IB vs A level

“The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a challenging two-year curriculum, primarily aimed at students aged 16 to 19. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities.” while “AS (Advanced Subsidiary) and A (Advanced) level qualifications focus on traditional study skills. They normally take two years to complete full-time, although they're also available to study part-time.”. So the first difference between them is that A levels are courses and so they can be part time, while IB Diploma is full independent programme which for some advantages increases its popularity last years. One of the reasons of it is that A levels was designed more as a set of single subject examinations, but IB “is
designed to be a full-time course for highly-committed and internationally-minded students, between
the ages of 16 and 18. Its nature is highlighted by the fact that it includes a compulsory element of
what in the A level world are called enrichment activities.” Also there are some features in the curriculum of IB programme such as extended essays where students improve their writing and research skills, CAS programmes when students should participate in activities and share their knowledge with others. IB Diploma offers theory of knowledge which is “central to the educational philosophy of the Diploma Programme.
It offers students and their teachers the opportunity to:
reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and on areas of knowledge
consider the role and nature of knowledge in their own culture, in the cultures of others and in the wider world.
In addition, it prompts students to:
be aware of themselves as thinkers, encouraging them to become more acquainted with the complexity of knowledge
recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected but uncertain world.”
It is a stated aim of TOK that students should become aware of the interpretative nature of knowledge, including personal ideological biases, regardless of whether, ultimately, these biases are retained, revised or rejected.
TOK also has an important role to play in providing coherence for the student as it transcends and links academic subject areas, thus demonstrating the ways in which they can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility."
A big advantage of A levels programmes is that students are more sure about their choice and can concentrate on the subject they would like to study in future and still for British Universities A levels is very necessary. But for international Universities it is better to choose IB programme, in my opinion.
IB Programme is much newer than A levels and its increasing popularity might make think us that IB will have better future and as head one of the schools said: "They've become much narrower, atomized and rigid; the IB is much more interesting."