6 Best IB Schools in Singapore

With more than 5,000 International Baccalaureate schools worldwide, it’s easy to see why the IB is a favourite of expat parents around the globe. Not only is it well respected and widely acclaimed, but it makes for seamless transfers between schools, wherever jetsetting families may be headed next.

Singapore has a plethora of IB schools to choose from, a fact that can be both exciting and somewhat daunting to expat parents moving to Singapore. To help make the choice easier, here are our picks for the best IB schools in Singapore, as well as some background about how the programme works.

What is the IB (International Baccalaureate)?

A highly respected curriculum with a rich history dating back more than half a century, the International Baccalaureate consists of three main programmes for students ages 3 to 19:

•    Primary Years Programme (PYP) – 3 to 12 years
•    Middle Years Programme (MYP) – 11 to 16 years
•    International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) – 16 to 19 years

There is also a newer fourth programme that can be taken in place of the Diploma Programme, known as the Career-related Programme.

IB Diploma grading system

The IB Diploma is graded on a points system. There are six subject, each of which earns between 1 and 7 points depending on performance. The maximum score is 45. For 2020, the worldwide average IB Diploma score was 19.9 points. The average across Singapore was 34.5 points.

Top IB schools in Singapore

Canadian International School

Ages: 3 to 18

Average IB Diploma score for 2020: 35 points

Highest IB Diploma score for 2020: 44 points

Curriculum: Canadian International School teaches the full IB curriculum, consisting of the Primary Years Program, the Middle Years Program and the Diploma Program. For families looking to maintain their child’s mother tongue or adopt a new language, there are also Chinese-English and French-English bilingual programmes available for Kindergarten and Primary students. Read the full review.

Website: www.cis.edu.sg

Chatsworth International School

Ages: 3 to 18

Average IB Diploma score for 2020: 36 points

Highest IB Diploma score for 2020: 41 points

Curriculum: Offering the full range of IB programmes, Chatsworth provides students with an inquiry-based education that includes the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme. Teaching is fully in English, with a robust English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme to support those with limited English proficiency. Read the full review.

Website: international.chatsworth.com.sg

GEMS World Academy (Singapore)

Ages: 2 to 19

Average IB Diploma score for 2020: 34 points

Highest IB Diploma score for 2020: 44 points

Curriculum: Part of a large network of international schools worldwide, GEMS World Academy teaches the IB Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme, and the Diploma Programme. It is also one of just a handful of schools that offers the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme, which helps students bridge the gap between high school and further studies, apprenticeships or working life. GEMS also offers the Cambridge IGCSE for Grades 10 and 11 as an alternative option. Read the full review.

Website: www.gwa.edu.sg

Global Indian International School

Ages: 2.5 to 18

Average IB Diploma score for 2020: 36

Highest IB Diploma score for 2020: 44

Curriculum: Global Indian International School has a wide range of curricula available. The Global Montessori Plus Programme is taught in Kindergarten, while Grades 1 to 5 are covered by the IB Primary Years Programme. In Grades 6 to 10, the school offers Cambridge Lower Secondary and IGCSE, with the IB Diploma Programme concluding schooling in Grades 11 and 12. The CBSE curriculum, originating in India, is also available from Grades 1 to 12. Read the full review.

Website: singapore.globalindianschool.org

Tanglin Trust School

Ages: 3 to 18

Average IB Diploma score for 2020: 38

Highest IB Diploma score for 2020: 45

Curriculum: Primarily a British school, Tanglin offers the English National Curriculum from Nursery through to Sixth Form, including the Cambridge IGCSE in Grades 10 and 11. For Sixth Form, students have the option of choosing either the International Baccalaureate Diploma or A-Levels. Tanglin has one of the best IB Diploma track records and comes highly recommended. Read the full review.

Website: www.tts.edu.sg

ISS International School

Ages: 4 to 18

Average IB Diploma score for 2020: 32 points

Highest IB Diploma score for 2020: 42 points

Curriculum: Students at ISS International School are taught the full International Baccalaureate curriculum, from the Primary Years Programme beginning in Kindergarten to the Diploma Programme that concludes in Grade 12, with the Middle Years Programme bridging the two. The school has more than three decades of IB experience behind it and is considered one of the best IB schools in Singapore. Read the full review.

Website: www.iss.edu.sg