The results of the LGS (High School Entrance Exam) have been announced, and now everyone is eagerly awaiting their percentile rankings. However, it’s important to remember that choosing a high school is also about selecting a diploma program, which can significantly influence your future university choices and academic journey. In our blog, we aimed to introduce various diploma programs that can provide you with an international perspective during your high school education. Programs like Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Abitur, French Baccalauréat, Matura, and the Italian Diploma Program are globally recognized for their distinct curricular structures, learning outcomes, and advantages in university admissions. We have thoroughly examined each program’s features, the education they offer, and which schools in Turkey provide these programs. You can find detailed information about these programs in the table below.
| Program Name | Features | Education Offered | Skills Acquired | University Admission Process | Schools Offering in Turkey (Examples) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abitur |
Ülke: Almanya merkezli Düzenleyen: Her federal eğitim bakanlığı Kapsam: Çoklu dersler Yapı: Okul sonrası sınavlar Derecelendirme: 1.0 (en iyi) – 4.0 (geçer) |
Curriculum: Fundamental sciences, social sciences Specialization: Expertise in major subjects |
Discipline, university preparation, multidisciplinary education |
Accepted by universities in Germany and Europe, high grades required |
|
| Advanced Placement (AP) |
Ülke: ABD merkezli, dünya çapında Düzenleyen: College Board Kapsam: 38 ders Yapı: Yıl boyu ders, Mayıs sınavı Derecelendirme: 1-5, 3 ve üzeri geçer |
Content: College-level Depth: Research and analysis skills |
University-level preparation, potential for university credits, advantage in university applications |
Accepted by universities in the US and globally, high exam scores and strong academic performance required |
For a complete list of schools offering the Advanced Placement (AP) program in Turkey, visit the College Board Official Website: College Board AP Program Schol Search |
| French Baccalauréat |
Ülke: Fransa merkezli Düzenleyen: Fransız Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı Kapsam: Zorunlu ve seçmeli dersler Yapı: 3 yıllık lise eğitimi sonrası sınav Derecelendirme: 20 üzerinden, 10 geçer not |
Curriculum: Science, literature, social sciences Specialization: Choice of major starting in the 11th grade |
Analytical thinking, critical thinking, university preparation, multidisciplinary education |
Accepted by universities in France and globally, baccalaureate grades, additional exams required |
|
| GIB (Gemischtsprachiges Internationales Baccalaureate) Programı |
Ülke: Almanya merkezli, dünya çapında uygulanır. Düzenleyen Kuruluş: International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) ve Alman Eğitim Bakanlığı. Kapsam: Çift dilli eğitim; IB Diploma Programı’nın Almanca ve İngilizce olarak sunulması. Yapı: İki yıllık program, Diploma Program (DP) çerçevesinde Almanca ve İngilizce derslerle. Derecelendirme: IB Diploma derecelendirme sistemi (1-7 arası), ek olarak Almanca notlama standartları. |
Curriculum: Bilingual curriculum offering courses in language and literature, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts in both German and English |
Language skills in both German and English, cultural awareness, academic flexibility through bilingual education and interdisciplinary knowledge |
Recognized by universities in German-speaking countries and globally, GIB diploma grades and language proficiency required |
|
| International Baccalaureate (IB) Programı |
Country: Based in Switzerland, global Regulating Body: International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Scope: 6 subject groups + 3 components (Extended Essay, TOK, CAS) Structure: Two-year program Grading: Scale of 1-7, minimum 24 points for diploma |
Course Types: Languages, sciences, social studies, arts Thinking: Critical thinking and thesis writing |
Contribution: Social responsibility Global Perspective: Cultural sensitivity Research: Thesis writing Balance: Academic and personal development |
Accepted by prestigious universities worldwide High diploma score, good CAS/TOK performance |
|
| İtalyan Diploma Programı (Esame di Stato veya Maturità Italiana) |
Country: Based in Italy Regulating Body: Italian Ministry of Education (Ministero dell’Istruzione) Scope: Various disciplines with mandatory and elective courses, comprehensive final year exams Structure: 5 years of high school education (Liceo) followed by final exams (Esame di Stato) Grading: Scored out of 100. A score of 60 is passing, with 100/100 being the highest score |
Curriculum: Languages and literature, mathematics, sciences, history, arts, social sciences, and foreign languages Specialization: In-depth studies in a specific branch (science, classical, language, arts, technical, etc.) |
Analytical and Critical Thinking: Develops critical thinking and analysis skills Preparation: University preparation Breadth: Disciplined education and a broad knowledge base |
Accepted by universities in Italy and Europe Requirements: Maturità grades, additional exams or portfolios |
|
| Matura |
Country: Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein Regulating Body: National ministries of education Scope: Mandatory and elective courses Structure: Exams after 4-5 years of high school Grading: Scale of 1 (best) to 5 (pass) |
Curriculum: Mathematics, language, science, social sciences Specialization: Advanced courses |
Discipline: Intensive study Preparation: University preparation Breadth: Multidisciplinary education |
Accepted by European universities Requirements: Matura results, additional requirements |
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