UAE pupil achieves the perfect score in International Baccalaureate examination
Indian girl in Dubai gets perfect marks as 1,865 fellow pupils score above world standard in their final exams
It is the tough curriculum in which pupils take mandatory language and science classes, topped off with a university-style 4,000-word essay.
But the UAE’s International Baccalaureate students excelled, collectively scoring above the global average – and with at least one achieving a rare, perfect score of 45.
Their exam joy yesterday came amid growing interest in the curriculum, especially among families who may move countries with their chosen careers.
Sara Dube, from Jumeirah English Speaking School Dubai, earned a perfect score – 45. Sara, 18, was among the less than 1 per cent of IB pupils worldwide – 218 out of 160,000 – to do so. As with all pupils in the two-year IB diploma programme, she was required to take courses in six subject groups: language and literature; foreign languages; people and societies; sciences; mathematics; and the arts.
The 1,865 pupils from 34 IB schools in the UAE who sat the exams in May earned an average of 31.59 points, higher than the global average of 29.95.
Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar, author of A Parent’s Guide to School Choice in Dubai, said: “People find it reassuring there is an international programme that when your kids graduate, essentially every university globally recognises it.”
Alexandra Haines, from Dubai American Academy, scored 44 out of 45. “I worked throughout the two years. I worked hard,” the 18-year-old said. “You do have to find a balance between work and life and it sounds weird, but you should enjoy it.”
Pupils at International Baccalaureate schools in the UAE exceeded the global average in their exams, with some scoring among the highest possible results.
At least one pupil, Sara Dube from Jumeirah English Speaking School Dubai, earned a perfect score – 45. Sara, 18, was among the less than 1 per cent of all IB pupils worldwide – 218 out of 160,000 – to do so.
The 1,865 pupils from 34 IB schools across the UAE who sat the final exams in May earned an average of 31.59 points, which is higher than the global average of 29.95.
“I was really surprised when I opened the envelope and saw the results,” said Sara, a native of India who has most recently lived in Dubai and Poland. “I’m really happy.”
Like all pupils in the two-year IB diploma programme, she was required to take courses in six subject groups: language and literature; foreign language acquisition; people and societies; sciences; mathematics; and the arts.
At least three of the subjects have to be “higher level” classes and three can be standard.
All IB pupils must also take a class called Theory of Knowledge, which is similar to philosophy, and complete their own study ending with a 4,000-word essay to earn the diploma.
For her essay, Sara chose to write about how the protagonists of Albert Camus’ The Stranger and The Fall personified the evolution of his absurdist philosophy. And she wrote it in French.
“She is the kind of person who loves to learn,” said Sonia Singh, her mother.
Sara brushed aside concerns from others about her choosing four higher level classes, instead of three.
“She said, ‘I don’t mind if I get a low score. I enjoy these four subjects so much that I want to study them in depth and learn more about them. And that’s more important to me than the final number’,” Mrs Singh said.
Sara’s proven love of learning earned her entrance to the University of Oxford, where she will study philosophy, politics and economics this autumn.
Only about 1 per cent of all IB pupils earn 40 points or higher, but several UAE schools had pupils with scores above 40.
Al Bateen Academy pupils achieved an average of 32.3, comfortably surpassing the world average, and five pupils had scores above 40.
Two pupils at the British International School Abu Dhabi earned 40 points or more.
Of the 387 pupils who sat exams at Gems Education’s six IB schools, three earned nearperfect scores of 44.
They included Alexandra Haines from Dubai American Academy, Audrey Cordelle from Gems World Academy, Dubai and Ivan Szergyuk from Gems Wellington International School.
Alexandra, a Swiss citizen who will be studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said there was no secret to her academic success.
“I worked throughout the two years. I worked hard,” the 18-year-old said. “You can’t let it overwhelm you. You do have to find a balance between work and life and it sounds weird, but you should enjoy it.
“There is so much that you get to learn and go in-depth about that you wouldn’t otherwise. My advice is enjoy doing the IB and learning everything that you get to learn.”