The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) is considered one of the most rigorous high school curriculums, requiring many after school hours of hard work and dedication to succeed – a challenging undertaking for many. There fore, IES College offers the certificate pathway as an alternative to reduce the workload and alleviate stress for those who are struggling. This article is a run through of considerations you should know about before making the switch to certificate.

The IB certificate pathway requires attending TAFE to obtain the amount of QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education) points necessary to graduate with a high school qualification equivalent. TAFE at School offers two Certificate (Cert) IV courses – Business and Justice Studies, which grant 8 QCE points each. The selection rank (ATAR equivalent) estimated for this course is 74. This means you’re only required to take three IB subjects. A Cert III at TAFE will give you a 68 selection rank but offers a greater variety of courses. The VET (Vocational Education and Training) pathway does limit some university courses, however, there are alternative ways to get into certain courses that ask for higher selection ranks, such as switching degrees internally after acceptance.

The pros of taking this pathway include the massive weight taken off student’s shoulders with a smaller workload. Students still study the IB curriculum in some subjects so the work is still challenging, but there are less subjects and no extras like TOK, extended essay, and CAS to focus on. This allows students to put more attention into subjects they enjoy and are passionate about.

Some limitations that must be taken into consideration is some universities such as UQ (University of Queensland) will not accept high school graduates that have undergone the VET pathway the year they are leaving. If you aren’t willing to wait a year for the next intake at UQ, then this may not be a desired pathway or alternative universities should be considered, such as QUT or Griffith. Additionally, the limits on selection rank mean certain degrees are less accessible without bridging courses.

From a personal account, I find my TAFE experience so far to be enriching and worthwhile. Whilst I have had to modify my plans for the future as a result of my pathway, I find myself much more engaged in my schoolwork and I haven’t felt burnt out since changing.

At the end of the day, all students handle academics, stress, and extracurriculars differently. Some are able to push through the IBDP but the Certificate, as an alternative route for students who thrive under different conditions, is a viable and substantial pathway to get to the place you need to be at.