Abigail and Ksenia, Graduates of the International Baccalaureate: The Diploma Opens Doors to Studying Abroad

Abigail Soronen and Ksenia Skrabb graduated with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma on 28 August 2026. In Espoo, students can complete the IB Diploma Programme at two general upper secondary schools. A total of 44 students graduated from the IB programme at Etelä-Tapiola General Upper Secondary School, while 46 students graduated from Mattlidens gymnasium. Both Abigail, who graduated from Etelä-Tapiola, and Ksenia, who graduated from Mattliden, were attracted to the IB Diploma because of the opportunities it offers for studying abroad.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme differs significantly from the Finnish matriculation examination. The language of teaching is English, and both the structure and methods of study are different from those of the Finnish qualification. 

For Abigail Soronen, who graduated from Etelä-Tapiolan lukio general upper secondary school, completing the diploma feels like a relief. "A lot of weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel light," Abigail says. Abigail was awarded the Learner Profile Award at her graduation ceremony.

Abigail completed her entire educational path in English, making the IB a natural choice after comprehensive school. "The IB felt like a challenge I wanted to take on," she explains.

Abigail was particularly interested in the opportunities the diploma offers for studying abroad, especially in English-speaking countries. Following graduation, she has already received an offer to study in Toronto, although she is still considering whether to accept it. She is even more interested in studying in Amsterdam, Sweden, Ireland, or the United Kingdom. Abigail plans to pursue studies in biochemistry. Since graduating, she has been working as a laboratory assistant at the University of Helsinki.

Ksenia Skrabb, who graduated from Mattlidens gymnasium, describes her IB years as intensive and says that graduating feels like a conclusion to them. Ksenia has already secured a place at a university in the United Kingdom. She will begin studying philosophy at Cambridge in September with a partial scholarship. Like Abigail, Ksenia chose the IB because of the international opportunities it offers. She believes that studying abroad will be easier when she is already familiar with an international environment. Before starting the programme, she had not studied in English. "My mother completed the IB back in the 1990s. She recommended it to me. A lot had changed since her time, of course. I also heard positive experiences from the siblings of my friends," Ksenia says.

Neither Ksenia nor Abigail had any friends from their comprehensive education years in the IB programme, but both quickly made new friends. According to them, the best part of upper secondary school was the time spent with friends and the social life. "We had an incredible group. Without them, I wouldn't have been able to complete the IB," Abigail says.

Her fondest memories of school revolve around social life and spending time with friends. She also praises the teachers at Etelä-Tapiola General Upper Secondary School.

The IB has a reputation for being highly demanding. Abigail, however, does not think it is as difficult as people often claim. "If you listen in class, you'll do fine." Ksenia thinks that the studies were challenging, just as she had been told. However, as she gained experience, the workload began to feel lighter because she developed effective routines and learned to manage her time.

Throughout the IB programme, students write a large number of essays in every subject. This essay writing prepares them for the academic writing required at university. The diploma programme also includes the extended essay, a demanding 4,000-word research essay that requires scholarly writing skills. Abigail wrote her extended essay in chemistry. Ksenia, in turn, based hers on Is (Ice), the Finlandia Prize-winning novel by Ulla-Lena Lundberg. In her essay, she explored the contrast between safety and danger in the novel.

Ksenia says that she has always read extensively and that books were read to her often when she was a child. Asked about the common complaint that young people today do not read enough, she laughs: "There is always something people criticize young people for. When radio became popular, grandparents said that young people would stop reading because they were only listening to the radio."

The IB also includes Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), three core elements of the programme. Abigail found it easy to complete the CAS requirements through her role as a student tutor. Ksenia also accumulated CAS experiences without difficulty through producing the Mattliden Bulletin magazine, playing the guitar, and going to the gym.

The IB final examinations differ from the Finnish matriculation examinations. Students often sit two exams on the same day, and the time available is generally shorter than in the Finnish exams. "I studied for the exams twelve hours a day with my friends at the Iso Omena library," Abigail says. During these study sessions, she discussed the material with fellow students. "You have to put a lot of energy into studying, but we had more than a month of study leave," Ksenia notes.

By the time they reached the examinations, both Abigail and Ksenia had already developed a strong routine and structure for essay writing. "You have to plan very carefully what you're going to write," Abigail summarizes. In the examinations, essays are written directly in pen, meaning that previously written paragraphs cannot be revised or rewritten.

Both Abigail and Ksenia recommend the IB to students who are interested in studying or working abroad. Ksenia especially recommends the programme to young people who enjoy studying and learning. "Don't choose the IB unless you're prepared to work hard," Abigail says. At the same time, she points out that she was not an exceptionally high-achieving student in comprehensive school, yet she completed the IB very successfully. "There's no need to worry about your English skills in advance. They improve naturally during the IB programme," Ksenia says.

Both Abigail and Ksenia are going to have big parties after graduation. “My mom has invited over hundred people”, Abigail says.