Hong Kong: IB Diploma 2021 Results

LIVE: Hong Kong IB Results Table 2021

After another turbulent year for education, the IB results for the 2020-21 academic year are in – and students at international schools in Hong Kong are celebrating an average score of 38.93, well above the global average of 32.99.

Students at international schools in Hong Kong received their International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and Career-related Programme (IBCP) results today (July 6) following another disruptive year in education due to Covid-19. Whilst most UK exam boards cancelled in-school examinations this summer, the International Baccalaureate Organisation took the decision this year to offer schools a dual route option: written examinations, where they could be administered safely, or a non-exam route using a combination of internal assessment coursework and teacher-predicted grades, where they could not.

A total of 170,660 students worldwide took the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) or Career-related Programme (CP) this year. Globally, 104,275 were in the non-exam route and 65,576 in the exam route (and 809 were split between both routes). The number of students taking the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) was 87,307 compared to 86,657 last May.

In Hong Kong, 23 schools went ahead with exams while eight schools "were unable to administer exams" and took the non-exam route.

• Hong Kong's average IBDP score is 38.93 which surpasses the global average; it is also 1.5% higher than last year’s Hong Kong average of 36.31 points
• A total of 130 students in Hong Kong achieved the highest score of 45, compared to 23 students last year
• The total number of top scorers with 45 points has risen globally to 1,155 – three times that of last year's 339
• Number of students receiving their IB results in Hong Kong this year is 2,193, compared to 2,324 last year
• Global average IBDP score is 32.99, a 1.6% rise on the average score of 31.34 in May 2020
• Hong Kong pass rate is 98.5%; the global pass rate is 88% (85% in May 2020)
• 52% of students achieved 40-plus points
• Hong Kong's IBDP average grade is 6.12, higher than the global average of 5.19

Despite all the upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic, the IB's dual route option of exam or non-exam assessments has seen a rise in pass rates, average scores, diploma scores and the number of students achieving the top score. Commenting on the IB's global results, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, Director General of the International Baccalaureate, said:

"A key responsibility of the IB this year has been to ensure that our students are not disadvantaged by the pandemic, including in their applications to university and higher education. The many changes we have made to this summer’s session are part of this commitment to ensure students are not affected by the hugely challenging circumstances in which they have been learning."

The two-year IBDP programme is currently offered at 31 local and international schools in Hong Kong, including seven that are full IB schools. Hong Kong’s largest provider of English-medium international education, the English Schools Foundation (ESF), offers the IBDP at its five secondary schools and two all-through schools. The IBCP is also offered at six ESF schools.

This year marks the first IB results for American School Hong Kong and Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong; Stamford American School, Hong Kong and Malvern College Hong Kong will launch the IBDP this year (August 2021).

Please refer back to this feature for more results as they come in...

Read more:
Where to Study the IB in Hong Kong?
IB Results: What to Do if You Don’t Get The Points?

IB Results Roundup 2021

English Schools Foundation (ESF)

The English Schools Foundation (ESF), which is Hong Kong’s largest provider of English-medium international education in Hong Kong, enters the highest number of IB students in the country; a total of 913 ESF students were awarded the IBDP this year and the pass rate was 99.2%.

ESF scored an average 38.7 points across all five of its secondary schools and two all-through schools – and celebrated 46 students scoring top marks of 45. Another 88 ESF students achieved 44 points.

ESF's average score is well above the global average of 32.99 and marks a three point increase on ESF’s 2020 average of 35.7.

ESF's South Island School was the group's top-performing school with 11 top scorers; other top scorers were at King George V School (nine students); Sha Tin College (eight students); West Island School (seven students); Renaissance College (six students); and Island School (five students).

ESF entered students for the IBDP at the following schools: Discovery College, Island School, King George V School, Sha Tin College, South Island School, Renaissance College, and West Island School. The individual results for each school are listed below.

ESF Island School

ESF Island School announced an impressive average score of 38.3, which is the school's highest. 100% of students passed and five DP students achieved the maximum 45 points, with 12 securing 44 points and another 11 gaining 43 points. Almost 45% of the cohort achieved 40 points or more.

ESF West Island School

The cohort at West Island School achieved an average score of 39.6 (considerably higher than last year's 35.5), and there was a pass rate of 100%. Well over half of WIS students scored 40 points and above.

In the cohort, 117 students completed the IBDP. A further 16 students at the school were awarded the IB Career-related Programme, which involves the study of a Level 3 BTEC diploma, two or three IB certificates at standard or higher level, and an externally assessed essay.

ESF King George V School

The 2021 cohort at King George V School achieved a high average score of 38.5, up on the previous year's result. There were nine top scorers.

There were a total of 182 students entered for the full IB Diploma with a 99% pass rate. 97% of students scored at least 30 points, 81% scored at least 35 points and 47% of students scored at least 40 points out of 45. 14 students were awarded the IB Bilingual Diploma with two of them scoring 44 points.

ESF Sha Tin College

Students at Sha Tin College can be proud of their average score of 39.6 and 99% pass rate. Eight students achieved the maximum 45 points and a further 19 students achieved the near-perfect score of 44 points. Overall 74 students (54% of the Diploma cohort) achieved 40 or more points compared with a world average of approximately 11%.

The school's first IBCP cohort of five students were awarded the diploma.

ESF South Island School

Students at ESF South Island achieved a very high average score of 39.4 and there was a 99% pass rate. Over a half of students scored an impressive 40 points or more and South Island was ESF's top-performing school with 11 top scorers.

ESF Discovery College

ESF Discovery College had an average score of 34.6 in the College’s best set of results to date, and just over half of the cohort achieved 35 points or more. 

ESF Renaissance College

Students' hard work and effort paid off at Renaissance College (RCHK) where the average score of 38.8 was considerably higher than last year's score of 35.5. Half of the cohort achieved 40 or more total points – a figure that can earn them a place them at competitive Ivy League or Oxbridge universities. Six students celebrated the top score of 45.

The pass rate for the IB's Career-related Programme was 100% for the college's cohort of five students.

French International School (FIS)

Despite what it describes as "an eventful year, French International School is celebrating a 100% pass rate and an average score of 37.84, over two points higher than last year's 35 points. Among them, 40% of students received 40 points or more. One student scored the top mark of 45. Additionally, 24% of the cohort were awarded the Bilingual Diploma.

Singapore International School (Hong Kong)

At Singapore International School (Hong Kong), the cohort of IB students scored an average 40.4 points. The school said the "Class of 2021 has displayed great strengths of resilience and tenacity to produce this set of excellent results".

Four students scored 45/45 points, while five scored 44 points and another eight 43 points. There was a 100% pass rate. 64% of students scored at least 40 points, the highest in the school’s history. Out of 264 subject exams taken by the students, 50% achieved a perfect grade of 7. 

SISHK students have accepted university places in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong

Yew Chung International School of Hong Kong has reported a strong set of results. The average score was 37.6 and 39% of the cohort scored 40 points and above. 75% obtained the IB Bilingual Diploma, and one student scored the highest mark of 45.

Martin Scott, Education Director and Executive Principal said:

“It has been an extraordinary two-year journey for our IBDP students, as they have to overcome unprecedented challenges from social unrest, school closures, a worldwide pandemic and a new equilibrium in hybrid learning. Yet, the Class of 2021 has morphed through the process with resilience and adaptability to emerge as one of our best performing cohorts.

“The majority of our top-scoring students begin with us from Early Childhood or Primary years, proving the benefit of a through-train education at YCIS. With the commitment and dedication of our teaching staff, who have guided and mentored these students in every way, they have fully-fledged with the exemplary qualities of a Yew Chung lifelong learner.”

Victoria Shanghai Academy

Victoria Shanghai Academy (VSA) had an average score of 37.5 (it was 36.2 in 2020), and for the fifth year in a row its average score is above 36 points. Three students achieved the top score of 45 points and two students achieved a near-perfect 44 points.

"Despite challenges under the pandemic in 2020/21, the cohort has striven their best to achieve a 100% pass rate and an average mean score of 37.5."

Elsa High School

Elsa High School achieved a record average score of 38.73 and one student achieved a perfect score of 45. This year, 86.6% of full Diploma students achieved 36 points or more, with 47% achieving over 40 points and 26% scoring a very high 44 or 45 points.

Canadian International School of Hong Kong

Canadian International School of Hong Kong announced its average score of 39.44 (higher than 37.8 points in 2020), which is the highest average in the 12 years that CDNIS has run the full Diploma Programme. Six students achieved the maximum score of 45 points, nine students achieved the near perfect DP score of 44 and 53 students achieved a score of 40 points or higher, 13 students were awarded Bilingual Diplomas.

Along with the IB Diploma, CDNIS students earn the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), meaning that they graduate with two distinctly different diplomas.

The school said: "These are outstanding results for our Class of 2021, a class that faced incredible obstacles and challenges throughout their two years of the Diploma Programme. Congratulations to all students, parents, and teachers on a wonderful achievement!"

Nord Anglia International School, Hong Kong

The first IB cohort at Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong has achieved an impressive average IB score of 36.3 and a 100% Diploma pass rate. One of the school's founding students, Toby, achieved the school's highest diploma score of 43 points. 

NAS Hong Kong said:

"Ambitious, open-minded and considerate, these first graduating students truly embody the spirit of NAIS. Their success is also a testament to the high quality of teaching, learning, support and guidance in Secondary."

The ISF Academy 

The Class of 2021 at Independent Schools Foundation Academy (ISF) achieved a 100% pass rate, with an average mean score of 40 (last year's was 37.2). There were three top scorers, 18 students scored 44 or 43 points, 63% scored 40 points or higher, and 76% students received the Bilingual Diploma.

Head of School, Dr. Malcolm Pritchard, praised the efforts of the graduating class:

“The ISF Academy commends the 60 members of the Class of 2021 for their resilience, diligence and adaptability throughout their IBDP learning journey, particularly in the face of challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021. The entire ISF community is very proud of our 2021 graduates, the tenth cohort of IB Diploma students at The ISF Academy, for their great efforts and impressive results.

"The high proportion of Bilingual Diploma earners – 76% – also demonstrates our students’ extraordinary linguistic skills in mastering both Chinese and English through our unique curriculum, which imbues a deep appreciation for Chinese culture and other civilizations. We wish them every success in their future endeavors!”

German Swiss International School

German Swiss International School announced its results, saying that its average score is a high 42 (up from last year's 40.72). There were six top scorers with 45 points, and 46 students out of the cohort of 56 achieved 40-plus points.

International College Hong Kong

At International College Hong Kong the average IB Diploma score was 35.4, with 57.7% scoring 35 points or above. Four students scored more than 40 points, with one student scoring 44 points.

The school said:

"We are very proud of all our students, who embraced a growth mindset and demonstrated grit, tenacity, dedication and hard work in approaching their studies, particularly during the many challenges of the past 18 months. It is this holistic background to examination success that we are most proud of as a school. Our students routinely go far beyond what might be expected of them, and demonstrate the skills which will be critical to their future success at university and beyond."

Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong (UWC)

Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong (UWC) is yet to announce its average score, but has revealed that 47% of its graduates received 40 or more points. Out of a maximum of 45 Diploma points, five students obtained 45 with eight students scoring 44 and 13 scoring 43. 

GT (Ellen Yeung) College

GT (Ellen Yeung) College students celebrated an average score of 41.6, a 100% pass rate, and a top score of 45.

St Stephen's College

The cohort at St Stephen's College have achieved an average score of 38.9 and a 100% pass rate. 

Kiangsu & Chekiang School and College 

Students at Kiangsu & Chekiang School and College "demonstrated remarkable resilience and fortitude" to achieve an average score of 37.

Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School

Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School celebrated an average score of 40.58 (nearly two points higher than last year's average of 38.9) and a 100% pass rate. In the cohort of 81 students, six students achieved the top score of 45.

Principal Dr Lau Siu Ling said:

"It has been a difficult two years for our students due to the challenges posed by the pandemic. Students and teachers had to adapt to a new platform of online learning for most of the IB Diploma curriculum. We are proud to observe that our students have managed to build resilience and overcame many challenges and have excelled in their internal assessments and examinations."

Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College

The small May 2021 cohort of 18 students at Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College achieved a 100% pass rate; half the students gained 40 and above points and 60% were awarded the Bilingual Diploma. The college has not published its average score.

St Pauls' Co-educational College

St Pauls' Co-educational College's cohort of 48 celebrated a high average score of 43.3 (a rise on last year's score of 42); 13 students scored the highest 45, while 21 scored 44. 71% of students achieved 44 or above.

SPCC remains at the top of the list in Hong Kong for Oxbridge offers. From Cambridge, students received offers to study law, natural sciences, economics, mathematics, HSPS and computer science. Other students are off to top universities including Imperial College London, LSE, UCL and King’s College London in the UK, and Cornell University, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, and UC Berkeley in the US. 

The school adds:

"We are excited to also see students pursue paths that are generally less travelled, including one student who will pursue film production at Emerson College and another who has received an offer to continue their music passion alongside their academics at Oberlin College and Oberlin Conservatory of Music."

HKCCCU Logos Academy

Students at HKCCCU Logos Academy achieved a very high average score of 40.4, and four students at the school celebrated the top score of 45.

Next: Hong Kong IB Results Table 2021