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Taught over two years in Years 12 and 13, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is taken as an alternative to the New Zealand national examinations (NCEA). The Diploma is awarded as a total qualification.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a broad, balanced and academically challenging educational programme.

The IB Diploma Programme is designed to be both academically challenging and holistically balanced. In addition to their six chosen subjects, students take IB CORE comprising of CAS (Creativity, Service, and Activity components to balance their academic strengths), an Extended Essay (a self-directed research project that culminates in a university style 4,000 word essay) and Theory of Knowledge (a critical thinking course). This level of intellectual and personal development is unique in a secondary school curriculum.

An IB Diploma indicates to a future university that a student can manage the demands of undergraduate studies. Indeed, IB students excel in Postgraduate university studies. Watch this short video, from the Assistant Dean of Admissions at Stanford University, to understand how Higher Education Institutions value students who have participated in the IB Diploma programme.  

Before being offered a place on the two-year International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, students must undertake

  • Rangitoto College Year 11 Diploma (2024) and obtain mainly red or blue endorsements.
  • If studying elsewhere in New Zealand and then arriving at Rangitoto College into Year 12, students should arrive with either Level 1 NCEA in Year 11; mostly at Merit and Excellence grades or an equivalent Level 1 school based background.

Rangitoto College is pleased to be one of 5,000 schools in 159 different countries to offer the International Baccalaureate Programme.

Why IB?

IB students develop strong academic characteristics, but also develop social and emotional skills needed to positively impact the future.

The IB Programme aims to develop students who are inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, caring, balanced and reflective.

Students learn to work independently and collaboratively. They develop a wide range of skills and learn to critically evaluate their work, reflect on their progress and set goals.

IB students develop strong academic characteristics, but also develop social and emotional skills needed to positively impact the future.

The IB Programme aims to develop students who are inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, open-minded, caring, balanced and reflective.

Students learn to work independently and collaboratively. They develop a wide range of skills and learn to critically evaluate their work, reflect on their progress and set goals.

Watch this video for an international perspective on how the IB Diploma programme supports the development of these competencies.

The IB has a positive impact on students, schools and their wider communities with learning transferring to areas beyond the classroom. Its unique, and innovative approach, to learning means both students and teachers are genuinely engaged with the programs and benefit from being a part of an unparalleled global network.

Students are able to participate in international conferences and educators work with their peers internationally to ensure that the IB remains at the cutting edge of international education.  

2023 IB Diploma Results

The International Baccalaureate class of 2023 has once again produced some outstanding academic results. Here are some highlights:

  • Three Rangitoto College students were awarded Top Scholar status and world recognition: William Li with an IB43, Martin Leung with an IB42 and Kevin Chen with an IB41. 
  • IB Students continue to gain full scholarships to premium World Universities: In 2022 both Caitlin Hodge and Sawooly Li gained scholarships to Princeton, and Kama Morton a scholarship to Berkeley. In the 2023 cohort we Congratulate Martin Leung who gains a scholarship to study Medicine at Hong Kong University.
  • IB Students from the 2023 cohort continue to access a wide variety of NZ and World University destinations: Melbourne, New South Wales, Manchester, King’s College, Amsterdam, and in New Zealand: Auckland & Otago. 
  • An increasing number of IB students are gaining a prestigious bi-lingual Diploma: 38% from the 2023 cohort. 
  • Rangitoto College’s school average of IB35 is significantly higher than the global November average of IB29, indicating that our staff and students are performing exceptionally well in this programme.
  • In 2024, the Year 12 cohort increased to over 80 students, many joining Rangitoto College, from Auckland, New Zealand and abroad, for the sole purpose of achieving the IB Diploma. We are pleased and excited about our IB successes and also with the growth of this programme.

International University Destinations

Rangitoto College is proud to recognise the growing number of IB students who have been awarded full scholarships into various elite international universities. Special congratulations to Martin Leung who has recently been granted a scholarship to Hong Kong University to Study Medicine. Also, from the 2022 cohort well done to Sawooly Li and Caitlin Hodge who are studying on scholarship at Princeton University and also to Kamana’o Morton on scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley.  

Many of our IB students are heading overseas to undertake their university studies. As well as accepting places in New Zealand Universities, over the last two years IB students have accepted places in the following international universities: Princeton, Melbourne, Sydney, Berkeley, Edinburgh, Hong Kong, Duke, Manchester, King’s College, Kyoto University, Imperial College, National Uni Singapore, Tokyo, Tilburg (Netherlands), Amsterdam and New South Wales. We wish you all the best for the future in your chosen fields.

2022 IB Diploma Results

We are proud of our 2022 remarkable IB results which are reflective of our students’ hard work and determination.  Some highlights include:

  • For the 3rd consecutive year, we achieved a 100% pass rate which is a phenomenal achievement
  • Average point score is 37 which is 11% higher than the world average
  • 17 students scored 40 points or higher. This is the 3rd highest score in New Zealand
  • 36% of our student cohort are in the top 10% of students in the world

Perfect Score

  • Perfect Score, IB 45, 1 student, Richard Li putting him in the top 1% of students in the world.

Premium Scholars

  • IB 44, 3 students, Jinju Schwarz, Alex Kang & Sawooly Li, top 3% of students in the world
  • IB 43, 4 students, David Zhu, Olerato Sibandze, Kent Oishi & Alex Zhang, top 3% of students in the world

Outstanding Scholars

  • IB 42, 4 students, Liza Rassakazova, Bhanavi Micarelli, Marilyn Chen & Julia Lim
  • IB 41, 2 students, Sam Ranger & Caitlin Hodge
  • IB 40, 3 students, Lucas Hebberd, Zalan Varga and Tommy Huang

Prestigious Bilingual Diploma
7 students were awarded the Prestigious Bilingual Diploma

  • Bhanavi Micarelli – Italian
  • Stan Flagel & Fred Pecqueux – French 
  • Rose Sun, Kevin Pan, Eva Ruan & Tommy HuangChinese

IB Core

  • 16% A Grades in IB Core (Extended Essays and Theory of Knowledge)

We thank our teachers, specialists in their field, and the outstanding Rangitoto IB team for their immense support to our students to help them fulfil their potential.

2021 IB Pass Rates

Five Rangitoto College students earned 40 or more points, putting them in the top 10% of students worldwide.  Adding to these outstanding results, Ethan (Zhizang) Lu gained a perfect score of 45, putting him in the top 1% of students in the world.  It was pleasing to see a number of students’ Extended Essays (EE) and Theory of Knowledge Essays (TOK) being awarded A grades, indicating our ongoing success in delivering this world-renowned qualification.

• 100% pass rate (international average 89%)
• Average point score 37 (world average 33)
• 40 points or more 25% (global average 17%)

2021 cohort
Top Scholar Recipients

  • Ethan (Zhiyang) Lu: Perfect Score 45.  Top 1% worldwide.
  • Mason (Minghan) Liu: 43 points.  Top 3% in the world.
  • Kelly Poon: 42 points.  Top 10% in the world.
  • Samuel Wong: 41 points.  Top 10% in the world.
  • Andrei Guerb Navarro: 40 points.  Top 10% in the world.

Awarded the Prestigious Bilingual Diploma 

  • Mason (Minghan) Liu
  • Scott (Songyang) He
  • Kathryn (Yuanzhu) Tian
  • Cynthia (Gejin) Gao
  • Rickey (Jinwoo) Lee

2020 IB Pass Rates

• 100% students over 24 points
• 2 students Top 6% in World
• Average point score 33 (world average 29)
• Subject points average 5.4 (world average 5.0)

2020 cohort

Top Scholar Recipients

  • Guy Wearn 43 points. Top 3% in the world.
  • Grace Blakey 41 points. Top 6% in the world.

Meet our Team

Catherine Brandt

IB Coordinator

Catherine joined Rangitoto College in 2020 and brings with her 20 years of teaching experience, a Master of Education, leadership experience as a former Deputy Principal, and 5 years as IB Coordinator in a large international school in Dubai. In addition to leading our IB programme, Catherine also teaches IB Psychology and IB Business Management.

T: +64 (9) 477 0150 Ext 672

E: catherine.brandt@rangitoto.school.nz

Keli Young
Extended Essay Coordinator

7 years’experience at Rangitoto College,  B.A (Hons) degree, leadership experience as Dean, Pre-service teacher liaison, Curriculum Leader – English for Literacy . Keli has developed the EE programme for both students and staff supervisors. Teacher of IB English Language & Literature.

Felix Olsson
Theory of Knowledge Coordinator

Felix is new to the TOK Coordinator role in 2021 and has enjoyed developing the new TOK curriculum. Teacher of IB Physics and IB TOK.

Alastair Fear
CAS Coordinator

Alastair leads the CAS programme.