Oakville student Bana Maarouf says if she鈥檚 being honest, her work ethic at the start of high school left something to be desired.
But then, in Grade 11, everything shifted 鈥 prompted by her school鈥檚 demanding International Baccalaureate Diploma program. The pace was fast, expectations high and competition among peers intense 鈥 all of which forced her to rise to the challenge. She began waking up early and using an agenda to manage her course load.
By the time she graduated from White Oaks Secondary in June, Maarouf had earned a rare perfect IB score of 45.
The 18-year-old has since left the rigors of IB behind, but she鈥檚 carrying lessons with her this fall into the University of Waterloo, where she is studying chemical engineering. Did the program prepare her for the demands of post-secondary? Likely. Research suggests it so. Did it secure her admission to university? Not exactly.
鈥淚 got the grades I wanted, but I think admission officers aren鈥檛 fully aware of the difference between an IB student and those following the regular curriculum,鈥 says Maarouf, who got offers from four of five universities. 鈥淎t the end of the day, we鈥檙e all on the same level.鈥
But it cost Maarouf $2,700, the fee set by Halton District School Board and one her family accepted as part of accessing a globally recognized education. Now, Canada鈥檚 largest school board is following suit: For the first time, the 色色啦 District School Board is charging tuition for the program it has long offered for free 鈥 a move with potential implications for equity and access.
The Star set out to understand the International Baccalaureate 鈥 where it came from, what it promises, where it falls short 鈥 and whether the benefits it offers are really worth the cost.
What’s an IB?
Few countries have embraced IB quite like Canada. Among 160 nations where the IB is offered, Canada ranks second only to the United States, with 375 schools.
The program鈥檚 widespread adoption is clear in 色色啦, where it鈥檚 offered by private institutions like Branksome Hall and Upper Canada College, at聽 and five public collegiates:聽Monarch Park, Parkdale, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Victoria Park and Weston.
Founded in Geneva in 1968, the 聽was established to be an internationally recognized, standardized program that would foster global understanding. What began with just a few hundred pupils now serves nearly two million learners and is no longer just the domain of diplomatic families, but increasingly a choice for those seeking a challenging education and a presumed competitive edge.聽
鈥淭he IB exists to prepare students not just for the next exam, but for the next stage of their lives,鈥 says Robert Kelty, IB鈥檚 head of outreach and development North America. 鈥淥ur mission is to develop thoughtful, compassionate and capable individuals who will contribute meaningfully to the wider world.鈥
The diploma program officially begins in Grade 11, although some schools start preparatory work as early as Grade 9. Students select six courses from six subject areas, three of which must be 鈥渉igher level,鈥 requiring more hours and deeper study. In addition, students complete a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, a 4,000-word research essay and mandatory community service exceeding Ontario high school requirements.
And that鈥檚 just the beginning. Students also face 鈥 delivered in sealed envelopes and marked by international assessors 鈥 alongside a notoriously complex grading system.
That adds another layer of pressure, says Maarouf: 鈥淎m I studying the right way? Am I writing my essay the way IB wants me to? That could be overwhelming.鈥
Who’s enrolled?
When Jason Law walks into his IB science classroom at Sir Wilfrid Laurier CI, he鈥檚 usually met by a group of curious, high-energy students. That makes them fun to teach, he says 鈥 鈥渂ut also exhausting.鈥
鈥淜ids in IB tend to be more motivated,鈥 Law explains. 鈥淚t鈥檚 tempting to say they鈥檙e smarter, but that鈥檚 really not true. It鈥檚 more that when a student is surrounded by kids who are excited about learning, they will probably get more excited about learning, too.鈥
There are currently 1,130 students enrolled in the TDSB鈥檚 pre-IB and IB Diploma programs. Just under half are in Grade 9 鈥 a number that has been steadily rising over the past four years.
Most attrition is understood to happen in Grade 11, when tuition increases and academic pressure intensifies. The TDSB would not provide dropout rates.
According to TDSB data, in 2016, . The shows only one in four IB students come from low-income families.
Paul Tarc, a , points to a tension at the heart of the program: 鈥淭here鈥檚 this dream the IB tells itself about progressive education and widening access,鈥 he says. 鈥淎nd then there鈥檚 the neoliberal choice聽鈥 even within public schools聽鈥 where education is a commodity and students and parents are looking for competitive advantage.鈥
As part of a 2022 equity overhaul, the TDSB 聽鈥斅燼s well as to its other specialized schools聽鈥 with expressions of interest, followed by a lottery if demand exceeds spots. (IB applicants must still have at least 75 per cent in language, math and three other subjects.)
This fall, of the five TDSB IB schools, only were聽notably competitive.
The TDSB has said early results of the revamped admissions policy suggest progress. A May 2024 report found the racial makeup and household income levels of applicants to all specialized schools better reflected the broader TDSB populace.
But not everyone is convinced the approach is working 鈥 especially for IB. At a May聽, where , delegates alleged that some students admitted under the current system weren鈥檛 academically prepared, contributing to higher attrition rates and instructional changes. Staff explained the IB鈥檚 external standards were a key reason for recommending its exclusion from the policy.
Bruce Yu, an IB graduate and former York Region student trustee who spoke at that meeting, told the Star, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not fair to put underprepared students in the program. It hurts students鈥 confidence if they鈥檙e unable to succeed, but it also hurts the entire class when a teacher has to dumb down the curriculum.鈥
The IB鈥檚 Kelty said the organization doesn鈥檛 set admissions policies, but supports 鈥渁pproaches that promote belonging and opportunity.鈥
With the province now overseeing the TDSB, the board says updates on IB admission will come as it receives guidance.
Bruce Yu was a high school student in the IB diploma program in York Region, thinks it isn’t unreasonable to be charging for the program.
R.J. Johnston/色色啦 StarWhat’s the IB’s cost?
When the TDSB announced in 2019 that it would start charging for the IB to offset the program’s聽听产耻诲驳别迟, . Community members argued it would create 鈥渁 private stream within public schools.鈥
The IB isn鈥檛 directly funded by the province, and running the program comes with added costs 鈥 assessments and consulting fees, for example聽 鈥 which many boards offset by collecting tuition.聽
But a pandemic delay upended the plan.
This fall, the fee was reintroduced at $3,300, with subsidies provided to 203 students.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 unreasonable to be charging for the program,鈥 says Yu, who paid for IB at Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School in Aurora. 鈥淭his is something that is accessible to any student for a relatively nominal fee 鈥 and it gives students who may not be able to afford private school an opportunity to take the same rigorous program.鈥
Still, not everyone agrees public dollars should help fund it. A questioned why scarce public funds support a program serving relatively few, while a 聽highlighted the ongoing tension school boards face between promoting equity and offering elite academic programs to attract students.
What’s with the grading?
It’s been described as 鈥渃onvoluted.鈥 The IB scale goes from one to seven, with students earning up to 42 points from six subjects. Students can earn three more from the TOK and the extended essay, potentially graduating with 45 points, as Maarouf did. Last year, only 10.6 per cent of students globally received between 40 and 45 points.
To earn Ontario credits, IB scores are converted to percentages using a provincial equivalency table (a seven equals 97鈥100 per cent), but teachers must also predict grades since final scores largely depend on exams at the program鈥檚 end.
鈥淚n practice what it does is it inflates students鈥 grades,鈥 Law alleges, adding that the external exams are 鈥渞ock solid, but the conversion table skews marks upwards.鈥
For example, a 色色啦 private school鈥檚 chart converts internal grades in IB classes in the mid-80s to an IB score of 6, which equals 95 per cent on a provincial transcript. The adjustment is meant to reflect the depth and difficulty of IB coursework. But, Maarouf admits, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big conversion, so even if you mess up or slip a bit, your mark doesn鈥檛 drop much.鈥
Law says students can鈥檛 be expelled from the program, only counselled to leave. The TDSB’s fee is non-refundable, and students who drop out must return to their home schools.
The IB program is offered at聽five TDSB collegiates, including Parkdale, as well as four Catholic schools and private schools.
Angelyn Francis/色色啦 Star file photoWhat’s the competitive edge?
Bruce Yu wasn鈥檛 admitted to Western based on his IB diploma 鈥 the university doesn鈥檛 factor it into admissions. However, the third-year business student credits IB for helping him manage academic demands, including finishing exams with plenty of time to spare.聽
鈥淪tudents who graduate from an IB diploma program are not going to be overwhelmed when they go to university,鈥 says Tarc. 鈥淪ome of it is because bright, organized students more often take IB.鈥
A , conducted in association with the IB and led by University of 色色啦 and University of British Columbia researchers, compared IB graduates to French Immersion and regular high school diploma students in 色色啦 and Vancouver. It found that IB students had stronger university outcomes 鈥 including greater entry into STEM fields, higher university grades and lower dropout rates.
But the IB does not guarantee entry into university 鈥 particularly in Canada. It can be advantageous internationally, especially in the U.S. and the U.K., where Maarouf鈥檚 older sister, who also scored 45 in the IB, is now studying medicine.
Several top universities, including Waterloo, U of T and McMaster, told the Star they recognize the IB provides strong academic preparation for post-secondary success, and they grant credits for IB courses, but few indicated it plays a decisive role in admissions.
The exceptions are Queen鈥檚, which said it will consider IB results over an Ontario transcript if it benefits the student, and UBC, which factors in the program and the IB mark when reviewing candidates.
So is it worth it?
鈥淭here is a certain amount of prestige for parents to say my student is in IB,鈥 says 色色啦 public school teacher Jason Law. 鈥淚f you compare us with Upper Canada College, which is offering the same program but costs 20 times more, then we鈥檙e a bargain.鈥
Still, he notes, students get the same core knowledge in either IB or the Ontario program 鈥 it鈥檚 just structured differently. IB students tend to work more independently and faster through the curriculum.
Maarouf and Yu say the effort was worth it: IB helped them develop soft skills, critical thinking and university readiness. But the heavy workload often came at the cost of a social life or extracurriculars 鈥 a trade-off Tarc says can undermine the program鈥檚 goal of educating the whole person. The IB told the Star it鈥檚 achievement with wellbeing and no longer publishes stats on top scorers as part of that effort.
IB isn鈥檛 for everyone, Tarc says, but it suits well-rounded students who prefer breadth over specialization.
鈥淒o I think it鈥檚 better than the Ontario Secondary School Diploma for those kinds of students? Yeah,鈥 he adds. 鈥淲ould I send my own kids? For sure.鈥
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