Home | Latest News & Updates | Blog | IB vs HSC

IB vs HSC

International Baccalaureate Diploma vs HSC

Which is right for your child?

As students approach their senior secondary years in New South Wales, a pivotal decision awaits them: choosing between the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and the Higher School Certificate (HSC).

This critical choice can significantly shape their educational journey and future opportunities. In this comprehensive guide, we will thoroughly explore and compare the IB vs HSC, shedding light on their unique aspects and helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations. Let’s dive deep into the details and unravel the differences between these two educational pathways.

The IB Diploma in Australia

The IB Diploma has a rich history in Australia. It is an internationally recognised programme designed for students aged 16 to 19, or in their final two years of secondary education.

Originally developed by a group of educators in Switzerland in the mid-1960s, the IBDP offers a globally-focused curriculum that is independent of government influence. It provides a challenging and comprehensive set of courses and exams that prepare students for university education worldwide.

Students studying the IBDP at Westbourne have a long term track record of achieving an impressive 90% admission rate to prestigious Russell Group universities in the UK, including Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial, and their international equivalents.

While the IBDP is still gaining popularity in New South Wales (NSW), it is widely taught across the globe, with approximately 3,500 schools in 157 countries currently offering the IB Diploma.

First offered in Australia in the late 1970’s, it is in the past two decades that we have seen Diploma student numbers swell across Australia, with 77 schools now offering the IB Diploma Programme.

Westbourne College is the first school in NSW to offer the IB Diploma only, such is the strength of our belief in the exceptional breadth and depth of education the curriculum provides.

Discover the Westbourne IB Diploma

The IB Diploma curriculum

In the IB Diploma, students study a total of six subjects over two years. They also participate in special subjects, known as the “inner core”, to build leadership, thinking, and research abilities.

Students choose six subjects from these categories:

Language & Literature
Language acquisition
Individuals & societies
Sciences
Mathematics
The Arts (At Westbourne, which is focused on STEM, students study an extra science subject instead of Arts))

Out of these six subjects, students delve deeply into three (Higher Level) and study three at a basic level (Standard Level).

Each subject is assessed both internally and externally, with internal assessments made up of a range of presentations, essays and assignments. External assessments take place at the end of the course in Australia in a November exam.

The Inner Core

Alongside these chosen subjects, the IB features three compulsory “inner core” subjects:

Extended Essay (EE): A 4,000-word research essay on a topic the student picks. It’s a chance for students to show universities their dedication to a subject.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK): Here, students think about the nature of knowledge—how we know things and the difference between real knowledge and just opinions. They’ll write a 1,500-word essay and give a presentation on this.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): This is about doing creative tasks, physical activities, and community service. Students spend around 50 hours on CAS activities during the course.

Together, these “inner core” activities give students a well-rounded education and many find them highly rewarding, boosting their skills and enthusiasm for learning.

IBDP Grading

Students in the IB Diploma can earn a maximum of 45 points. Here’s how it breaks down:

Each of the six subjects has ongoing assessments over two years. At the end of Year 12, these assessments, along with final exams, give a grade out of 7 for each subject. So, from the six subjects, a maximum of 42 points can be earned.
On top of that, the Inner Core subjects—TOK, EE, and CAS—can give up to 3 more points.

When you add the subject scores and the special activity points together, you get the overall IB score out of 45.

For students aiming for Australian universities, this IB score gets converted into the ATAR equivalent. This conversion is done by the Australasian Conference of Tertiary Admissions Centre (ACTAC).

It’s worth noting that the method for this IB-to-ATAR conversion has been tweaked slightly by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) in recent times. However, the bottom line remains consistent: Students who excel in the IB Diploma usually achieve impressive ATAR scores.

Recognition of the IBDP by universities

The IB Diploma is globally recognised by over 5,000 universities in more than 100 countries, including Australia, and enables students through its academic rigour to showcase the full breadth of their ability.

A typical score of 38 IB (94.55 ATAR) can meet admissions entry level at UK’s Russell group of universities such as Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial.

The Higher School Certificate (HSC)

The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is awarded to students who have satisfactorily completed Years 11 and 12 (stage 5 and 6 respectively) at secondary school.

To be eligible, students must meet HSC course requirements. It provides a pathway for students wishing to pursue tertiary qualifications in Australia, vocational training or employment.

The HSC curriculum

Students must complete at least 12 units of preliminary courses (Year 11) and 10 units of HSC courses (Year 12), including English. As most HSC courses are worth 2 units each, students typically study a minimum of six subjects in Year 11 and continue with five of these subjects in Year 12.

All students are required to study:

English (Standard or Advanced) or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EAL/D).

And then can choose from a wide range of subjects available as part of the NSW curriculum, including:

Ancient or Modern History
Business Studies
Creative Arts (Dance, Drama, Music, Visual Arts)
Economics
Engineering Studies
Food Technology
Geography
Legal Studies
Mathematics (with extension subjects available)
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Physics)
Technological and applied studies
A wide choice of languages

HSC Grading

Upon completion of the HSC, students are presented with marks out of 100.

Each mark reflects their performance in each subject. The assessment is balanced and that each course is 50% school based and 50% external assessments (final exams).

The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a number between 0 and 99.95 that indicates a student’s position relative to all the students in their age group. It tells a student how they compare with other students who have completed different combinations of HSC courses. This is provided by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Students are required to satisfactorily complete at least 10 units of HSC courses to be eligible for the ATAR.

Recognition of the HSC by universities

The HSC is a recognised credential that provides a strong foundation for students wishing to pursue tertiary qualifications in Australia, vocational training or employment. Should a student wish to pursue studies overseas, universities may need proof of additional studies, testing or other enrolment requirements to be fulfilled by Year 12 graduates of Australia.

HSC vs IBDP: Strengths

The Australian Higher School Certificate (HSC)

The HSC employs a blend of traditional end-of-year written exams and school-based assessments.

Strengths of the HSC:

Familiar and established curriculum recognised nationally.
Combination of school-based assessments and final exams.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)

The IBDP has garnered attention from students seeking a rigorous academic challenge, including those with aspirations to study abroad.

Strengths of the IBDP:

Provides flexibility for Year 12 graduates in terms of global university admissions.
Interdisciplinary approach promotes skills such as critical thinking, independent research, and a global perspective.
Recognised by universities worldwide, often streamlining the admission process for IBDP graduates.
Unlike the HSC, student results are not impacted by school based internal assessment rankings, meaning other students assessment ranks have no influence on the final IB grades given.

Several studies, such as those by Lee et al. (2017) and Cole et al. (2015), have highlighted the benefits of the IBDP in terms of preparing students for university. They emphasise the development of communication, creativity, critical thinking, global-mindedness, and cultural sensitivity. However, it’s worth noting that the HSC, with its long-standing reputation and rigorous curriculum, has also produced numerous graduates who have excelled in universities both within and outside Australia.

In conclusion, both the HSC and IBDP have their respective merits. The choice between them should be based on individual student needs, future goals, and preferences.

Sources:

IB Asia Pacific (source for the research on IBDP students enrolling in top-tier institutions)
Cole et al. (2015) (source for the research on DP graduates’ higher mean scores in predictors of postsecondary success)
Lee et al. (2017) (source for the research on IBDP alumni and their development of skills connected to enhanced university performance)