The ever-evolving landscape of education gracefully approaches a holistic method of learning with the help of various educational boards. Gone are the days of conventional methods of assessment criteria and following mainstream subjects. The present-day education sector has advanced so well that it led to the introduction of numerous integrated and new-age subjects thereby addressing the interests and needs of a wider student population.
IBDP, CIE and CBSE Cambridge have created frameworks that are distinctive and appropriate for students seeking a well-rounded education. In this article, we shall delve into the subject diversity offered by each of these educational boards along with the other quintessential features of training techniques and outcomes of the new courses.
The globally recognised educational board of IBDP aims to promote education beyond the conventional subjects and methods of learning. The IBDP curriculum is structured to foster the overall growth of students and beyond the physical, emotional, academic and skill development. With equal importance given to sports and games, creative activities and other personality developmental activities, the IB board’s interdisciplinary approach is a game changer. The flexibility to mix and match the main-stream subjects helps students vividly discover their area of interest.
On looking deeper into the IBDP training techniques, the educational board practices more application-based learning with active discussions and practical experiments. Additionally, the choice of selection of subjects at HL and SL levels helps students recognise their educational needs and further enhancements.
Further, their main assessment criteria of TOK, CAS and Extended Essays account for efficient assessments. The former methods also give them the right gateway to explore and present their depth of understanding of concepts and discover their preferred area of study.
CIE educational board has a thematic approach to studies and their interdisciplinary approach to subjects helps students to engage with global issues and critical thinking aspects. CIE also provides students with ample amount of flexible options to choose their primary subjects followed by application-based learning with theoretical justifications. The practised interdisciplinary approach helps students to engage in a holistic learning experience by actively incorporating innovative training and assessment techniques. Research report component assessment criteria advised by the educational board help the students to be involved in in-depth analysis and exploration of their chosen field of interest.
CBSE functions by providing overall growth and development guidance to students at different levels, ranging from academic excellence to building physical strengths, skills enhancements are more. The educational board of CBSE promotes general studies with multidisciplinary projects and assessments till the 10th. Followed by giving students the option to choose their preferred subjects from a broader slot of subjects. Additionally, students also get the option to mix and match subjects of their interest take a deviation from the conventional subjects and discover their field of interest.
CBSE curriculum also has inculcated continuous assessments, investigatory projects and regular examinations at the senior level to systematically help the students identify their suitable field of study.
It’s an undeniable fact that the International Baccalaureate, Cambridge International Examination and Central Board of Secondary Education are the most reliable and reputed educational boards available for students. With their global recognition and ability to incorporate different subjects, all three educational boards aim to provide the utmost fruitful learning experience. Which in turn helps students discover their area of interest and suitable career pathways. IBDP, CIE and CBSE have put forth the flexibility of choosing their subject of interest and the depth of exploration. The ideal choice of selection for the suitable list of subjects depends on individual preferences and career prospective planning. However, the provision to opt for subjects flexibly and with the inclusion of off-stream and new-age subjects has brought light to the interdisciplinary approach in the educational sector.
Educating school-going children on social, economic, and political issues across the globe plays a pivotal role in shaping a responsible citizen and in the collective progress of the world. Subjects like global politics, global perspectives and social studies educate students from a younger age about the rising consequences and issues disturbing the world's functioning. Exposure to detailed information and subject knowledge helps students to make ethical decisions and lead a life promoting sustainability, communal hormonal and natural health.
Different educational boards have taken advanced steps to curate subjects that educate children globally relevant social issues and let us have a detailed look at it.
International Baccalaureate’s global politics programme educates students on the fundamental concepts of politics like power, equality, sustainability, global peace and more. These subjects intend to create awareness among students about international relations, world politics, the functioning of the UN and more.
The core units of global politics in IBDP curriculum are as follows:
Additionally, the assessments and projects encourage students to complement their experiential learning with theoretical knowledge.
The subject of global perspectives put forth by the CIE board marks an iconic difference through their interdisciplinary approach to world politics and social perspectives. The CIE global perspective syllabus encourages students to explore and work collaboratively on various global issues by applying their theoretical knowledge. The course structure promotes in promoting and shapes the analytical and research skills of students on a broader spectrum.
CIE’s global perspectives revolve around the following topics in detail:
With the active inclusion of group projects, examinations and presentations, CIE boards extensively educate the school-going population on global issues and their impact on the world. Regular project reports and examinations further keep the students in check on their academic progress.
The Central Board of Secondary Education encompasses a multi-disciplinary approach towards global issues collectively tagged under the subject of Social Studies.
The syllabus not only covers the economic and political aspects, but the curriculum adopts an elaborate course structure.
The social studies subject is divided into four major parts and they are as follows:
These subjects cover a wide range of topics ranging from historical facts to the composition of soil, formation of political parties to economic progress and more. The agenda of the CBSE educational boards is to mould responsible citizens with a good understanding of factual knowledge and contemporary issues and challenges.
CBSE practices continuous assessment strategies with half-yearly examinations numerous projects and experimental learning. Thereby helping students understand the concerns vividly and act proactively.
The choice between IBDP Global Politics, CIE Global Perspectives and CBSE Social Studies completely revolves around the student preferences and desirable depth of exploration in the field. Though these educational boards differ in terms of prescribed subject depth, the curricula aim at making students aware of the social, economic, geographical and political conditions of the world at an extensive level.
IB educational board educates students extensively on political systems, international relations and systems. On the contrary, CIE puts forth an approach that gives students the freedom to explore numerous perspectives and research on the significant impact. Lastly, we see that CBSE focuses on a comprehensive understanding of the world and functioning through a multi-disciplinary approach. Although IBDP, CIE and CBSE follow different approaches to global studies, the respective curriculum offers the necessary values and perspective for critically engaging with complex global perspectives.
Business Management is a vast stream and this area of study delves into managerial, leadership, and communication studies. Economics, finance, accounting and taxation are also equally integrated into the course stream besides the former. Additionally, business management also opens a wide door of professional, bachelor's and diploma courses with numerous specialisations. The educational sector has witnessed humongous growth over the past two decades at every other grade, leading to the birth of several educational boards. IB, CIE and CBSE are the best available among the several options. In this article, we shall look at the different approaches to the field of business management taken by the above-mentioned educational boards.
The International Baccalaureate Board offers business management streams for their diploma programmes (equivalent to 11th and 12th). In the IB educational board, students get to choose the level of ranking for each subject they wish to study. HL or Higher Level and SL or Standard Level are the two hierarchies of studies available for students in their diploma programme.
During the programme, the student gets to study six subjects inclusive of literature, and three out of these six subjects need to be chosen as HL and the remaining three as SL.
The set of subjects that are available in IBDP business management are as follows:
The mode of assessment for IB board students is relatively different when compared to other educational boards. They majorly have three major components of assessments apart from the active group discussions and quizzes conducted during class hours and are:
The assessment techniques in IBDP have been structured in a way where the student is being continuously assessed. This in turn helps in shaping a systematic approach to studies at a young age.
CIE or Cambridge International Examination Board is an educational board with global recognition. The CIE board is noted for their application-based learning approach to studies irrespective of the type of subjects and streams. The senior secondary years for the CIE board are divided into two parts, AS (grade 11) and A2 (grade 12) respectively. The assessment for each level is taken at the end of the session, and the cumulated score will be regarded as the CIE score for graduation. The part-by-part examination provides flexibility and staged monitoring for students, which indirectly demands consistent efforts from students.
CIE business management subjects expose students to real-life case studies, complex business topics, and theoretical and practical knowledge. The board’s emphasis on business ethics and socioeconomic responsibilities plays a pivotal role in nurturing young ethical business leaders and professionals.
The set of subjects that are available in CIE business studies are as follows:
The CIE subjects are enhanced and revised under professional guidance to ensure practicality and industrial use. Additionally, the continuous assessment criteria with application-based learning make CIE business studies a great option for business aspiring students of grades 11 and 12.
Central Board of Secondary Education is one of the most popular and oldest educational boards with quality educational features aimed at student’s overall progression. The CBSE curriculum and mode of teaching not only prepare students to face professional business courses but also real-world challenges.
The set of subjects that are available in CBSE Commerce are as follows:
The assessment criteria for CBSE Commerce include practicals, case study analysis, group projects, and continuous concept and application-based tests along with central board exams.
Ever evolving and progressive nature of the educational sector has left students with a myriad of choices at the senior secondary level. The past two decades witnessed the most changes in terms of the introduction of new subjects, techniques of teaching, modes of assessment and more. This iconic progress in the educational sector over the past three decades has led to the birth of globally accepted educational boards along with national boards. IB, CIE and CBSE are the three most reliable and reputed educational boards open for students at the school level. Each one of them has their unique approach to course curriculum, subject choice, method of teaching, mode of assessments and depth of study. On a comparative analysis, it is understood that IBDP and CBSE boards promote industry-requirement-based learning which in turn equips students to face challenges beyond academic theories. Whereas the CIE board brings in more application-based learning that can help the students to efficiently understand the markets and functions in detail.
The Biology course in IBDP is designed to introduce learners to the core concepts and understand their relevance and application in an interdisciplinary scenario. In CIE’s Human Biology course, a learner will study all the key concepts of Human anatomy and issues related to it such as diseases, nutrition, and energy, among other things. The CBSE Biology programme teaches the basic principles of biology and its relevance to individuals and society. The course is relevant for any aspirant who plans to pursue a career in medical science or environmental science. Let us examine the biology courses offered by the three boards, that is, IBDP Biology, CIE Human Biology, and CBSE Biology.
IBDP Biology is offered at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) and the students can choose which curriculum they prefer. In both courses, the learner will be assessed internally and externally. The syllabus for the programme is as follows:
| Standard Level | Higher Level |
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Core Modules - Cell biology, Molecular biology, Genetics, Ecology, Evolution and biodiversity, Human physiology |
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| Optional (choose any 1) - Neurobiology and behaviour, Biotechnology and bioinformatics, Ecology and conservation, Human physiology | Additional modules - Nucleic acids, Metabolism, cell respiration and photosynthesis, Plant Biology, Genetics and Evolution, Animal physiology Optional (choose and 1) - Neurobiology and behaviour, Biotechnology and bioinformatics, Ecology and conservation, Human physiology |
The assessments include 3 external exams, one 2000-word essay, and a group project. Since HL has a wider syllabus, its assessments will cover broader topics and be more extensive. IBDP curriculum focuses on interdisciplinary understanding of the subject, so learners will be writing an extended essay which focuses on the application of theories and understanding in solving or explaining real problems too.
The Human Biology course offered by CIE programme covers the following topics:
The assessment for the course will be done through three written exams and one practical assessment.
CBSE’s Biology course covers the following subjects:
The CBSE curriculum includes classroom lectures, lab experiments and practical work. The assessment will be conducted through a written exam, practical work through lab experiments and creating and maintaining a detailed project record. There will be a viva voce where the students will be questioned on their project work and practical work.
With Biology or Human biology courses, a learner can pursue graduate programmes in many fields. They qualify for graduate courses in Pure science such as Biology, Microbiology, Forensic Science, or Genetics to name a few fields. They will work in medical science fields in hospitals, pharma companies, medical research companies, Oil and gas companies, fisheries industry etc. to name a few. Some of the roles in which a professional with a background in Biology will work include:
Biology is a prerequisite for many courses such as MBBS, B. Pharma, and B. Tech Biotechnology to name a few. In the 12th grade, the course offered by all three boards sets a strong foundation through deep study of the basic concepts. Learners can apply their understanding of these topics in various other related fields such as food science, environmental science, and related fields. If you are unsure about the Engineering course that you want to pursue after the 12th, then it is safe to take Biology to keep your options open.
Computers and information technology are closely integrated with most professions. The research and development in Artificial Intelligence and robotics is automating many manual functions. Even if you do not pursue a career as a Computer Engineer or programmer, you will still be using software tools. That is why coding is being taught in schools, to equip learners to design their software solutions. IBDP, CIE and CBSE offer IT and computer programmes that cover basic and advanced concepts of the subject. This article will look at the IBDP Computer Science, CIE ICT, and CBSE Information Technology courses.
IBDP’s Computer Science can be opted in Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL). The core syllabus of IB Computer Science covers topics such as:
| Computer Science (SL) |
Computer Science (HL) |
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Core Subject - System fundamentals, Computer organisation, Networks, Computational thinking, problem-solving and programming |
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Optional (Choose one subject) - Databases, Modelling and simulation, Networks, Web Science, Object-oriented programming (OOP) |
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The SL assessments will have:
HL assessments will include:
The syllabus for CIE’s Information and Communication Technology covers topics such as -
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Computer System Components |
Input and output devices |
Storage devices and media |
Document Production |
Layout |
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Networks and the effects of using them |
Effects of using IT |
ICT applications |
Databases |
Styles |
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Systems lifecycle |
Safety and Security |
Audience |
Spreadsheets |
Proofing |
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Communication |
File management |
Images |
Website authoring |
Graphs and Charts |
For assessments, learners will give 3 exams:
The Information Technology course syllabus for CBSE 12th grade covers the following topics -
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Part A - Employability Skills |
Part B - Subject-specific skills |
Part C - Practical File |
Part D - Project work |
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The learner will take one theory exam, and in the practical file, they will write a minimum of 15 Java Programs and a minimum of 15 queries in MySQL. Further, there will be a viva voce and a project for which they will make an application using Java NetBeans IDE.
Aspirants who aim to pursue a degree in computer science, or information technology, or become platform certified for any software must opt for the Computer Science, ICT, or Information Technology course. Although having these courses is not compulsory, or requisite to admission to any programme, the programme clears many concepts. These courses are also useful for aspirants who plan to pursue a degree programme in web designing, digital marketing, architecture, interior design, or graphic design. Some of the career opportunities that learners with Computer science and Information Technology backgrounds can look at are -
Computers and Information Technology are relevant in all fields, and qualified professionals can get placed in top multinational companies and IT businesses. Whichever profession one chooses, they will be working with enterprise software, using digital communication tools, and engaging with AI. Even if you choose a non-IT field, being cognisant of software development, programming languages, database management, and communication solutions can help you in your profession.
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To pursue an entrepreneurship or management career, it is important to have a background in Business education. The core business courses in 12th grade will introduce you to the core concepts and shape your worldview as a businessperson. IBDP curriculum offers the Business Management course, CIE offers Business Studies and CBSE has a Business Studies course in the Commerce stream. Here is a comparative look at the three courses to help you make an informed choice.
Syllabus & Curriculum: IBDP Business Management
Through the IBDP Business Management course learners will analyse, discuss, and evaluate business activities at local, national, and international levels. The course syllabus broadly covers -
Learners have the option to choose the Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) Business Management course, depending on how deeply they want to study the subject. At the HL level, the syllabus will include a few extra topics under the broad syllabus subjects - Organisation (Corporate Culture), Industrial/employee relations, Debt/equity ratio analysis, Budgets, Sales forecasting, International marketing, Lean production and quality management, Production planning, Crisis management and contingency planning, research and development, and Management Information Systems (MIS).
The assessment includes three external papers and one internal business research project.
Syllabus & Curriculum: CIE Business Studies
The CIE Business Studies course is designed to motivate learners to study contemporary business issues, learn relevant terminologies and concepts, and understand the various business stakeholder perspectives. The syllabus for the course broadly covers -
For external assessment, the learner attempts -
Paper 1 - Question paper with short answers inculcating graphs, tables, and images.
Paper 2 - a case study will be given, and learners will answer four questions, strengthening their answers with newspaper extracts, graphs, and tables.
Internal assessments will include a viva voce and project work.
Who can do it: IBDP Business Management vs. CIE Business Studies vs. CBSE Business Studies
IBDP has an interdisciplinary approach, so anyone interested can take the IBDP Business Management course. Similarly, the CIE Business Studies course can also be taken by anyone as one of the core courses. CBSE programme offers Business Studies to students in the Commerce stream and only they can pursue the course in the 11th and 12th grades.
Syllabus & Curriculum: CBSE Business Studies
CBSE Business Studies course teaches learners the framework in which business operates, discussing the technologies and environmental interactions that are pertinent in the decision-making process. The broad syllabus for the course is -
At the end of the semester, students will appear for the Board exam in which they will attempt an 80-mark paper. Internal exams include viva voce, project, and presentation.
Scope after the programme: IBDP Business Management vs. CIE Business Studies vs. CBSE Business Studies
All three courses lead towards a career in management and business studies. Students can consider college programmes in Business Management, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Supply Chain or Management software development. CBSE Business Studies curriculum is more academic, delving into the theory of business studies. IBDP and CIE curriculum attempt to delve into the practical aspects of business studies by creating coursework to assess the current business environment and promoting activities where learners can juxtapose the textual theory against current business events.
Final thought:
Even if you are planning to pursue a college programme in engineering or aspire to become a doctor or photographer, business studies are a relevant course. It will help you develop an entrepreneurial flair and understand the market potential of the product or service. Furthermore, you will be able to ascertain the market conditions and make better decisions by viewing issues with a broader perspective.
Mathematics is a compulsory subject for many university programmes, especially Engineering, Architecture, Applied Sciences, Business Studies, Mathematics and Finance. IBDP programme offers Standard Level and Higher Level (HL) alternatives for Mathematics with two courses - Analysis and Approach and Application and Interpretation. The HL alternative of the current Mathematics programme has replaced the Further Mathematics that IBDP offered between 2014 and 2020. CIE’s AS & A Level Further Pure Mathematics course takes A-Level Maths as a foundation subject and delves deeper into Mathematical concepts. CBSE curriculum is designed to promote objective reasoning skills among learners, thus, its Advanced Maths course is competitive. Let us take a look at the mathematics courses offered by the three Boards.
Syllabus and curriculum: IBDP Further Math
IBDP Further Math is an HL subject and has 6 subjects -
IBDP Further Math assessment has internal and external assessments. The external assessment consists of three written papers and the internal assessment comprises a project and coursework. Learners have to write a Theory of Knowledge assignment and complete assignments along with giving the final exams.
Syllabus and curriculum: CIE Further Pure Math
To qualify for AS or A level Further Pure Mathematics, learners must have studied the majority of the Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics or studied their course content. CIE AS & A Level Further Pure Math is divided into 4 Papers.
| Paper 1 - Further Pure Mathematics 1 | Paper 2 - Further Pure Mathematics 2 | Paper 3 - Further Mechanics | Paper 4 - Further Probability & Statistics |
| Roots and polynomial equations, Rational Functions and graphs, Summation of Series, Matrices, Polar coordinates, Vectors, Proof by Induction | Hyperbolic Function, Matrices, Differentiation, Integration, Complex Numbers, Differential Equations, | Motion of a projectile, Equilibrium of a Rigid Body, Circular Motion, Hooke’s Law, Linear motion under a variable force, Momentum, | Continuous random variables, X2 -tests, non-parametric tests, Probability generating functions, |
AS Level Further Mathematics learners can choose one of the Paper options:
A Level Further Pure Mathematics learners will pick all four papers.
There will be a written examination for each paper, which will be assessed externally.
Syllabus and curriculum: CBSE Advanced Math
The syllabus for the CBSE Advanced Math course covers topics such as Sets and Functions, Algebra, Calculus, Vectors and three-dimensional geometry, Linear Programming, and Statistics and Probability. The learner will take one Board exam at the end of the year which will be a written test worth 80 marks. They will also take an internal assessment which will include periodic tests worth 10 marks and mathematics activities worth 10 marks.
Who should take IBDP Further Math/CIE Pure Math/CBSE Advanced Math?
Only those who have a high aptitude for Mathematics and a background in the subject must attempt the advanced Mathematical courses in IBDP and CIE curriculum. The course curriculum is rigorous and deep, and that is why only students who meet the pre-set criteria in terms of the subjects they have studied, and their grades are allowed to take the course. CBSE’s Advanced Math programme is available only to students who have opted for the Science and Commerce streams.
If you are planning to pursue a career in pure science subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, or in the field of technology, then advanced Mathematics will be a pre-requisite. The university programme will specify the course curriculum and the basic requirements for prospective candidates. If you are planning to pursue a career in Management or media studies or take Humanities courses in college, then you needn’t take Further Math courses. The basic or foundational Mathematics courses in IBDP and CIE will be adequate.
Closing thoughts
Mathematics is an interesting subject with applications across various fields and even outside them. However, further mathematics courses delve into complex mathematics and explore their applications in diverse ways. The assessments are also challenging, and course requirements can be daunting if you are unable to comprehend the concepts. Hence, schools also offer the course only to students who have proven mathematical skills to ensure they can handle the rigours of the curriculum and do well in the course.
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