Hong Kong Connection：Demystifying the IB

The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme has gained considerable popularity in recent years among parents, and the number of IB top scorers is also on the rise. As well as international schools offering relevant non-local courses, more schools participating in the Direct Subsidy Scheme have also introduced the IB programmes. The IB curriculum attracted a great deal of attention from the education sector and parents. However, most DSS schools that offer IB programmes only provide a two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and schools that offer IB programmes must adopt a two-pronged approach, which means offering IB and local programmes simultaneously. Parents often mistakenly believe that IB courses are easier than traditional local courses. However, IB students must not only cope with public examinations, but also manage their time effectively and complete multiple papers and assignments. Pressure is no less than that which students face in the HKDSE. How well do parents understand IB programmes? Are IB students truly free from homework and exam pressures?