Singapore has topped the Asia-Pacific region in the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma exams for the fourth consecutive year.

Of the 975 students here who took the exams in November last year, 43 students here achieved the perfect score of 45, up from 41 in 2012.

96.82 per cent of students here passed the exam, with an average score of 36.53 points. This is compared to the global pass rate of about 80 per cent and the global average score of 29.95 points. The IB results were released over the weekend to over 3,360 students in 22 countries in Asia Pacific.

There are 20 institutions in Singapore which offer the IB diploma programme, which is more broad-based than the A levels, requiring students to take six subjects and Theory of Knowledge, a course combining philosophy, religion and logical reasoning. Students also take a second language, undertake research, write a 4,000 word-essay and be involved in a community service project.