Secondary qualifications in the NCR
The international secondary segment in the NCR offers five secondary qualifications. The IB Middle Years Programme runs at eight schools through Years 7 to 10 or 11, followed by the IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. Cambridge IGCSE is taught at six schools, normally followed by A Level. The US high school diploma with Advanced Placement runs at The American Embassy School. The French baccalaureat is delivered at Lycee Francais International de Delhi. CBSE at high-end Indian schools like Sanskriti, Vasant Valley and Modern School Barakhamba remains the option for returning NRI families committed to an Indian university destination.
School choice in secondary is more constrained than in primary because not every primary school continues to Year 13. About half of the NCR's IB PYP primaries do not run the full Diploma, so families need to plan for a school change at Year 7 or Year 12 if they want a continuous IB pathway. The IB hub lists which schools run which programme.
Fees and the three tiers
Secondary fees in the NCR rise sharply from Year 7. The value tier (INR 5.5 to 7 lakh) covers Heritage Xperiential secondary, G.D. Goenka World School and the Genesis Global secondary section. The mid tier (INR 7 to 9 lakh) covers Pathways Noida, Step by Step, Shri Ram World School secondary years and Lancers International. The premium tier (INR 9 to 11 lakh) covers the IB Diploma at Pathways Aravali, Shri Ram Aravali and the IB stream at the British School Chanakyapuri. AES sits in its own bracket, with diplomatic-discounted fees for US Embassy and partner mission families.
Exam fees add up. The IB Diploma exam series costs roughly INR 45,000 per candidate in 2026; A Level exam fees are similar. Layered onto tuition, capital levies, technology charges and transport, our New Delhi fees guide shows that a premium Year 13 finishes at INR 13 to 14 lakh in total cost.
Compare IB Diploma and A Level side by side
The IB versus A Level decision drives university destinations. Use the compare tool to see fees, subject options, average scores and recent leavers' destinations side by side.
Illustrative example schools
The four schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each represents a different secondary pathway in the NCR.
The American Embassy School in Chanakyapuri runs the US high school diploma with AP and parallel IB Diploma. Strongest UK and US university placement in the city, small Year 11 to Year 12 cohorts and a serious counselling team.
Pathways World School Aravali in Gurugram delivers IB MYP and IB Diploma with one of the largest Diploma cohorts in the NCR. Average IB scores consistently above the global average; strong UK and Singapore university placement.
The British School Chanakyapuri delivers IGCSE in Years 10 and 11 and IB Diploma in Years 12 and 13. Strong language provision and a settled academic culture; popular with UK and Commonwealth diplomatic families.
Step by Step World School Noida runs IB MYP and Diploma with steady Diploma averages near 35 points. Smaller fees than the Gurugram premiums and a lighter cohort; a popular destination for returning NRI families on the East side.
Sixth form and university destinations
NCR sixth forms route the bulk of their cohort to UK and US universities, with smaller flows to Canada, Singapore and Australia. AES and Pathways Aravali place 40 to 60 percent of their cohorts at UK or US universities, with steady representation at Oxbridge, Ivy League and the high-rank US liberal arts colleges. The British School routinely places double-digit numbers at Russell Group institutions; LFID feeds the French Grandes Ecoles preparation pipeline.
Indian universities accept the IB Diploma and A Level under the Association of Indian Universities equivalency framework, so a NCR Diploma graduate can apply to Delhi University, Ashoka and NLU alongside the international choices. CBSE sixth forms route large numbers to IITs, NITs, AIIMS and the high-rank Indian liberal arts options through CUET. Families undecided about destination tend to default to the IB Diploma because of its acceptance across all three university markets.
Where secondary families live
Secondary location is shaped by school choice plus commute tolerance. AES, British School and LFID families settle in Chanakyapuri, Shanti Niketan, Vasant Vihar and Anand Niketan. Pathways Aravali, Shri Ram Aravali and Heritage Xperiential pull families to DLF Golf Course Road, DLF Phase 1 and 2 and Sushant Lok. Step by Step, Pathways Noida and Genesis Global pull families to Noida Sectors 100 to 132. A Year 12 cross-NCR commute is generally unworkable, so families increasingly rent or relocate close to the sixth form when the child enters Year 11.
Admissions calendar
Tier 1 secondary intakes (Year 7 and Year 12) open in September to November of the previous year, with closing dates in early January for the April start. Embassy and embassy-linked schools open in January for the August intake. Mid-year secondary transfers are accommodated subject to subject-fit. Sixth form transfers require an academic reference, the most recent report card and predicted IGCSE or MYP grades.
Assessment for Year 7 includes English and mathematics testing plus an interview. Year 10 and Year 12 assessment is heavier: written work in English, an IB or IGCSE subject test, and sometimes a writing task in the second language. Tier 1 schools accept GL Assessment, MAP or CAT4 results in lieu of internal testing for relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
What secondary qualifications can my child take in Delhi?
Secondary qualifications in the NCR international segment include the IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma, Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, the US high school diploma with AP, the French baccalaureat at LFID and CBSE at the high-end Indian schools. About eight schools deliver the IB Diploma; six deliver A Level; one delivers US high school; one delivers the French baccalaureat.
How much do secondary international schools cost in New Delhi?
Secondary tuition in NCR international schools runs from INR 5.5 lakh in the value tier to INR 11 lakh in the premium IB Diploma tier. Capital levies, technology charges, IB or IGCSE exam fees and transport add 15 to 25 percent. AES has its own diplomatic fee structure that differs by sponsor category.
Which university destinations are typical from Delhi secondary schools?
UK universities take the largest share, followed by US, Canada and Singapore. AES and Pathways place 40 to 60 percent of cohorts at UK or US universities. Indian universities accept the IB Diploma and A Level under the AIU equivalency framework. CBSE secondary at top Delhi schools also routes large numbers to elite Indian institutes.
Can my child join the IB Diploma mid-cycle in Delhi?
Mid-cycle Diploma transfers are difficult after October of the first year because subject choices, Internal Assessments and Theory of Knowledge are already underway. Mid-Year 12 transfers between IB schools require the receiving school to match the original subjects and HL/SL selections, which is not always possible.
When do Delhi secondary schools open admissions?
Tier 1 secondary intakes (Year 7 and Year 12) open in September to November of the previous year, with closing dates in early January. Embassy and embassy-linked schools open in January for August intake. Mid-year secondary transfers are accommodated subject to subject-fit, with English and mathematics assessment plus an academic reference.
