News release

Nova Scotia IB Students Outperform Peers Around World

Education and Early Childhood Development

Nova Scotia's International Baccalaureate (IB) graduates are among the strongest academic performers in the world.

According to Nova Scotia's 2014 IB results, 342 Nova Scotia students wrote their IB diploma exams with a pass rate of 81 per cent, compared to North America at 70 per cent, and the world at 73 per cent. Nova Scotia's IB students outperformed North America and the world in 15 subjects, including physics, biology and history.

"The IB program focuses on student development, not only academically but as a person," said Marco Ludovice, a University of Calgary student who graduated from the IB program at Charles P. Allen High School last year. "It was through IB that critically thinking came to life for me. I was given great guidance and support from both my teachers and my peers every step of the way.

"The whole experience allowed me to become a much more well-rounded person."

Nova Scotia IB graduates continue to receive excellent recognition from universities in Canada and abroad.

"Nova Scotians can be proud of the success of our IB students who continue to excel academically," said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Karen Casey. "I want to congratulate our IB students and teachers for their dedication to the IB program and for their role in supporting the program throughout the province."

The 2014 IB graduates received over $3 million in scholarships and bursaries. This does not include the value of the university credits that are awarded to all IB diploma students by all Canadian universities.

The IB program is available in 13 schools across Nova Scotia. Next year, more than 300 students will be eligible to write their IB diploma exams.