College/Career Counseling | The International Academy

Support, guidance and service. We do more than teach.

College/Career Counseling

IAA School Profile

2020- 2021 School Profile
International Academy Amman

CEEB Code: 681068

Director: Dr. Hana Kanan

Head of Secondary: Mr. Martin Thompson

DP Coordinator: Mr. Justin Hayward

College Counselor: Ms. Aya Abdel Hadi

2020- 2021 School Profile
International Academy Amman

CEEB Code: 681068

Director: Dr. Hana Kanan

Head of Secondary: Mr. Martin Thompson

DP Coordinator: Mr. Justin Hayward

College Counselor: Ms. Aya Abdel Hadi

The School Community
IAA is proud to introduce its eleventh graduating class of International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma students. IAA was founded in 2004 as an English medium, independent, non-profit, co-educational day school in Amman, Jordan. IAA is governed by an independent Board of Directors and is the hallmark institution working under the umbrella of the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and is the sister school to King’s Academy. The school caters for Pre KG to Grade 12 and currently is home to over 1192 students, of whom 539 are in the Secondary School. There are 53 students in Grade 12 and as a sign of our strong philosophy of inclusivity at IAA only a small number not taking the full IB Diploma. Many of our students have benefitted from the strong academic and financial scholarship programme. IAA is fortunate to have state of the art resources offering excellent IT, Arts, Design Technology and Science facilities. The teaching staff is truly international being drawn from many different countries and the student body is predominantly Jordanian (89.2%) although many students have dual nationalities and have resided overseas.

Our Philosophy
The Vision and Mission statements of IAA complement those of the IB as we aim to provide an international education in an Arabic setting. We are excited by the opportunity to help shape graduates who have a love for learning, are critical thinkers, have an awareness of their greater community and the role they can play in promoting international understanding and acceptance. We are justifiably proud of our CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) programme which all Grade 11 and 12 students must complete and which is recognized for its diversity and quality. Our Profile of a Graduate embodies a student who is fully prepared to confidently navigate their higher education and career and workplace thereafter and who will actively contribute to building a society that we all aspire to see in our world.

Curriculum, Accreditation and Authorisation
In 2007 IAA gained authorization from the IB to offer the Middle Years Programme (Grades 6 to 10) and in 2009 gained authorization to offer the Diploma Programme (Grades 11 and 12). All Grade 12 students will gain ‘Equivalency’ with the local Jordanian Tawjihi, as well as the IAA High School Diploma. Our Primary school follows the UK national curriculum for Literacy and the Australian curriculum for Mathematics. IAA is a fully accredited member of the Council for International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the International Schools Service (ISS) and the Middle East International Baccalaureate Association (MEIBA). We further validate our curriculum by taking the ISA tests annually for Grades 3 to 9. Since beginning the exercise our performance has consistently shown that our students perform above the world average and our record continues to show improvement.

Grading at IAA
Grades 9 to 10:
MYP students take up to 12 subjects (minimum 9) for the MYP that are marked on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). The core subjects are English, Arabic, Mathematics, Science (either Integrated or as three Discrete Sciences), Religion, Individuals and Societies, and students choose either one or two options from the Arts, Design, Physical and Health Education or Spanish. In addition, students are also graded on their Personal Project (a 4,000 word report on an engagement activity of their choice) and the Inter-Disciplinary Examination which tests a students’ ability to synthesise knowledge and skills from different curriculum.
Grades 11 to 12:
Diploma Students: take 6 subjects (3 at higher level and 3 at standard level, in rare cases some students will take 4 at higher level and 2 at standard level) that are marked on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest) and complete the Diploma core (CAS, Extended Essay and TOK) as well as taking Religion. Diploma Course Students: take 6 subjects (either 3 at higher level and 3 at standard level or 2 at higher level and 4 at standard level) that are marked on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest) as well as taking Religion. Diploma Course students must also complete CAS. GPA: scores are given on the transcript but are based on an average of the IB grading system of 1 to 7. High Honours are awarded for a GPA of 6.51 or more and Honours for a GPA of 6.0 or more.

Our Graduates
Our graduates are highly motivated and look forward to the challenge of higher education in countries all over the world. It is our expectation that nearly 100% will pursue 4 year colleges or universities. Students are applying to the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.

Class Rank
IAA does not use Class Rank.

Student Activities
IAA students are given many leadership opportunities. They may contribute to student literary productions such as the school newspaper and yearbook, be active in student governance groups, as well as participate in the Model United Nations (we are particularly proud of our student organized MUN conference and the awards our own students gain in national and overseas conferences), theatrical, choral, band and dance productions. We also have Robotics and F1 science clubs. Our overseas trips programme that concentrates on action, internationalism and intercultural understanding is also very strong in the school. Volunteering within the community is required and the programme is very well supported, authentic and high profile for our students. We also have a well-established work shadowing and internship programme. Opportunities are available to participate in a wide range of interscholastic sports and our sports teams (both boys and girls) have a very successful record in competition amongst the local Amman Private Schools and in International competitions (mainly of schools in the Middle East). On our current enrolment we have numerous students who hold Jordanian national records in Athletics and Swimming and who represent their country in a number of other disciplines.

Student Achievements in the Diploma Programme
We are very proud of the results IAA students have achieved in our first eight years. Very few students in the world receive more than 40 points and we have an above average number of students attaining this honour. Last year 36% of our Diploma students gained 40 points or more. We have also had students score the full 45 points in three of our graduating classes, a feat which is only achieved by around 0.4% of all IB students worldwide. In the last 5 years, on four occasions our Diploma students have a 100% pass rate compared to the world average of 79% and our average Diploma points grade has exceeded the world average for the past eight years and now stands at 37 points. What we are most proud of is the proportion of our students who receive over 30 points, which is considerably greater than the world average. We are also proud of the fact that our students, in a short amount of time, have gained access to many of the top 20 universities in the world.

COVID-19 and IAA
IAA has worked incredibly hard to overcome the challenges of the pandemic and to ensure that teaching and learning remains broad and rigorous. Since March 2020 the majority of our teaching and learning has been online with Grades 6 to 10 having 4 weeks, Grade 11 having 6 weeks and Grade 12 having 7 weeks of face to face learning in that period to date (October 2020). We have not shortened the school day and we have not reduced the number of subjects that are taught. We have also adapted our delivery in order to continue with all units of instruction. Assessments that have to be done online have been adapted to ensure authenticity with much more open ended and project based tasks. Grade 12 students have been allowed back to campus to complete their practical work in order to complete the requirements of their Internal Assessments (particularly in the Sciences). We are proud that IAA has gained the reputation of a school that has continued to fully serve its students in Jordan and believe that our graduating class of 2021 is not significantly disadvantaged by the circumstances that have befallen them.

Acceptances for IAA students

United States	United Kingdom	Canada	Other
Academy of Art University	Aston University	Acadia University	American University of Beirut
American University of Washington	Bangor University	Bishop’s University	American University of Cairo
Amherst College	Bath University	Brock University	American University of Paris
Arizona State University	Brunel University	Carleton University	American University of Sharjah
Art Center College of Design	City University	Concordia University	Bond University
Bentley University	Cardiff University	Lakehead University	Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Boston University	Coventry University	McGill University	Franklin College
Brown University	Durham University	McMaster University	German Jordan University
California College of the Arts (Oakland)	Goldsmith College, University of London	Mount Allison University	IE University
California College of the Arts (San Francisco)	Guilford College	Queen’s University	John Cabot
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona	Heriot Watt University	Ryerson University	Lebanese American University
Case Western Reserve University	Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine	University of Toronto	Middle East Technical University
Columbia University	Keele University	University of Waterloo	New York University – Abu Dhabi
Cornell University	Kings College London	Saint Mary's University	Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
De Montfort University	Kingston University	St. Francis Xavier University	Royal College of Surgeons in Bahrain
Drake University	Leeds Metropolitan University	University of British Columbia	The Hague University
Duke University	London Metropolitan University	University of Guelph	Universiteit Utrecht
East Carolina University	London School of Economics	UOIT	University of Jordan
Emory University	Middlesex University	University of Ottawa	Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar
Florida Institute of Technology	Newcastle University	University of Western Ontario
Fordham University	Nottingham Trent University	University of Windsor
George Mason university	Oxford Brookes University	York University

George Washington University	Oxford University
Georgetown University	Queens University –Belfast
Harvard University	Queen Mary, University of London
Irvine Valley College	Richmond College
Jacksonville University	Sheffield Hallam University
James Madison University	SOAS
James Madison University	St. George's, University of London
Johns Hopkins University	Swansea University
Knox College	The Arts University College at Bournemouth Wallisdown
Long Island University	The University of Winchester
Marist College	Trent University
Marymount University	University College London
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences	University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury
MCPHS - Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences	University of Aberdeen
New York University	University of Birmingham
Northeastern University	University of Bradford
Northwestern University	University of Brighton
Pace University	University of Bristol
Parsons The New School for Design	University of Dundee
Pratt Institute	University of East Anglia
Ringling College of Art and Design	University of East London
Rochester Institute of Technology	University of Edinburgh
Rollins College	University of Essex
Savannah College of Art and Design	University of Exeter
School of Visual Arts	University of Glasgow
St John’s University	University of Greenwich
St Mary’s College of California	University of Kent
Stanford University	University of Leeds
The Ohio State University	University of Liverpool
University of California at Berkeley	University of Manchester
University of California at Davis	University of Nottingham
University of California at San Diego	University of Portsmouth
University of California Irvine	University of Sheffield
University of California Los Angeles	University of Southampton
University of Chicago	University of Surrey
University of Connecticut	University of Sussex
University of Illinois Chicago	University of the Arts London
University of Massachusetts	University of Warwick
University of North Carolina at Asheville	University of West of England
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	University of Westminster
University of North Carolina Charlotte	University of Winchester
University of Notre Dame	University of York

University of Pennsylvania

University of Portland

University of Rhode Island

University of Rochester

University of Tampa

University of Virginia

Wesleyan University

Learn more

Counselling Tips & Reminders

Career and University Counselling is a personalised service available to students in the Secondary School. Typically, 100% of all our graduates enter 3-4 year undergraduate programmes at university with more than 85% opting to study at an international university.

Beginning at Grade 9 through to Grade 12, students are guided and assisted with

Subject choice - Selection of appropriate subject combinations to satisfy the requirements of their desired major at university
Test Prep - Preparation for university tests like SAT by holding SAT sessions and PSAT tests
University search - Assistance in choosing the universities that best fit their requirements and abilities
Application Forms - Collection and organization of requirements, deadlines, and recommendation letters
Personal Statements - Advice on the appropriate content and language

The school also hosts extensive university visits from leading advisors and representatives from world's top universities on regular basis and throughout the year.

IAA is a member of such organizations as 'College Board' and was recently made an accredited test centre for SAT and PSAT.
IAA is also a member of UCAS, Common Application and CIS.

We invite you to browse this section of the website which contains links to many useful resources. For further assistance, contact Aya Abdel Hadi at a.abdelhadi@iaa.edu.jo

The University Application Guidebook

Learn more

Acceptances for IAA Students

United States	United Kingdom	Canada	Other
Academy of Art University	Keele University	Brock University	University of Jordan
American University of Washington	Aston University	University of British Columbia	American University of Beirut
Amherst College	The Arts University College at Bournemouth Wallisdown	Bishop’s University	The Hague University
Arizona State University	University of Aberdeen	Acadia University	Bond University
Art Center College of Design	University of Bristol	Lakehead University	Lebanese American University
Bentley University	University of Surrey	Mount Allison University	John Cabot
Boston University	University of Sussex	Saint Mary's University	New York University – Abu Dhabi
Brown University	University of Kent	University of Guelph	Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
California College of the Arts (Oakland)	Heriot Watt University	McMaster University	American University of Cairo
California College of the Arts (San Francisco)	Middlesex University	University of Ottawa	Universiteit Utrecht
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona	University of Portsmouth	Queen’s University	Franklin College
Case Western Reserve University	University of West of England	Ryerson University	German Jordan University
Columbia University	City University	University of Toronto	IE University
Cornell University	Durham University	University of Waterloo	American University of Paris
De Montfort University	London Metropolitan University	McGill University	Royal College of Surgeons in Bahrain
Drake University	University of York	University of Western Ontario	Middle East Technical University
Duke University	University of East London	St. Francis Xavier University	Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar
East Carolina University	University of the Arts London	University of Windsor	American University of Sharjah
Emory University	University of Edinburgh	York University	Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
Florida Institute of Technology	Leeds Metropolitan University	UOIT
Fordham Universtiy	Queen Mary, University of London	Carleton University
George Mason university	St. George's, University of London	Concordia University
George Washington University	University of Exeter
Georgetown University	Guilford College
Harvard University	Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Irvine Valley College	Kings College London
Jacksonville University	Richmond College
James Madison University	Kingston University
James Madison University	SOAS
Johns Hopkins University	University of Leeds
Knox College	University of Liverpool
Long Island University	University of Glasgow
Marist College	University of Winchester
Marymount University	University of Westminster
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences	London School of Economics
MCPHS - Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences	Oxford Brookes University
New York University	University College London
Northeastern University	Newcastle University
Northwestern University	Nottingham Trent University
Pace University	University of Bradford
Parsons The New School for Design	Cardiff University
Pratt Institute	Coventry University
Ringling College of Art and Design	University of Dundee
Rochester Institute of Technology	University of Southampton
Rollins College	Swansea University
Savannah College of Art and Design	Sheffield Hallam University
School of Visual Arts	Bangor University
St John’s University	University of Essex
St Mary’s College of California	University of Greenwich
Stanford University	University of Warwick
The Ohio State University	Goldsmith College, University of London
University of California at Berkeley	University of Brighton
University of California at Davis	The University of Winchester
University of California at San Diego	Queens University –Belfast
University of California Irvine	Bath University
University of California Los Angeles	University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury
University of Chicago	University of Manchester
University of Connecticut	University of Birmingham
University of Illinois Chicago	University of Nottingham
University of Massachusetts	University of Sheffield
University of North Carolina at Asheville	Trent University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Brunel University
University of North Carolina Charlotte	University of East Anglia
University of Notre Dame	Oxford University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Portland
University of Rhode Island
University of Rochester
University of Tampa
University of Virginia
Wesleyan University

Learn more