British vs IB vs American school curricula
Compare British, Cambridge, IB and American school pathways by phase, qualification, subjects, assessment and transfer needs, with official sources and a worksheet.
By Private School · Published
How should you compare school curricula?
Compare the programme your child would actually follow at the named campus: their joining year, subjects, final qualification, assessment and next transition. A British, IB or American label alone cannot confirm those details. Start with the school's current curriculum documents and use the programme body's sources below to understand the names.
Choose around the child's current learning, interests, support needs and likely next move. The useful question is which available pathway meets those needs. A curriculum label is not a measure of teaching quality, a guaranteed place or a promise of university admission.
British, Cambridge, IB and American: what do the labels mean?
These descriptions cover different things: a national framework, a staged pathway, named IB programmes and a school's American course and graduation offer. Compare equivalent school phases before comparing senior qualifications. Use each school's documents to establish its own offer; the official references explain programme structure.
| Label or route | What the official source describes | What to confirm with the school |
|---|---|---|
| British / England's national curriculum | England's subjects and standards are organised into key stages. Its private schools do not have to follow the national curriculum. | The framework used in your child's phase, subject sequence and examination boards. England's guidance does not establish an overseas school's offer. |
| Cambridge Pathway | Early Years, Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary and Advanced stages can be offered separately. | Which stages and subjects are taught at this campus, and which qualification follows the joining year. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | PYP, MYP, DP and CP are distinct programmes; schools need IB authorisation to offer them. | The authorised programme for this phase and campus, the next phase and whether teaching is on campus or online. |
| American / Advanced Placement (AP) | College Board describes AP as college-level courses and examinations available in high school. That describes AP rather than the school's complete curriculum. | The school's standards, diploma and graduation requirements, actual AP subjects, prerequisites and transfer-credit policy. |
How do IGCSE and A levels fit a British or Cambridge route?
Ask for the exact qualification and awarding body. Cambridge's IGCSE guidance describes assessment at the end of the course, with written, oral, coursework and practical methods across its subjects. Its International AS & A Level guidance describes several assessment routes, including extending some AS subjects to A level. Check the actual subject syllabus and examination year for the components that apply.
Request the school's current subject list, timetable combinations and entry requirements. A Cambridge IGCSE listing does not establish that the campus offers Cambridge Primary or a later A-level course. If your child will change schools during a qualification, ask the receiving subject coordinator to review the syllabus and work already completed.
Does an IB school offer the same programme at every age?
Check the named programme. The Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) are separate offers. Evidence of a Diploma route does not establish PYP or MYP provision. Confirm the campus, joining phase and next qualification directly.
The IB Diploma curriculum combines six subject groups with the DP core: theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity, service. Subjects are taken at higher or standard level. Ask which subjects and levels the campus teaches, which combinations fit the timetable and what preparation is required. Request its actual assessment calendar, support arrangements and teaching mode before deciding whether the offer works for your child.
Is AP the same as an American school curriculum?
AP describes college-level courses and examinations taken in high school. It does not, by itself, explain the school's diploma or graduation requirements. For an American-labelled school, request those requirements alongside the standards used in each phase. Check which AP courses are available to your child, their prerequisites, teaching arrangements and examination costs.
During a transfer, ask how the school reviews the transcript and accepts previous courses or credits. For a planned university application, check the institution's current subject, qualification and credit policies directly. The general description of AP cannot settle an individual admission or credit decision.
Use the same five checks for every pathway
Bring the same questions to each admissions team so your comparison describes an actual offer. Record confirmed answers separately from questions still awaiting the school's response.
- Phase and placement: obtain the proposed year or grade, its placement basis, the campus and the joining date in writing.
- Qualification: record the exact final award and awarding body, including the next phase. Check a future school's or university's requirements directly.
- Subject access: request available subjects, levels, timetable combinations, prerequisites and any conditions for a class to run.
- Transition: ask the receiving coordinator to review the current syllabus, transcript, completed work and assessment status, then identify gaps and next actions.
- Assessment and support: request the actual assessment schedule and how language or learning support is agreed. Confirm scope, teaching mode and additional costs.
Can a matching curriculum label make a transfer straightforward?
A matching name is a starting point for a discussion. The IB's DP and CP transfer guidance says subject choices vary between schools and directs families to the receiving school, which sets its own admissions policies. Ask the relevant coordinator to review your child's actual studies before making plans.
For any route, compare subject sequence, levels, language provision and assessment deadlines. Request written confirmation of accepted work, any catch-up plan and the proposed qualification. Similar year or grade names do not establish equivalent placement, and the directory cannot confirm an individual transfer or place.
Complete a curriculum comparison worksheet
Use this worksheet alongside each school's current documents and written coordinator confirmation. Keep a source, date and next question for each answer. Leave an unknown blank; another school's programme cannot fill the gap. Compare the complete bill separately when subject or support arrangements add costs.
| Check | Current school | School under consideration | Source / next question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named campus and joining date | — | — | — |
| Offered phase and year/grade | — | — | — |
| Framework and exact programme | — | — | — |
| Qualification and awarding body | — | — | — |
| Subjects, levels and prerequisites | — | — | — |
| Timetable combinations and teaching mode | — | — | — |
| Assessment components and deadlines | — | — | — |
| Accepted work or transfer credits | — | — | — |
| Language and learning support | — | — | — |
| Gaps, catch-up plan and additional costs | — | — | — |
| Next phase and intended destination | — | — | — |
| Coordinator confirmation and date | — | — | — |
Sources and context
- DfE: national curriculum in England
- Cambridge: Pathway stages and separate provision
- Cambridge: IGCSE assessment
- Cambridge: International AS & A Level options
- IB: PYP, MYP, DP and CP programmes
- IB: Diploma curriculum and subject levels
- IB: DP and CP transfer guidance
- College Board: AP courses and examinations