🎓 Preparing for the IB Application and Admission Test in Ontario: What Parents Need to Know
Each year, more students in Ontario apply to International Baccalaureate (IB) high school programs—and many families have questions about how to prepare for entrance exams.
The challenge? There’s no single “IB test” across Ontario. Each school board—and sometimes each individual school—runs its own application and testing process. However, there are consistent academic skills that nearly all programs assess.
At York Region Tutoring, our IB preparation programs focus on building those key competencies—so students can walk into any IB entrance exam with confidence and readiness.
🧭 Understanding the IB Entrance Process
✅ What Do the Ontario IB Admission Tests Typically Test?
Most IB entrance exams evaluate a student’s academic readiness for enriched learning, focusing on:
📘 English Language Skills
- Reading comprehension (main idea, inference, tone, vocabulary)
- Short and long-form writing (opinion, persuasive, narrative)
- Grammar and sentence structure
🔢 Mathematics (Grade 7–8 Level, Often Enriched)
- Fractions, decimals, percent
- Algebra (expressions, patterns, equations)
- Geometry (area, perimeter, angles)
- Logic-based problem solving
- Charts, graphs, and data interpretation
🧠 Critical Thinking / Reasoning
- Pattern recognition
- Analogies
- Logic puzzles
- Situational judgment (sometimes)
🗣️ Personal Profile or Interview
- Some schools include a personal profile, interest form, or reflection
- A few may conduct interviews (written or in-person)
📍 IB Programs in York Region (YRDSB – Public Board)
In York Region, the IB application and testing process is centralized through the York Region District School Board (YRDSB).
🏫 YRDSB IB Schools:
- Alexander Mackenzie High School
- Bayview Secondary School
- Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School
- Maple High School
- Milliken Mills High School
🖥️ How YRDSB Works:
- One application through the EDSBY platform
- All applicants complete the same board-wide test
- Students are assigned to an IB-designated school based on home address
- Use the YRDSB School Locator to verify your IB school
Note: YRDSB does not accept applications from students studying under a Study Permit
🏫 IB in Catholic School Boards (e.g. YCDSB, TCDSB, DPCDSB)
Ontario’s Catholic school boards also offer IB programs. These boards may run their own independent application and testing processes, separate from public boards.
✝️ Key Catholic IB Programs:
- Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy (YCDSB – Markham)
- St. Thomas Aquinas (DPCDSB – Brampton)
- St. Robert CHS (YCDSB – Thornhill, offers Pre-IB)
- St. Joseph’s College School (TCDSB – Toronto)
📝 How Catholic Board IB Applications Work:
- Each Catholic IB school typically handles its own application
- Requirements often include:
- Entrance test (math, English, logic)
- Application form and essay
- Report cards
- Reference letter (often from a teacher)
- Some may include a faith-based component (e.g. values reflection or involvement in parish life)
There is no single Catholic board-wide test. Each school’s admissions criteria and timeline can differ—so it’s important to check the school’s website directly.
🏙️ IB Programs in TDSB and Other Public Boards
In contrast to YRDSB’s centralized approach, most other public boards allow IB schools to run their own entrance processes:
✅ Toronto District School Board (TDSB) – e.g. Victoria Park CI, Parkdale CI
- Each school sets its own:
- Application process
- Entrance test
- Interview or writing component
- May request:
- Report cards
- Written statements
- References
✅ Other Boards (Peel, Durham, Halton, Ottawa, etc.)
- Some have centralized application portals; many do not
- Test formats and admission documents vary widely
🇫🇷 Is French Part of the IB Entrance Exam?
In most cases, French is not tested—unless your child is applying to a French immersion IB program or a bilingual IB diploma stream.
If French is tested, students may be assessed on:
- Reading comprehension
- Written expression
- Vocabulary and grammar
- Oral fluency (occasionally)
We can include French support in our prep if your child is applying to a bilingual program.
✨ Our IB Entrance Prep Strategy
We provide students with the tools and strategies they need to perform confidently, regardless of their school board or target IB school:
- Diagnostic assessments (math, English, critical thinking)
- Skill-based instruction in high-impact areas
- Timed mock tests to simulate real exam conditions
- Writing feedback and coaching
- Optional French, interview, and personal profile preparation
Our programs are fully adaptable depending on your child’s target school or board.
📋 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
❓Do all IB schools in Ontario use the same test?
No.
- YRDSB uses a centralized application and test
- TDSB, Catholic boards, and many other public boards allow schools to set their own entrance criteria and testing
- Catholic schools such as Father Michael McGivney have their own admissions process
❓What’s on the entrance test?
Most tests include:
- Mathematics (problem-solving, algebra, number sense)
- English (reading comprehension, writing)
- Reasoning or logic (sometimes)
- Catholic schools may also request a personal statement or faith-based component
❓How can I find out what my target school requires?
We recommend checking:
- The school’s website
- The school board’s IB page
- Any application instructions or open house materials
We’re also happy to help you investigate and prepare accordingly.
❓Is French required?
Only for bilingual or French immersion IB streams. If so, we can incorporate French into your child’s prep.
❓What grade level is the math?
Usually late Grade 7 to early Grade 8, with some enriched content and logic-based challenges.
🔑 Final Thoughts
Whether you’re applying to YRDSB’s centralized IB system, a Catholic IB school, or a TDSB/Peel IB program, preparation matters.
Our approach helps students master the academic content, build strong thinking skills, and gain confidence for whatever the test format or admission requirements may be.
