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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Why the IB

IB Groups

IB Core

FAQs

Why the IB?

International
Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a globally recognised, rigorous, and well-rounded programme. It offers both depth and breadth in academic study while fostering creativity, critical thinking, and global awareness.

Designed as an integrated programme, it encourages students to be active, engaged members of their communities and to contribute through service to others.

PLC Perth is the only independent all-girls school in Western Australia to offer the IB Diploma Programme to students in Years 11 and 12.

The IB Advantage: Success in University and Beyond

Research shows that IB students are highly sought after by top universities worldwide. Compared to their peers, IB graduates are more likely to gain admission to prestigious international institutions and thrive in their studies.

Feedback from IB alumni highlights how the programme’s rigorous curriculum, independent learning approach, and global perspective prepare students for the demands of university life. Many IB graduates find the transition to higher education smoother, equipping them with the skills and confidence to excel in their chosen fields.

The IB Diploma: A Prestigious Alternative to WACE/ATAR

The IB Diploma Programme offers a wide range of subjects in six academic areas. Students choose one subject from each area, and a second subject from most areas.

Individuals and societies:

Includes economics, geography, global politics, history, psychology, and more.

Experimental sciences:

Includes biology, chemistry, design technology, and physics.

The Arts:

Includes film, music, theatre, and visual arts.

Mathematics:

Includes applications and interpretation, and analysis and approach.

Languages:

Includes French, Spanish, Chinese, and Indonesian.

Other subjects:

Includes business management, digital society, philosophy, social and cultural anthropology, and world religions.

The IB Core

In addition to these six academic subjects, students also undertake a common ‘core’.

The core contains:

Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) which encourages students to participate in a variety of co-curricular activities, give back to their communities and develop international awareness by ‘thinking global and acting local’.
Extended Essay (EE) gives students the opportunity to develop a research question on an area of interest and produce a 4,000 word academic report. This flagship element of the programme sets Diploma students apart at university, as they develop the skills of extended academic inquiry and writing.
Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is a 100-hour course in which students are taught to question how we know what we know and to think critically about the reliability of different kinds of knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the IB Diploma only for the academically elite?

No, at PLC we encourage all students to consider the IB Diploma pathway. Good Diploma students are enthusiastic about learning, interested in the world and ready to challenge themselves.

The average Diploma score worldwide is around 29 points, while the the average PLC Diploma score is 37 points, significantly higher than most university course entry requirements.

How is the Diploma assessed?

Subjects have examinations at the end of Year 12 plus assessments that are produced during the two-year course. Final achievement is given a level of between 1 and 7, giving students a potential 42 points for their subjects. The core components contribute up to 3 bonus points, making 45 the highest possible Diploma score.

Is the IB Diploma accepted by Australian universities?

Yes, all Australian universities accept the IB Diploma. In most cases, the IB Diploma ‘score’ out of 45 is converted into an ATAR for Australian university entrance. However, some universities now accept a score without an ATAR conversion. For example: the University of Western Australia (UWA) requires Diploma students to have 26 points for entry into a Bachelor course.

Is there an advantage in undertaking the IBDP if my daughter wants to stay in WA and not go overseas?

Absolutely. The Diploma Programme develops the core skills students need to be successful at university. These include:

• An understanding of and appreciation for research
• Presentation and communication skills
• Critical thinking
• Report writing
• International mindedness and cultural understanding; and
• Time management.

If my daughter is going to university overseas does the IB Diploma offer any advantages over WACE?

There are many examples where this is evident. For example, UK students complete A Levels (which are taken in Year 12 and Year 13); these are challenging academic courses beyond the scope of many Australian Year 12 courses.

The Diploma programme (especially EE, ToK and HL subjects) will put your daughter on more equal terms with students in the UK when she starts university.

Many US universities offer College credit for Diploma Courses. The IB actively engages with US universities to ensure Admissions Officers are familiar with the programme.

Our Head of Careers and Pathways will be able to provide more information on this.