-graduate International Insight
Strictly copyright © IGI Services 2011
01 January 2012

22. IB students acceptance rate Total population acceptance rate
University or College
IB students acceptance rate
Total population acceptance rate
IB students vs total population
Cornell University
31%
18%
+13%
Duke University
28%
16%
+12%
University of Pennsylvania
24%
14%
+10%
Yale University 7%
+11%
University of Central Florida
90%
47%
+43%
Boston University
70%
58%
University of California - Los Angeles
48%
23%
+25%
University of Virginia
64%
32%
+32%
UNC Chapel Hill
63%
+31%
Princeton University 8%
+8%
The IB surveyed all IB world schools in the United States registering students for Diploma exams in May 2011 and all US 12th graders registered for exams about their college application process. According to student self-reports, IB students are admitted to college and universities at higher rates than the general population.
This slide shows the Universities most commonly applied to by US Diploma Candidates, and demonstrates that IB students have higher acceptance rates than the average acceptance rates for the university.
Source: IBDP Graduate Destinations Survey 2011/12 conducted by i-graduate International Insight
Strictly copyright © IGI Services 2011
01 January 2012

23. The average acceptance rate of IB students into university/college is 22% higher than the average acceptance rate of the total population.
The acceptance rate of IB students into Ivy League institutions (Princeton, Yale, Brown, Harvard, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania) is between 3% and 13% higher compared to the total population acceptance rate.
Based on student responses to a 2011 survey conducted by the IB, IB students are admitted to colleges and universities at rates higher than the general acceptance rates for the schools.
On average, IB students’ acceptance rate is 22% higher than that of the total population for the school.
Even at highly selective Ivy League Universities, IB students are admitted at rates 3-13% higher than the total population.
Source: IBDP Graduate Destinations Survey 2011/12 conducted by i-graduate International Insight
Strictly copyright © IGI Services 2011
01 January 2012