IB graduates Sam and Alex: the IB programme is a challenge, but it provides great tools for further studies

There are two upper secondary schools in Espoo where students can complete an international matriculation examination known as the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme. The graduation party for the IB graduates was held on 29 August 2025. A total of 44 students graduated from the Etelä-Tapiolan lukio upper secondary school, or Etis, and 44 students from Mattlidens Gymnasium. Alex Chirca from Etis received a medal for his CAS studies. Sam Strandberg, a graduate from Mattlidens gymnasium, enjoyed writing the extended essay.

Sam Strandberg from Kirkkonummi graduated from Mattlidens Gymnasium. He celebrated his graduation on Friday, and on the following day he moved to Lund, Sweden, where he started studying world politics and human rights at Lund University. Students who have completed the Finnish Matriculation Examination can apply to any university in the Nordic countries, but the process is even easier with an IB degree. “I have always wanted to see the world. In the future, I would like to find a people-centred or societally oriented job,” Sam says.

Sam’s mother was among the first to complete an IB degree in Finland, and now she held the alumnus speech at Sam's graduation. His mother’s positive experiences also affected Sam’s choice of study place after lower secondary school. For example, his mother also used her IB degree to complete studies in Germany.

Alex Chirca graduated from the Etelä-Tapiolan lukio upper secondary school, also known as Etis. According to Alex, graduation was a big relief, but he will also miss the discipline of the programme and the day-to-day routines. In fact, Alex has applied in the autumn joint application to a bachelor’s programme in business administration specialised in law, so perhaps he will soon be able to enjoy the study life once again. Alex’s main goal is to study law at the University of Helsinki or Turku, but first he aims to improve his Finnish skills.

Alex moved to Finland from Romania eight years ago and attended lower secondary school in Naantali. However, he felt that the city was lacking an international atmosphere, and there were very few other people who were as social and talkative as him. Alex eventually decided to apply for the IB programme offered by Etis because he believed he would find a like-minded group in an international school. “Me moving to Espoo at the age of 16 was very difficult for my parents, but it was the best thing that ever happened for me,” Alex says.

Sam, who graduated from Mattlidens Gymnasium, says he has always liked studying, which is why the challenging IB study programme suited him well. Even Sam’s study and careers adviser in lower secondary school told him about the IB programme, offering more recent information compared to Sam’s mother’s experiences. Alex Chirca agrees that the programme is tough: “It is definitely not easy, but it is manageable.”

Sam also praises the challenging nature of IB education. “When faced with a massive amount of material, you learn to dig up the most important things. The IB programme teaches you to grasp and process extensive material and data sets quickly,” Sam says. Moreover, producing academic text is a part of the IB programme. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the shift to higher education after upper secondary school.

According to Sam, Mattlidens Gymnasium has wonderful IB teachers. The teacher of global politics was particularly great and played a key part in why Sam decided to study human rights at the university. Sam also praises another teacher: “The teacher of Swedish literature had a knack for highlighting the importance of literature for society. Art and literature are a crucial part of our society.”

Alex, on the other hand, speaks highly of the teachers at Etis: “I have never known teachers who are so passionate about their work. They are all experts in their own field.” Alex was especially fond of the Etis IB coordinator and history teacher David Crawford, even though it was extremely difficult to get good grades from him.

Sam did not know anybody from the IB programme before starting his studies. He praises the Mattlidens community as a welcoming and open environment where you can approach anyone if you need help. In fact, Sam made several close friends at Mattlidens who have helped and supported him during his studies. The IB experience even transcends national borders: Sam has met a Finnish-Swedish student in Lund who has completed an IB degree in Germany.

Alex also found new friends in upper secondary school, but they did not become particularly close. However, this did not bother him. “Even if you do not belong to any specific group in upper secondary school, you will still find your own crew,” Alex says.

Alex’s favourite memory from upper secondary school is the one-month exchange period he spent in France, living with a French family. In exchange, a French student came to stay in Finland. Alex did not speak any French when he left for his exchange period, but “body language is a universal language”.

IB studies include a demanding 4,000-word extended essay, which requires scientific writing (whereas in upper secondary school, most writing assignments involve book reviews). For Sam, writing the essay was a positive experience. He wrote about Swedish literature, and more specifically about Kaj Korkea-aho’s book Röda Rummet (Red Room). The extended essay process teaches students university-level scientific writing skills, including how to start writing and how the process progresses. “Flexibility is crucial in writing; you may have to change course even in the middle of the process,” Sam says. Moreover, the writing process taught Sam that sometimes in literature the key is not what you say, but how you say it.

Sam speaks fondly of his Swedish literature study group, which was a big help during the studies. Feedback was both given and received in the group. “The group helped me understand that I never have to study alone,” Sam says.

IB studies also include a section known as CAS, or creativity, activity and service, which are three essential elements of the degree. According to Sam, he first participated in the CAS programme rather unwillingly, but now he acknowledges the benefits of the studies. “With the tools provided by CAS, you can analyse your own actions and learn more about yourself than you might have expected,” Sam says. Sam has played the flute for 13 years, and he was able to get some CAS study credits for the time spent practising and performing. Sam has completed the highest-level music institute degree in flute, and the next step would have been transferring to a conservatory. Now in Lund, he hopes to play in the university's academic orchestra – just for fun.

Alex, on the other hand, seems to have enjoyed completing the CAS programme. In fact, his brilliant CAS efforts earned him a medal at the graduation. For example, he organised support and lessons for first-year students to help them adapt to their studies, including remedial teaching in mathematics and joint lessons to reinforce the team spirit. As an activity project, Alex took up kickboxing, which became one of his permanent hobbies. He also sent e-mail to the presidents of Finland and Romania regarding matters that are important to him. For example, he wrote to Alexander Stubb stating that Finland needs to enhance its cooperation with the Baltic countries. In turn, he urged the President of Romania to stop travelling and focus on being the president. Unfortunately, neither president replied to Alex’s messages.

The IB final exams are very different from the Finnish matriculation examination (of which Sam also has experience). The students take two exams per day and have two to three hours to complete them. Unlike the Finnish matriculation examinations, the IB exams are written by hand – which means that the students must plan in advance what they intend to put down on paper.

According to Sam Strandberg, the IB programme provided him with great tools for further studies. In essence, IB students gain an understanding of the actual learning process and not just of the subjects that are taught. Sam recommends IB studies for ninth graders: “Apply for IB studies if you are interested in international matters and want to challenge yourself. If you think that IB might be for you, you should definitely apply and complete the pre-DP studies. They are ordinary Finnish school courses, but taught in English,” Sam says. Students interested in IB studies should keep an open mind and remember that nothing is carved in stone. Sam’s teacher put it well: "IB studies are like a pair of Crocs – they are not for everyone."

Alex urges future IB students to focus on their studies on weekdays and pursue other interests in the weekends. He also encourages them to take a leap and jump in with both feet: “Studying doesn’t hurt.” The programme may be tough, but the reward makes it all worth it.