IP vs IB Diploma (Singapore): What Parents Should Compare (A-Level Track vs IB)
03 Feb 2026, 00:00 Z
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Q: Is the “Integrated Programme (IP)” the same thing as the “IB Diploma”?
A: No. IP is a 6-year pathway offered by selected schools, while the IB Diploma is a specific end-qualification. Some IP schools culminate in GCE A-Levels, some culminate in the IB Diploma, and a small number have other endpoints.
TL;DR
The best way to decide is not “IP vs IB”, but: IP (A-Level track) vs IP (IB track) — then check if your child thrives with breadth + long projects (IB) or prefers deeper specialisation with exam-heavy endpoints (A-Level).
Status: written 2026-02-03. Always verify programme details against MOE and your school’s handbook.
Quick links:
1 Start with the right definitions (so you don’t compare the wrong things)
Integrated Programme (IP) (MOE): a specialised curriculum offered by selected schools that does not require a national Secondary 4 exam requirement. Official overview: MOE Integrated Programme
IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) (IBO): an internationally recognised pre-university programme with its own curriculum structure and assessment model. Official overview: IB Diploma Programme
In Singapore, the real decision most parents face is:
- IP that culminates in A-Levels, vs
- IP that culminates in the IB Diploma.
To confirm which schools offer which endpoint, start at MOE SchoolFinder: MOE SchoolFinder
2 What to compare (the 7 questions that matter)
Different schools implement these differently, but these questions are stable across cohorts:
- Breadth vs depth: does your child enjoy juggling across disciplines (breadth), or do they prefer going deep into fewer subjects (depth)?
