Why Singapore is exceptional for IB
Singapore consistently outperforms global means for IB Diploma. The 2025 Singapore-wide average was approximately 35.8 points (vs. global mean of 30.6); the city's top six IB schools all averaged above 37 points. Several factors: deep teacher pools, well-resourced sixth-form facilities, families willing to invest heavily in supplementary preparation, and a regional culture of academic ambition.
The 2026 top 8 IB schools in Singapore
UWCSEA (Dover and East)
Singapore's IB benchmark. Three-year average above 38 points. Strong international cohort drawn from the UWC movement. Excellent CAS and EE programmes. The Dover campus is the flagship; East Coast has a slightly different demographic but similar academic outcomes. Consistent destination to Oxford, Cambridge, top US universities and leading Asian universities.
Singapore American School (IB pathway)
SAS runs both AP and IB Diploma; the IB cohort is smaller but elite. Strong faculty across sciences and economics. Particular strength in mathematics. Often a default choice for Asian-American families wanting university optionality across both US and IB-recognising institutions.
Tanglin Trust School
Long-established British school with one of the strongest dual A-Level/IB sixth-forms outside the UK. IB cohort smaller than A-Level pathway but consistently strong. Faculty depth and university counselling among the city's best. Particularly strong for British-origin families wanting the option of either UK or globally portable qualifications.
Stamford American International School
The strongest dedicated IB school outside UWCSEA in many years. Mid-2020s investment in faculty has paid off in steady cohort improvement. Larger sixth-form than Tanglin's IB cohort, allowing broader subject combinations. Strong music and arts. Particularly suited to families considering US university destinations alongside European and Asian.
Australian International School Singapore
Dual IB and Australian HSC pathway. The IB cohort is competitive, particularly strong in humanities. Australian-origin families anchor the demographic. Often overlooked by non-Australian expats; worth a serious look for upper-mid fee tier with credible IB outcomes.
Dulwich College Singapore
British heritage school with growing IB Diploma cohort. Most students still pursue A-Level. IB pathway is smaller but well-staffed. Strong music programme. Worth shortlisting for families wanting British school culture but with IB optionality.
Hwa Chong International School
The international arm of one of Singapore's premier local schools. Strong cohort with significant Singaporean and regional Asian intake. Mathematics and Mandarin teaching are particular strengths. Lower fees than the international-only schools while delivering competitive IB outcomes.
SJI International School
The international arm of St Joseph's Institution. Catholic-heritage school with broad religious diversity in practice. Strong service learning ethos. IB cohort smaller than the larger flagships but well-regarded. Singaporean rather than expat-leaning catchment, which suits families seeking integration into local networks.
What didn't make the top 8
Several Singapore IB schools fall outside our top 8. Specifically: schools with three-year rolling averages below 31 points, schools where the IB cohort is smaller than 20 students per year, and newer authorisations where 2-year outcomes data is still developing.
Comparing IB pathway to A-Level in Singapore
A-Level remains the dominant sixth-form pathway at British schools (Tanglin, Dulwich) but IB has gained ground over the past decade. For globally mobile families IB tends to travel better; for families committed to UK university destinations A-Level is marginally preferred. Read our deeper analysis in the IB vs. British curriculum guide.
Fee context
Premium IB places in Singapore now sit at SGD 50,000-65,000 per year in Years 12-13. Mid-tier IB schools come in at SGD 35,000-48,000. See our full Singapore school fees report for the broader landscape.