Congratulations IB Class of 2023!

Congratulations to MLC’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Class of 2023, who received their IB diploma scores yesterday, and their notional ATARs today. 

Topline statistics for our IB cohort, include: 

Special congratulations are extended to Georgie Thomas as MLC’s 2024 IB Dux with a top IB score of 45, and Wendy Chen and Jenny Wang as IB Duces Secundae who achieved an IB score of 44.*

Reflecting on her approach to IB, Wendy highlights the importance of trying her best, identifying areas for improvement and seeking help from her teachers. 

"The teachers have been so monumentally encouraging and supportive of me throughout the last two years and I'm so grateful to them for that," she expresses.

For Georgie, achieving success in IB was all about striking a balance. "I focus a lot better when I have got other things going on. It was about finding a way to give enough time to school work without sacrificing things like sport or socialising. Having those rituals and habits saved my focus during the year," she shares. 

Looking ahead, both students hope to embark on their tertiary studies at Monash University this year, with Wendy pursuing Medicine and Georgie venturing into Engineering and Arts.  

MLC has offered the IB Diploma Programme for over two decades, instilling in our students the values, skills and perspectives needed to thrive in an interconnected and ever-evolving global landscape, and is strongly aligned with MLC’s educational approach of providing a broad and balanced curriculum across all years of schooling. The resounding success of this approach is evident in our 2023 cohort as they emerge as globally minded, knowledgeable and confident individuals. 

From left: Georgie Thomas, Wendy Chen, Claire Lu and Maya Barnett

The Benefits of a Well-Rounded Program 

The IB Diploma requires students to select a subject from six different subject groups - from language and humanities to science and mathematics - as well as undertaking self-directed research in an extended essay, ‘creativity, activity, service’ (CAS) projects and a course in the theory of the nature of knowledge. 

It has been wonderful to see our IB students take advantage of the breadth of choices available to better balance their academic studies by pursuing co-curricular activities that interest and excite them. 

In particular, it was the well-rounded balance of core subjects appealed to Year 12 student Aarushi Mishra.  

“I chose the International Baccalaureate (IB) pathway because it provided me with an interdisciplinary and global-based learning program which, coming from an immigrant family myself, really resonated with me,” she explains.   

As 2023 Environment and Sustainability Prefect, Aarushi embraced the opportunities to deepen her knowledge on global sustainability initiatives and lead student discussions on climate change. Now, she is already making strides as the 2024 Program Assistant for MLC’s Education Outdoor program in Gippsland’s Banksia Peninsula, where she can impart her passion to younger students. 

“Whatever my future career path ends up being, I want it to include community engagement. I see myself advocating for a more just world and mentoring younger students about the issues that affect our world,” she says.  

Georgie Thomas, MLC's 202 IB Duce and Senior Prefect, found the IB’s well-rounded curricula structure particularly suited her. 

“I am very interested in the sciences, I would say they are my strongest subjects,” she explains. “But I also love languages and I really enjoy history. I think we need to know what happened in the past to understand the context of what’s happening today.” 

Georgie balanced her academic studies by playing an active part in the Silver Star Rowing Club, with her crew even placing sixth at the Australian Rowing Championships. 

“Rowing was a way for me to get away from the pressures of studying. I think it is good to be outside and stay active,” she says. “But more importantly, I really appreciated the support system that it gave me. It makes you feel like you are a part of something bigger and it’s comforting to know that you are not alone in dealing with stress and exam worries.”  

From left: Aarushi Mishra and Georgie Thomas.

Overall Year 12 Results 

The IB results, combined with the VCE results received in December, represent truly outstanding results for the entire Year 12 Class of 2023.  Their combined, top-line statistics are below: 

Together, our Year 12 Class of 2023 have achieved results that continue to demonstrate that opportunities and encouragement to discover and nurture their passions can be a driving force behind achieving their personal bests. 

Furthermore, we are incredibly proud of the diversity of interests and talents within the year group, the co-curricular activities they have enthusiastically taken part in, the leadership and role modelling to younger students, and the support they have shown one another. From competing on the world stage in sport, participating in performing arts with enthusiasm and role modelling for our younger students, to achieving personal bests – the opportunities our students experience are truly unmatched. 

As Principal Julia Shea says, “While we are immensely proud of each and every student, it is equally crucial to remind them that their worth extends far beyond an ATAR score. As we have emphasised to them through their schooling, there are numerous pathways to achieve their dreams, and we are here to support them every step of the way. 

“I look forward to hearing about many of our newest Alumnae’s next chapters when Round One tertiary offers come out later this month.” 

* Upon request, an additional student's name has been omitted from our top achievers.