Get the IB vs A Level decision guide

38 pages. Free. Includes a one page child fit scoring sheet and the 2026 university destinations comparison.

The decision in one paragraph

The IB Diploma suits children with broad academic ability, good time management, and university destinations spanning the US, continental Europe, Asia and the UK. A Levels suit children with clear subject strengths, a willingness to specialise at sixteen, and university destinations concentrated in the UK or in Anglophone systems that accept depth over breadth. Neither curriculum is universally better. The right answer depends on your child's profile and your university plan.

What is inside the free guide

  • The full IB Diploma structure (six subject groups, TOK, EE and CAS) explained in plain English.
  • The A Level structure (three or four subjects, with EPQ and AS as options) and the 2026 linear reform implications.
  • A child fit scoring sheet that takes ten minutes to complete at home.
  • The 2026 university destinations comparison across Oxbridge, Russell Group, Ivy League, top 30 US, top European and top Asian universities.
  • A workload comparison with realistic hours per week in Years 12 and 13.
  • The 2026 fee differential analysis at the top 20 international schools globally.
  • Three case study families that chose IB, A Level and dual pathway respectively.

The five questions that drive the decision

The 38 page guide steps through five questions in order. Skim them now, answer them honestly with your child in the room, then download the guide for the worked scoring framework.

1. Where will your child go to university? The single biggest variable. UK only families default to A Levels. US only families default to IB. Mixed and uncertain families benefit from the IB's universal recognition.

2. Is your child a specialist or a generalist? Specialists with two or three areas of obsession do better at A Level. Generalists with broad ability and decent languages do better at IB.

3. How strong is your child's mother tongue? The IB requires a Language A study and a Language B study. Children with strong mother tongue continuity can use it to leverage a high IB score. Children with weak mother tongue but strong English may find the language requirement a tax.

4. How comfortable is your child with sustained independent writing? The IB Extended Essay and TOK essay together demand ten thousand words of independent writing across two years. A Levels demand less independent prose, more exam technique.

5. Where is your child likely to live between sixth form and university? Family mobility increases the value of an internationally portable qualification. The IB travels better than A Levels.

What the guide will not do

The guide will not pick a curriculum for you. It will not tell you that IB graduates earn more than A Level graduates (the data does not support that claim either way). It will not pretend that one school's IB cohort is identical to another's. What it will do is walk you through a structured decision process so that you can answer the question for your specific child with confidence.

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The 2026 reform context

2026 is a notable year for A Level. The first cohort to sit a fully linear A Level under the latest English reforms graduated in summer 2025, with universities now seeing terminally examined results across all subjects. The IB Diploma, by contrast, continues with its established external examination plus internal assessment mix. Both qualifications have introduced expanded digital assessment options, with the IB piloting on screen exam delivery for selected subjects from 2025. Our guide updates the workload comparison to reflect both changes, including the practical implications for Year 12 mock exam sequencing. If your child sits her first major external in summer 2027, these timing changes matter.

Frequently asked questions

Is the IB Diploma harder than A Levels?

Different rather than harder. The IB has more breadth (six subjects against three or four), more compulsory components (TOK, EE, CAS) and more independent writing. A Levels have more exam intensity in fewer subjects and require deeper subject specialism. The total workload is broadly comparable.

Do US universities prefer the IB?

US universities accept and respect both. Top 30 US universities are familiar with the IB Diploma and award strong placement to high scoring candidates. A Levels are also accepted but require translation of grades. If your child is heading specifically to the US, the IB is slightly easier to position in the admissions essay narrative.

Do Oxbridge universities prefer A Levels?

Both are accepted. Oxbridge offers in 2025 to 2026 typically required A*A*A or A*AA at A Level, or a 38 to 40 IB Diploma score with 7 6 6 at higher level. Direct comparisons by subject are available in the Oxbridge offer pages.

What about dual pathway schools?

A growing number of international schools offer both IB and A Levels at sixth form. Examples include GEMS Wellington Dubai, Brighton College, Tanglin Trust School Singapore and the British School of Bahrain. Dual pathway schools allow your child to commit later. Our guide walks the trade off.