Academic Results
As an accredited Cambridge and Edexcel Exam Centre, IBSB is able to administer Cambridge International and Edexcel exams. IGCSE (International, Secondary Certificate in Secondary Education) Exams and Advanced Level exams are scheduled to take place twice a year:
Autumn Session: October/November
Results out: Mid-January
Summer Session: May/June
Results out: Mid-August
STUDENTS AT IBSB ARE ENTERED FOR EXAMS AS FOLLOWS:
Year 10 (Age 14/15)
IGCSE (Early Entry)
In limited situations students may be entered for IGCSE exams in Year 9
Year 11 (Age 15/16)
IGCSE
Students are required to take a minimum of 8 IGCSE subjects and a maximum of 12 subjects.
Year 12 (Age 16/17)
Advanced Subsidiary (AS)
Students are required to take a minimum of 3 A level subjects and a maximum of 5 subjects.
Year 13 (Age 17/18)
Advanced Level (A2)
Students are required to take a minimum of 3 A level subjects and a maximum of 5 subjects.
Three A level subjects are the general requirement for entry to the majority of universities around the world. Universities set entry level requirements for each subject in accordance with the popularity of the course. For further information regarding exam results according to University entrances please visit our University Applications page.
Please be aware that limited choices are available to students applying to study in the UK with passing grades below CCC. Lower ranked universities may accept students with 2 A Levels. Students with fewer than 2 A levels will generally be required to enroll in a foundation year programme before matriculating into an undergraduate programme. For students wishing to take the Common Entrance Exam for entry into UK Boarding schools, IBSB can be nominated as a centre to administer this exam. Please contact the school for more information.
Students generally take their IGCSEs (International General Certificate in Secondary Education) in the summer session (May/June), with oral exams and practical exams generally taking place earlier in March/April. In some situations, students may take an exam in the autumn session (October/November). This may be the case for students who have been fast-tracked, or it may be the case that a student has delayed taking an exam to allow for more preparation time. Students can also use the October/November exam session to retake an exam if the result achieved in the summer session was below expectations.
At IBSB, students typically complete 8–10 IGCSE subjects. Students receive individual certificates with a grade for each subject. In addition to these individual certificates, students passing 7 IGCSE subjects with a G or higher receive an International General Certificate in Secondary Education. Students passing 5 subjects with a C grade or higher and 2 subjects with an F grade or higher receive a Certificate of MERIT. Students passing 5 subjects with an A grade or higher and 2 subjects with a C grade or higher receive a Certificate of DISTINCTION.
Summer 2025 Exam Session
The UK Independent School GCSE A-A* average for the Summer 2025 exam session was 48.1%, compared to IBSB with 57%, which is an incredible achievement considering that these results have been achieved by students newly arrived to IBSB with lower levels of English, combined with those results attained by pupils who have been at IBSB longer, possessing a more proficient level of English.
Congratulations to all our students, parents, and staff for achieving such a wonderful set of exam results, placing IBSB firmly amidst the top schools in the world.
Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level Exams are taken at the end of Year 12, which is the first year of the two-year A Level programme, with Passing Grades scaled A–E (U is considered a failing grade). There is no A* grade awarded at AS Level.
At IBSB, students typically study 4–5 subjects at AS Level, before continuing with 3–4 subjects at A Level in Year 13. The AS Level programme provides students with the opportunity to specialise in subjects of interest while preparing for the academic rigour of full A Levels.
Summer 2025 Exam Session
The UK national average for AS Level grades varies considerably year to year, and as fewer schools now enter students for AS examinations, direct comparison can be difficult. What is clear, however, is that the results achieved by IBSB students continue to reflect outstanding academic progress and a very high level of attainment.
In the Summer 2025 session, 98% of students achieved an overall pass grade (A–E), with 84% at grade C or higher, 64% at grade B or higher, and an impressive 41% achieving an A grade.
Congratulations to all our students, parents, and staff on another exceptional set of results at AS Level, demonstrating that IBSB continues to provide a strong academic foundation leading into A Levels and beyond.
Students continue on from their Year 12 AS exams to complete the final year of a two-year Advanced Level Programme of study in Year 13. In most subjects, students will sit two A2 exams in their final year, so a student with three subjects will typically sit six final exams, each around two hours long.
Some subjects may have a practical component, but for most subjects the final exam is a theory paper-based assessment. Please see a review of the results achieved by students in Year 13 over the past three years, with a breakdown of the specific grades achieved by students in 2024–25.
For information on the university acceptances of the graduates, please visit the University Applications page.
A2 Level Passing Grades are scaled A*–E (U is considered a failing grade).
Summer 2025 Exam Session
The Summer 2025 A Level results reflect an excellent year of achievement for IBSB graduates, despite being a weaker cohort overall, improving on the AS results achieved in 2023-24.
99% of students achieved an overall passing grade (A–E)**, with 84% achieving a grade C or higher (up from 74% in their AS exams), and 51% achieving a grade B or higher. These results are a testament to the determination and hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers, and the continued support of parents and the wider school community.