On 6 July, 2020 over 100 students from The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) were among the thousands of students around the world to find out their results the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Due to the extraordinary circumstances relating to COVID-19, the International Baccalaureate Organization canceled the May examinations and instead assessed student achievement on their coursework and the established assessment expertise, rigor and quality control already built into the IB Diploma programme.
In keeping with previous years, ISKL outperformed the worldwide IB Diploma average score by five points with a Diploma average of 35 points. The worldwide IB Diploma average is typically around 29.9 points. Two students from ISKL were among 142 students worldwide to achieve a perfect score of 45 points, placing them in the top one percent of IBDP candidates worldwide. In total, 24 percent of students scored 40 or more points which typically places them in the top ten percent of worldwide results. 22 students who undertook the program earned a Bilingual Diploma in Dutch, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Swedish.
Authorized to run the IBDP in 1989, ISKL is the longest running IB World School in Malaysia. Since the first cohort graduated in 1992, 1,524 students have earned an IB Diploma over the past 29 years, representing a 97 percent pass rate. The worldwide pass rate is consistently around 80 percent. Unlike many IBDP programs around the world, ISKL offers the IBDP on a non-selective selective basis meaning any student is offered the opportunity to undertake the Diploma. As a non-selective program, ISKL faculty work to ensure that each student is mentored and supported throughout the challenging two-year course of study.
Mr. Michael Ortiz, ISKL’s International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) Coordinator said, “Whether our students achieved a minimum score of 24 or the maximum 45 points, earning the IB Diploma is an amazing accomplishment and we are so proud of each one of our Diploma students. Their grit, resilience and positivity saw them through a very challenging period and their hard work throughout the two-year program has paid off!” ISKL’s Class of 2020 received more than 400 acceptances from over 200 international universities, in 14 countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Australia, Korea and Hong Kong.
At ISKL, academic pathways are designed to accommodate the needs of every learner enabling students to select the program that fits with their interests, abilities and aspirations. High School students have the choice of either the two-year IBDP or the innovative ISKL Pursuits Program which gives students the opportunity to combine individual IB, Advanced Placement and High School Diploma courses to create their own program of study and take a deep dive into a chosen area of focus such as Global Issues or Engineering and Design. Each of these two-year pathways provides a comprehensive, relevant and challenging course of study that can be tailored to individual interests, strengths and goals.
The IB Diploma is a two-year pre-university course recognized by universities worldwide. To earn the full IB Diploma, students are required to study six subjects (three at Higher Level and three Standard Level) as well as complete the Diploma Programme Core which broadens the students’ educational experience and provides opportunities for them to apply their knowledge and develop their skills, and is made up of three elements: a Theory of Knowledge course, a 4,000 word Extended Essay on a topic of their choice and completion of an individual Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) project.
