IN 2018, 165,752 students sat for the IB Diploma examinations across the world. The average Diploma Score at Jerudong International School (JIS) was 37 out of 45. The average Diploma score worldwide was 29.78. So JIS students exceeded this by more than seven points.
In a press release by JIS, the International Baccalaureate (IB) is offered as a pre-university option for 16-18 year olds and is the world’s fastest growing international qualification. To complete this challenging qualification, students study six subjects – three at a Higher Level and three at a Standard Level including English, Maths, a language subject, a Humanities subject, a Science subject plus a final creative choice or an elective subject. In addition, they complete a challenging 4,000-word piece of research, a mini thesis, as well as completing Theory of Knowledge (ToK), a critical thinking skills course.
Bruneian Salsa Mazlan, Jack Collicut (from Ireland) and Julia Hallot (from Australia) all achieved an outstanding 43 points. They were closely followed by two more Bruneians, Izzati Azhan and Alissa Yong, who together with British student Surina Martin all achieved 42 points.
Former JIS Head Girl Salsa is heading to University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) while Jack plans to study at the University of Manchester in the UK. Julia is exploring the possibility of studying a double honours degree in Arts and Science in Australia, but is presently spending six months in Europe as an au pair brushing up her language skills. Izzati will be studying for a BSc in Planning and Real Estate at the University of Manchester, UK. Alissa is starting a Film and TV production course in New York University’s prestigious TISCH School of the Arts.
Other Bruneian students who achieved outstanding IB scores are Vanessa Kwong (38 points) who plans to study in Australia, possibly a Nursing Degree and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT) Scholarship student Ameerah Kasmirhan (36 points) has accepted an unconditional offer to study BA in Architecture at the University of Newcastle, UK.
However, what is striking about the achievement of the top performing students is that they have not only thrown themselves into their studies but into all areas of school life. They fully embrace JIS vision of achieving excellence in holistic education. Salsa Mazlan led large teams of fellow students throughout the school to organise events, deliver assemblies and participating in musical productions.
Principal of JIS Barnaby Sandow said, “While these top performing students will leave JIS with superb academic results, they will be remembered more by their fellow students for the significant impact as young leaders in the school and the influence they have had on those around them. They have set an excellent example to the younger members of our community. These success stories would not have been written without their parents support and also that of the academic team in the Upper Years – Tony Piper (Head of Upper Years), Dr Colin Dickinson (IB Coordinator) and Russell Mann (Dean of Higher Education) who, together with the teaching staff continue to encourage and inspire students to become the best that they can be.”
A number of the JIS top performing students have also been offered scholarships.
Mups Hirse (40 points) who was Sports Captain at JIS has received the Pearson Scholarship for overseas students at the University of Toronto, ranked 28th in the world on the 2019 QS World University Rankings. This full scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees as well as full residential support for all four years of study. Surina Martin (42 points) has been awarded a GBP5,000 per annum Global Education Scholarship from the University of Edinburgh. Renee Teo (40 points) has received a Year One Entrance Scholarship for the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada. Jamie Offen (36 points) will study Law (Scots & LLB dual qualifying degree) at the University of Dundee and has been awarded a Global Excellence Scholarship of GBP5,000 in addition to a Discover Dundee Scholarship of GBP2,000.