Quick answer: IB vs A Levels, which is better for your child? Neither wins for every student. The IB Diploma suits all-rounders who can carry six subjects plus an essay and Theory of Knowledge; A Levels suit teenagers ready to specialise in three or four subjects. In Madrid, Hastings School, The English Montessori School and Thames British School offer both, so families can choose at 16.
Last reviewed: November 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Key takeaways
- The IB Diploma is scored out of 45 and needs at least 24 points plus several passing conditions; the global average in the May 2026 session was 30.88 points (IBO).
- On the UCAS Tariff an A* at A Level and a 7 at IB Higher Level are both worth 56 points, so the two routes start on equal terms wherever the Tariff is used (UCAS tariff tables).
- For Spanish universities, both routes go through UNEDasiss, which gives an admission grade of 5 to 10; the university can add up to 4 more points (UNEDasiss).
- At Hastings School in Madrid, Years 12 and 13 cost 21,200 euros a year on the IB route and 18,600 euros on the A Level route in 2026-27 (school fee schedule).
Families in Madrid usually face the choice in Year 11, the IGCSE year. The question of IB vs A Levels is less about prestige than about fit: how many subjects your child wants to keep, how they cope with coursework deadlines, and whether they are aiming for a UK, Spanish or wider international university.
Several British schools in the city teach both qualifications side by side. This guide sets out how each route works, how universities read the results, what changes for Spanish university entry and what each option costs in Madrid in 2026-27.
What is the difference between the IB and A Levels?
The IB Diploma is a single two-year programme with six subjects and a compulsory core, while A Levels are separate subject qualifications, usually three or four, graded independently. In the IB, students take three subjects at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, and Maths and at least two languages are part of the mix. On top of that come Theory of Knowledge, a 4,000-word extended essay and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).
A Level students choose freely from the school's timetable. Hastings School, for example, notes that Maths is not compulsory for its A Level students, whereas it is for every IB student.
| Feature | IB Diploma | A Levels |
|---|---|---|
| Subjects | 6 (3 Higher, 3 Standard) | Usually 3 or 4 |
| Compulsory elements | TOK, extended essay, CAS | None; optional Extended Project |
| Grading | 1 to 7 per subject, up to 3 core points, 45 maximum | A* to E per subject |
| Pass threshold | 24 points plus conditions | Each subject graded on its own |
| Best fit | Broad interests, strong organisation | Clear subject strengths |
Sources: IBO diploma passing criteria, UCAS tariff tables and the sixth form pages of Hastings School and Thames British School.
Which is harder, IB or A Levels?
The IB is broader and has more ways to fail; A Levels are narrower but go deeper in each subject. According to the IBO, a candidate needs at least 24 of the 45 available points, at least 12 points from Higher Level subjects, no grade 1 and no E in Theory of Knowledge or the extended essay. In the May 2026 session 82.61% of diploma candidates passed and 10,526 scored above 40 points, as reported by Tes.
A Level students can concentrate their time on the three or four subjects they enjoy and need for their chosen degree. The trade-off is that a weak subject cannot be compensated by a strong one, because each grade stands alone.
How do UK universities compare IB points and A Level grades?
UK universities accept both and usually write offers in each qualification's own terms, such as a set of A Level grades or a total of IB points with minimum Higher Level scores. The UCAS Tariff, used by some courses, gives these values:
- A Level: A* 56, A 48, B 40, C 32, D 24, E 16 points.
- IB Higher Level: 7 is 56, 6 is 48, 5 is 40, 4 is 32 points.
- IB Standard Level: 7 is 28, 6 is 24, 5 is 20 points.
- IB core: an A in Theory of Knowledge or the extended essay adds 12 points each.
Worked example. A*AA at A Level is 56 + 48 + 48 = 152 Tariff points. An IB student with 7, 6 and 6 at Higher Level reaches the same 152 from those three subjects alone, before Standard Level and core points are added. At selective universities the subject grades named in the offer matter more than any Tariff total.
IB or A Levels for Spanish universities: what changes in Madrid?
Both routes reach Spanish universities through UNEDasiss, the UNED service that converts foreign results into a Spanish admission grade between 5 and 10. The destination university can add up to 4 extra points, usually through the Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCE), which matters for courses with high cut-off marks.
Schools in Madrid report a practical difference here. Hastings School explains that its A Level students currently need two PCEs to reach the maximum of 14 points for Spanish public universities, while IB students can reach the maximum without them. Thames British School also prepares its A Level students for the PCE for competitive degrees.
Timing matters too. UNEDasiss opens accreditation requests on 4 February and closes them on 1 December, and for the 2026-27 intake the deadline for international students to apply to public universities was 7 July 2026. UNEDasiss also issues a provisional accreditation to UK-system students who apply with predicted grades. Dates for the 2027-28 intake had not been published when this guide was reviewed, so use 2026 as a reference.
Madrid schools that offer the IB, A Levels or both
Hastings School
Hastings runs its sixth form, called Nexus, from its campus at Manuel Marañón 8 and offers both the IB Diploma and A Levels. A Level students take three subjects and most add Spanish as a fourth, with the option of the Extended Project Qualification, IELTS or PCE subjects. The school reports an IB average of 36.1 points, against a global average of 30.9, and 46% of A Level grades at A* or A in 2026. Ask how the timetable blocks work before your child commits to a subject combination.
The English Montessori School
The English Montessori School (TEMS) offers three pre-university routes: A Levels, the IB Diploma, which it introduced in September 2025, and the Spanish Bachillerato. A Level students normally take at least four subjects including Spanish, and the school reports that 35.8% of its 2026 A Level grades were A* or A. Because the IB route is new, it is worth asking how many students are in each cohort.
Thames British School Madrid
Thames teaches Cambridge International A Levels, with students taking four subjects, Spanish plus three options, and also offers an IB Diploma pathway. Its sixth form page sets out the UNEDasiss and PCE steps for A Level students. Its fee page lists 14,480 euros a year for Years 12 and 13, payable in three terms, without stating the academic year.
St. George School Madrid
St. George is an IB-only sixth form: the school says all of its Sixth Form students take the IB Diploma, with a 97% IB Diploma pass rate and a highest score of 44. Our report on St. George Madrid's 2026 IB Diploma results has more detail.
How much do the IB and A Levels cost in Madrid?
Two of the three schools here that teach both routes charge the same for each; Hastings charges more for the IB. Published fees for Years 12 and 13:
| School | Route | Annual tuition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings School | A Levels | 18,600 euros | 1,860 euros x 10 months |
| Hastings School | IB Diploma | 21,200 euros | 2,120 euros x 10 months |
| St. George Madrid | IB Diploma | 19,440 euros | Plus 550 euros enrolment |
| Thames British School | A Levels or IB | 14,480 euros | Academic year not stated |
| TEMS | A Levels or IB | 1,406 euros a month | Plus 159 euros monthly charges |
Source: each school's fee page (2026-27; Thames states no year). Budget separately for:
- One-off registration fees, from 600 euros at TEMS to 1,870 euros at St. George for new pupils.
- Refundable deposits, such as the 1,250 euros Thames asks for.
- Lunch and buses, roughly 1,800 to 2,500 euros a year each at these schools.
- Exam entry, university application and PCE fees, which schools may invoice separately.
How to decide: questions to ask before Year 12
- List three possible degrees. Check their subject requirements in the UK and Spain; if they all need Maths and Chemistry, both routes work, but the IB adds four other subjects.
- Look at the IGCSE spread. Even grades across subjects point to the IB; two or three clear strengths point to A Levels.
- Ask the school for cohort sizes on each route, the Higher Level and A Level subjects actually running in your child's Year 12, and how predicted grades are set.
- Ask about Spanish entry: whether the school teaches PCE subjects, and who handles the UNEDasiss application.
- Compare full costs for two years, not one, including exam and PCE fees.
Compare Madrid's international schools
To see which schools offer the IB, A Levels or both alongside fees and reviews, explore the best international schools in Madrid and shortlist two or three to visit before Year 11 ends.
Sources: International Baccalaureate Organization (diploma passing criteria and May 2026 results), Tes (May 2026 pass rate), UCAS tariff tables, UNEDasiss (FAQs and key dates), and the sixth form and fee pages of Hastings School, The English Montessori School, Thames British School Madrid and St. George School Madrid.
More guides to schools in Madrid
- Best international schools in Madrid
- International school fees in Madrid
- Bilingual schools in Madrid
- International school admissions in Madrid
- How to choose an international school in Madrid
- best international schools in Madrid
Frequently asked questions
Is the IB harder than A Levels?
It is harder to pass as a package. The IBO requires at least 24 of 45 points, no grade 1, at least 12 Higher Level points and no E in Theory of Knowledge or the extended essay. A Levels have no overall pass mark, but each subject goes deeper. In the May 2026 session, 82.61% of IB diploma candidates passed worldwide.
Do Spanish universities accept A Levels and the IB?
Yes. Students on both routes apply to UNEDasiss, which converts their results into an admission grade from 5 to 10, and universities can add up to 4 more points, mostly through PCE exams. Hastings School in Madrid says its A Level students currently need two PCEs to reach the 14-point maximum at public universities, while the IB alone can reach it.
Is the IB more expensive than A Levels in Madrid?
Sometimes. Hastings School charges 2,120 euros a month for IB students in Years 12 and 13 against 1,860 euros for A Levels in 2026-27, a gap of 2,600 euros a year over ten months. The English Montessori School and Thames British School publish a single Year 12-13 fee for both routes, so the choice does not change tuition there.