The difference matters less than you think - and more than schools admit.
Written by Mia Windsor, Managing Editor Originally published: February 2026 | 7 min read
First, a Common Misunderstanding
Most parents arriving in Jakarta hear "Cambridge curriculum" and "IB curriculum" spoken about as if they are two different educational philosophies - rival systems with fundamentally different approaches to teaching. This framing is everywhere: in school brochures, on expat forums, in WhatsApp group chats between parents who have been in Jakarta for three months.
It is misleading.
Cambridge is not a curriculum. It is an examination board - Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), part of the University of Cambridge. The curriculum it delivers is the English National Curriculum. When a school in Jakarta says it "follows Cambridge," it means it uses Cambridge's syllabuses, textbooks and assessments to teach content aligned to the English National Curriculum. Edexcel and Pearson do the same thing through different assessment products.
The IB (International Baccalaureate) is different. It is a self-contained educational framework with its own philosophy, structure and assessment model, developed by the IB Organisation in Geneva. It does not derive from any national curriculum.
So the real comparison is not Cambridge vs IB. It is: English National Curriculum (delivered through Cambridge exams) vs the International Baccalaureate programme. And the point where this comparison matters most is at the exit - IGCSE and A Levels on one side, IB Diploma on the other.
For the broader three-way comparison including the American system, see British vs IB vs American Curriculum.
How Cambridge and IB Differ - The Exit Qualifications
The curriculum a child follows at ages 5-14 matters, but the qualification they leave school with at 18 matters more. This is where Cambridge and IB diverge.
A Levels (Cambridge Route)
Students take three or four subjects in Years 12-13. Each subject is studied in depth. Assessment is primarily through final exams at the end of Year 13, with some coursework depending on the subject.
The strength: depth. A student taking A Level Maths, Further Maths and Physics will cover material that first-year university students in some countries have not yet encountered. For a child who knows what they want to study at university, A Levels let them specialise early and arrive prepared.
The limitation: breadth - on paper. A student taking three sciences drops the humanities as examined subjects. There is no equivalent of the IB's Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, or community service requirement. But good A Level schools deliver breadth through enrichment - sport, music, drama, service, leadership - rather than through extra examined subjects. The breadth is there; it is just not on the exam transcript.
IB Diploma
Students take six subjects - three at Higher Level, three at Standard Level - chosen from across the arts, sciences, humanities, languages and maths. On top of that, they write a 4,000-word Extended Essay, complete a Theory of Knowledge course (which examines how we know what we know), and log 150 hours of Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).
The strength: breadth and transferable skills. A student cannot drop maths entirely, or avoid writing an extended research paper, or graduate without community engagement. Universities - particularly in the US, Canada and Australia - value this range.
The limitation: depth. Higher Level IB subjects are demanding, but they do not match the depth of A Levels in the same subject. A Higher Level IB Maths student will know less pure mathematics than an A Level Further Maths student. For highly selective STEM programmes at UK universities, this can matter. The IB can also become compliance-heavy in weaker schools - the structure guarantees breadth, but does not guarantee that every school delivers it well.
What Parents Notice Day-to-Day: Assessment Culture
The exit qualification gets the attention, but the assessment model shapes your child's daily experience more than the curriculum label on the school gate.
A Levels are exam-heavy. The workload builds toward high-stakes finals at the end of Year 13. Students who handle pressure well and revise effectively thrive. The rhythm is: learn, consolidate, perform.
The IB Diploma mixes external exams with structured internal components - internal assessments in every subject, the Extended Essay, TOK presentations, CAS documentation. The workload is more evenly spread but relentless. Students manage multiple deadlines across six subjects simultaneously. The rhythm is: produce, submit, produce, submit.
Neither is harder. They are hard differently. These differences affect workload patterns more than difficulty level - and they matter to teenagers living through them.
Why "British" Means More Than Content
When parents choose a British-style school, they are buying into more than a curriculum document. The British model comes with an ecosystem:
A clear progression structure - Key Stages, GCSE, A Level - that parents and universities worldwide understand. A large global supply of teachers trained in UK pedagogy, many holding QTS or iQTS, with deep subject expertise in exam-year preparation. An established inspection culture (British Schools Overseas, CIS, NEASC) that provides external quality signals. And professional development infrastructure - exam board training, subject associations, leadership programmes - that keeps standards visible.
IB schools draw from a more internationally diverse faculty pool. This brings broader perspective and better alignment to varied university destinations, but requires stronger leadership to standardise expectations. Both models work. The staff profile is part of what makes a school feel the way it does - and it is worth asking about during a school visit.
Which Jakarta Schools Offer Which
Here is how the major international schools in Jakarta line up.
| School | Primary (ages 5-11) | Secondary (ages 11-16) | Exit qualification (ages 16-18) | Fee range (annual, USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISJ | English National | English National → IGCSE | A Levels | $8,827-$26,308 |
| BSJ | English National | English National → IGCSE | IB Diploma | $8,919-$32,910 |
| JIS | American | American | AP + IB Diploma | $17,341-$35,916 |
| AIS | Australian | Australian → IGCSE option | IB Diploma | $7,702-$26,308 |
| SPH (Lippo Village) | IB PYP | IB MYP | IB Diploma | ~$6,900-$20,900 |
| ACG School Jakarta | English National | English National → IGCSE | A Levels | ~$9,873-$24,673 |
| NAS | English National | English National → IGCSE | IB Diploma | ~$11,200-$25,000 |
Fee ranges are indicative annual totals in USD. See International School Fees in Jakarta for detailed breakdowns. Fees correct as of February 2026.
A note on early years: British schools in Jakarta typically use the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for nursery and Reception - a play-based framework focused on developmental domains before formal subject teaching begins at Key Stage 1. IB schools use the Primary Years Programme (PYP), which is inquiry-led and concept-driven. Both are valid early years approaches. The differences become more visible from age 7 onward.
The pattern at the top is clear. Schools following the English National Curriculum through primary and secondary (IGCSE) split at the exit: ISJ and ACG continue with A Levels; BSJ and NAS switch to IB Diploma. SPH runs the IB from start to finish. JIS offers both AP and IB Diploma alongside its American programme.
One caveat on full-IB schools: the quality of the IB PYP and MYP varies significantly by implementation. The Diploma Programme is externally examined and globally standardised. The PYP and MYP are not - they are school-assessed, and how well they are delivered depends on staff capability and leadership. A school being "authorised for PYP" tells you less than you might think.
Who Suits Cambridge / A Levels
A Levels suit a particular kind of student - and that student is not rare, but they are specific.
- Already knows roughly what they want to study at university - or at least knows they are a scientist, a mathematician, an economist, a linguist
- Thrives when they can go deep into subjects they love rather than spreading across six
- Performs best in structured, exam-focused assessment rather than extended projects and portfolios
- Is targeting a specific UK university course that values subject depth (medicine, engineering, law, economics at competitive universities)
- Prefers a programme without compulsory community service, philosophy of knowledge, or a 4,000-word research paper
ISJ is the strongest A Level school in Jakarta. Its British independent school character means small classes, teachers who know every student, and a pathway designed around individual university destinations. ISJ's new secondary campus opening September 2028 will expand capacity through to A Levels. ACG also offers A Levels and suits families looking for the Cambridge route at a lower fee point.
Who Suits the IB Diploma
The IB suits a different profile - and it is the majority of international school students worldwide.
- Is strong across multiple subjects and does not want to drop any of them at 16
- Is a good writer and independent researcher - the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge reward these skills
- Is engaged with community and service - CAS is not optional and requires genuine commitment
- Is likely to apply to universities in the US, Canada, Australia, or continental Europe, where the breadth of the IB is well understood and valued
- Is not yet sure what they want to study - the IB keeps doors open longer than A Levels
BSJ is Jakarta's highest-profile IB Diploma school among the British-tradition schools. Students follow the English National Curriculum through IGCSE, then move into the IB Diploma for Years 12-13 - a combination that gives both the rigour of IGCSE subject grounding and the breadth of the IB exit qualification. JIS offers the IB Diploma alongside AP, and SPH runs the full IB continuum from PYP through to DP.
BSJ: The School That Offers Both Paths (Sort Of)
BSJ deserves a separate note because it occupies unusual ground. The school follows the English National Curriculum through to IGCSE - the same content framework as ISJ and ACG - but then offers the IB Diploma rather than A Levels for the final two years.
This means a BSJ student gets the depth and subject rigour of IGCSE (Cambridge exams, English National content) combined with the breadth and research expectations of the IB Diploma. For families who want both and are willing to pay BSJ's fees ($8,900-$31,600), it is a genuine best-of-both-worlds option.
The question to ask: does your child want to specialise at 16 (→ A Levels at ISJ) or stay broad (→ IB at BSJ)? If the answer is "stay broad but with a strong academic foundation," BSJ's model is built for that.
University Recognition - Does It Matter Which You Choose?
Both A Levels and the IB Diploma are accepted by universities worldwide. This is not a debate - it is a fact. Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Melbourne, Toronto, ETH Zurich: all accept both.
Where the nuance lies:
UK universities understand A Levels natively. Offers are made in A Level grades (e.g., AAA). IB offers are translated into points (e.g., 38 points with 6,6,6 at Higher Level). Both are standard, but A Level applicants do not need their grades "interpreted" - they are the home currency.
US universities value the IB Diploma's breadth. The Extended Essay and CAS align with the US model of well-rounded admissions. A Level applicants are not disadvantaged, but they may need to demonstrate extracurricular breadth separately.
Australian and Canadian universities accept both equally. Neither has a structural advantage.
European universities (particularly those teaching in English) increasingly prefer the IB, since it is internationally standardised and not tied to any national system.
The honest answer: unless your child is targeting a very specific programme at a very selective university, the curriculum choice will not determine their university outcome. Grades, personal statement, references and interview matter more than which qualification sits on the transcript.
Fees - What Does Each Path Cost in Jakarta?
| School | Curriculum route | Senior school fees (approx.) | Exit qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISJ | ENC → IGCSE → A Levels | $24,644-$26,308 | A Levels |
| BSJ | ENC → IGCSE → IB DP | $28,000-$32,910 | IB Diploma |
| JIS | American → AP + IB DP | $28,000-$35,916 | AP / IB Diploma |
| ACG | ENC → IGCSE → A Levels | ~$19,169-$24,673 | A Levels |
| SPH (Lippo Village) | IB PYP → MYP → DP | ~$18,000-$20,900 | IB Diploma |
Senior school fees are approximate annual totals for Years 10-13 / Grades 9-12. See International School Fees in Jakarta for full fee schedules including registration, capital levies and other charges.
The curriculum does not drive the fee - the school does. ISJ's A Levels cost less than BSJ's IB Diploma, but more than ACG's A Levels. The fee reflects the school's overall quality, teacher pay scales, facilities and reputation, not whether the exit qualification has "Cambridge" or "IB" on it.
This points to the most important thing in this article: high-performing schools share more with each other than with average schools following the same curriculum. A strong A Level school and a strong IB school have more in common - in teaching quality, academic culture, university outcomes - than a strong IB school and a weak one. Curriculum choice shapes structure. Execution determines outcomes.