International Baccalaureate results revealed: Four Ravenswood girls, Trinity Grammar boys secure perfect marks

International Baccalaureate marks for 2022 have been revealed, and two Sydney single-sex schools have tied for the most perfect scores. Students from Western Sydney’s only IB school have also shared their success stories.

The wait is over for these four Year 12 graduates from Ravenswood Girls School, who learned their final mark for the IB on Tuesday morning. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Two elite Sydney schools have tied at the top after International Baccalaureate marks for 2022 were revealed to 653 students in 18 schools across the state, but a newcomer to the diploma program is aiming to level the playing field in the regions.

While the IB avoids making school rankings public, inquiries by The Daily Telegraph have revealed Ravenswood School for Girls in Sydney’s upper north shore and Trinity Grammar School in the inner west both had four students earn the top mark of 45 out of 45.

For Ravenswood, the result breaks the school’s own record for highest number of “perfect” IB scores in a single cohort. 13 per cent of the school’s IB students earned the highest possible score.

18-year-old Kayleigh Li was among the four girls to achieve the perfect mark of 45, placing her well on her path to earning a place at one of the prestigious overseas universities on her wishlist.

“The IB was definitely a very vigorous curriculum, it challenged me in many ways. It really needed me to dig deep in various fields,” Ms Li said.

Kayleigh Li, who has received a perfect score of 45, placing her in prime position for a 99.95 ATAR. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Deputy Principal of Teaching and Learning Jennifer Richardson, who oversees the IB at Ravenswood, explained the program is a great pathway for those planning to study a university course, or travel overseas for further study given the IB is internationally recognised.

“The IB really suits students who are really curious and have a thirst for knowledge, … inquiry and critical thinking. It suits students who can be quite independent in their learning and self-directed at times,” Mrs Richardson said.

High-performing Ravenswood IB students Claudia Zybenko (44/45), Oriana Allen, Kayleigh Li (45/45), and Paris Lay-Yee. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Trinity Grammar had 38 from its 115 students achieve their IB diplomas with distinction, having earned a mark of at least 40 out of 45.

Elsewhere, Kambala at Rose Bay recorded two perfect scores, with the school’s IB graduates achieving an overall average of 39. Mosman’s Queenswood school also claimed two top mark results.

Redlands School in Cremorne, Newington College in Stanmore and Cranbrook School in Bellevue Hill all reported one perfect score each.

The majority of NSW private schools offering the IB are clustered in Sydney’s north and east. St Paul’s Grammar at Cranebrook is the only school in Western Sydney which ran the diploma in 2022, and has recorded one 45, one 44 and three 43s.

17-year-old Dishitha Dasireddy scored 44/45, a mark she “certainly didn’t expect” to receive.

St Paul's Grammar student Dishitha Dasireddy nailed the IB, scoring 44/45. Picture: John Appleyard

“I was pleasantly surprised this morning,” Ms Dasireddy said.

“It was definitely challenging, and a long two year. I’m glad it’s over.”

Director of learning services Antony Mayrhofer said two thirds of St Paul’s Class of 2022 chose the IB Diploma, emerging from the program as globally-minded critical thinkers.

“Philosophically, the program is a broader curriculum, so the students by default have a more rounded education,” he said.

“You can do this in the HSC too, but we find that students usually use the HSC to specialise.”

L to R: St Paul’s Grammar IB students Emily Cooper, 18, Angelina He, 17, Charlotte Murray, 17, Mazin Alfadhli, 18, Abigail Keane, 18, Dishitha Dasireddy, 17 and Jasmine Digges, 18 were all delighted to finally receive their marks on Tuesday. Picture: John Appleyard

A total of 2,421 students in Australia sat the IB in 2022, attaining an average score of 35.6 – almost five entire points higher than the global average.

56 students nationwide earned the highest possible mark.

In 2023, Central West Leadership Academy in Dubbo will join the IB program in what promises to be a game-changer for the regions.

Principal Mandi Randell said the school’s IB pathway would be the first of its kind west of the Blue Mountains.

“It’s a huge equity opportunity for Western NSW,” she said.

The IB’s relegation exclusively to private schools has long been a point of contention for parents wanting to enrol their public school-educated kids in the university-focused program.

18-year-old Abigail Keane is one of several students who chose to enrol at St Paul’s Grammar school because it offered the IB.

18-year-old St Paul’s Grammar student Abigail Keane, who scored 43/45. Picture: John Appleyard

“I thought it was a really well-rounded program, and I’m very into the arts and sciences and all different subjects. I thought it would be a really good fit for me,” Ms Keane said.

Mr Mayrhofer, also the secretary for IB Schools Australasia, said the IB has “slowly but steadily” grown in popularity, but unlike in other states and territories, public schools aren’t allowed to offer it as an alternative to the HSC.

“The vast majority of IB schools worldwide are government schools. NSW is very atypical,” Mr Mayrhofer said.

The Department of Education hasn’t ruled out introducing the IB in public schools, but balancing affordability and equity would prove a challenge.

“All NSW school students have access to the HSC, which is a world class and internationally recognised credential,” a NSW Department of Education spokesperson said.

“We continually investigate different educational programs and curriculum offerings to ensure NSW students are provided with the best possible opportunities for learning and achievement.”