Difference between international baccalaureate and advanced placement
Such schools typically promote an international education which is why a lot of them favor the IB program. In fact, the goal back then was to provide more challenging coursework for freshmen students at elite colleges who were found to be simply repeating what they had learned in high school in their first two years of college.
It is most often utilized by gifted students to take on more challenging studies and get ahead of their college coursework requirements. The individual courses are created by a panel of experts with the aim to create more challenging coursework for high school students. One year of coursework culminates in rigorous exams which are scored on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest possible score. However, with the AP program, interested students can always opt for the self-study or home tutoring option and then sit for the AP exam of their preferred subjects and get the AP credits.
Recently, there has been some controversy surrounding the AP program and the effectiveness of its curriculum. Its critics claim that the program caters too much to elite schools and colleges, and that it perpetuates education inequity while actually not being challenging or comprehensive enough in terms of the study material.
In response to this, there have been some efforts to revise the curriculum and focus more on academic skills and critical thinking, rather than rote learning and memorization. The AP capstone component was introduced with the idea of making the overall curriculum more cohesive and providing an overarching structure to AP studies. Despite these criticisms, the AP program continues to have a strong presence in North America, with over schools in the US and over schools in Canada offering AP courses.
The AP program also offers great flexibility in terms of when and how to complete the AP credits, which makes it even more accessible to the average high school student in the US. Both demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and are a clear way to mark out gifted and ambitious students from the rest. How will IB help with college?
Moreover, the IB program is considered one of the most academically rigorous high school study programs in the world, especially as it involves both high-level coursework and extra projects such as completing community service and writing research papers, which is bound to impress colleges. College credits: IB courses are recognized and rewarded with college-level credits by 1, universities in the US including state schools like UC colleges as well as many top universities.
So whether you are looking to attend the easiest Ivy Leagues to get into or are preparing your CV for medical schools in California , IB credits can give you a competitive edge during the admissions. However, how IB courses translate to college credits varies from school to school. Some may provide a certain amount of college credits for the overall IB Diploma, while others provide subject specific credits for high-scoring results in individual courses.
Some schools also have the policy of only providing college credits for HL subjects. Often, top-tier or Ivy League schools have more strict credits recognition policies as opposed to state schools, who offer a very generous credits recognition policy for IB courses. This is a huge boon, as students can then graduate earlier or take up more advanced coursework sooner.
You can also check the official IB website to find out more. Looking for more on the easiest Ivy League to get into? Check out our video! Course placement: Instead of credits, some colleges offer placement into more advanced courses. This is most likely with elite private schools and Ivy League colleges.
For instance, students with a high-scoring result in HL Physics during their IB program are allowed to skip general physics or intro to physics, and go straight to advanced physics courses. College admissions boards are also looking for meaningful extracurriculars that demonstrate additional skills and qualities in applicants. IB coursework includes research papers, community service projects, independent studies, and other interesting extracurricular avenues to explore non-academic interests.
This often helps students get ahead of not only their college level extracurricular admissions requirements but also their grad school requirements, such as extracurriculars for medical school. How will AP help with college?
College admissions: AP courses are almost universally recognized in the US and Canada and are also increasingly being accepted internationally towards high school and college credits. College credits: Similar to IB, the credit recognition policy for AP courses varies from school to school. Generally speaking, state schools or mid-tier schools are more likely to offer 1-to-1 college level credits for AP courses. Most schools ask for a minimum score of 3 in any AP course for it to count towards a college credit.
The more elite, competitive schools have a higher score cut-off of 4. Course placement: Most of the top schools, such as Yale , prefer to give students with high scoring AP credits the choice of advance placement into higher level courses rather than college credits. They may also give you the option to skip certain foundational or classes that are mandatory for other students.
Okay, so how can you actually decide which is the better choice for you? Both IB and AP have their own advantages. You should consider which one works for you before making a decision. Advantages of IB Comprehensive, challenging coursework: The IB diploma program offers a comprehensive, consolidated curriculum with challenging coursework that focuses on fostering critical thinking, reading, and writing skills in students. They encourage creativity and a global, holistic perspective.
The goal is not just to get students good grades and into good universities, but to impart an excellent education that expands their thinking, stimulates their curiosity, and makes them ready for the next stage of their lives. The academic as well as extracurricular components of the IB curriculum imparts a set of skills and holistic knowledge to students that has an impact beyond immediate academic preparation.
Needless to say, the scope and content of the IB curriculum also looks great on college applications. Unlike AP, the IB program offers students the chance to work on their extracurricular as well as academic college admissions requirements. Better prepares students for college: The IB program structure, curriculum requirements, and testing strategies mirror the college-level exams and requirements students will face in their future. The IB program inculcates many skills required for college-level work at an early stage.
For instance, the word mandatory Extended Essay requirement helps to build crucial research and critical thinking skills, as well as familiarizing students with the essay writing process that is integral to college education. Additionally, the demanding, multi-dimensional IB curriculum teaches students to manage their time and balance their efforts between academic and extracurricular demands.
This helps students feel less overwhelmed when they finally transition to a life in college. Moreover, if a student wants to eventually join grad school or a professional program, managing academic success with extracurricular commitments is a critical skill they must have. For students targeting international schools, the IB program could provide a competitive edge during admissions.
Advantages of AP Wide variety of subjects: Students can choose between 38 AP courses, giving them a large variety of options. This is particularly useful if students want to target specific courses for a target program or professional college. Flexibility of courses: The biggest advantage of the AP program is the flexibility it offers to students. Unlike IB, the AP program does not require students to sign up for an entire curriculum in order to gain specific college credits. This allows students to create their own schedule, avoid getting over-tired, and over-worked, and to target the courses that they actually need.
For instance, a student hoping to get into a good pre-med program may not have the time to take on challenging humanities subjects and extracurriculars, and may just want to focus on getting ahead of Physics, Bio, and Chemistry admissions requirements or college credits.
For such students, the AP program offers the flexibility to select and specialize in individual subjects of their choice, as opposed to signing up for an entire multi-subject program that may be too much to handle. Flexibility of structure: When it comes to AP courses, students also have the flexibility to self-study, or take classes at other schools. That gives more flexibility to students who do not have access to schools offering AP courses of their choice.
However, this does not represent the full picture. Since IB consists of a curriculum leading up to a diploma with mandatory classwork, the overall cost of gaining IB credits is much higher than AP courses. The tuition for IB courses varies depending on the school in question, but they will most likely charge tuition of tens of thousands of dollars per year, similar to elite private schools.
You will not be allowed to sit the final IB exam without having completed the required mandatory coursework. However, many public and low-cost schools also offer AP courses, and they usually only expect students to pay the cost of the exam and may even waive the exam fee if the student is in financial need.
Even if students opt for self-study and do not join any AP classes, they only need to pay for the final exam. In terms of basic convenience and geographical accessibility, AP becomes the obvious choice for most students wanting to boost their high school academic records. Factors to Consider Before you make this all-important decision of which high school program to select, consider the following factors: What do you hope to gain from your high school education?
IB and AP are two different programs with different philosophies and visions. The mission of the IBO is "to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. IB Programmes The IBO offers three programmes: the Diploma Programme for juniors and seniors the Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to 16 the Primary Years Programme for students aged 3 to 12 The programmes form a sequence but can be offered independently according to the needs of individual schools.
The curriculum requires balance and research. For instance, a science student has to become familiar with a foreign language, and a humanities student must understand laboratory procedures. In addition, all candidates for the IB diploma must undertake some extensive research into one of over sixty subjects.
The IB Diploma is accepted at universities in over countries. Parents appreciate the rigorous training and education which the IB programs offer their children. What do AP and IB have in common? A school doesn't commit to preparing students for these rigorous examinations lightly. Expert, well-trained faculty must implement and teach the courses which culminate in those examinations. They put a school's reputation squarely on the line.
It boils down to two things: credibility and universal acceptance. These are key factors in a school's graduates gaining admission to the colleges and universities which they wish to attend. College admissions officers usually have a pretty good idea of a school's academic standards if the school has previously submitted applicants. The school's track record is more or less established by those prior candidates.
Grading policies are understood. Curriculum taught has been examined. But what about a new school or a school from a foreign country or a school which is determined to upgrade its product? The AP and IB credentials immediately convey credibility. The standard is well-known and understood.
Other things being equal, the college knows that a candidate with success in the AP or IB is ready for tertiary level work. The payoff for the student is exemption for many entry-level courses. This, in turn, means that the student gets his or her degree requirements completed more quickly. It also means fewer credits have to be paid for.
How do AP and IB differ? Reputation: While the AP is widely accepted for course credit and recognized for its excellence at universities throughout the U. Most international universities recognize and respect an IB diploma. Fewer U. Style of Learning and Courses: The AP program has students focus deeply on one particular subject, and usually for a short period of time.
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AP is affordable, convenient to obtain and offers a number of options: The majority of the high schools in the US offer AP courses, which in comparison to IB diploma is a blessing because IB courses are not as commonly obtained. IB curriculum is comprehensive, which is indeed a pro in its nature but then again takes away the freedom of flexibility, something which AP utilizes to its benefit. AP can be more like a self-study program.
The cost of the tests for AP is also cheaper compared to the IB diploma. There is no enrolment fee if the student just wants to apply and give the test. IB offers realistic preparation to students wanting to go to Liberal Arts and offers a well-rounded curriculum One of the stark differences between IB and AP is that IB offers a holistic diploma experience with its research essay, critical thinking component and community service aspect, offering students a first-hand experience of college before college even begins.
IB is a great opportunity for those students who wish to advance in the subjects they are aware they can excel in. The community service component shows that the student deeply cares about the society they belong to and acts as an aid towards their applications to college. Colleges Accept IB and AP similarly At the end of the day, what colleges really look at is how a student is capable of challenging themselves academically.
So, it all boils down to taking initiative and not which of the two you should be leaning towards. As mentioned by Yale, it is appreciated when students take advantage of IB and AP courses that are offered to them in their schools. While AP is more widely accepted, colleges that accept IB also reward students in a more constructive manner.
You need to keep in mind which of the colleges act as your dream choice and then make the decision accordingly. Both programs come with a wide range of subjects that feeds into different interests. You get to decide which one you are inclined towards the most and choose accordingly. Keep in mind that regardless of the choice you make, be sure that you are ready for the challenge that comes with it.
While IB has numerous academic and practical elements, AP has a lot of self-study involved. Finding the much-needed time to be involved in either one of the programs can be tasking, but not impossible. In the end, it depends on how you want to reach the finish line. In the end, what matters is the dedication and the comfort of the child. A student, in as early as this in their lives should be able to explore different options academically and be a better judge of what interests them.
Both the programs are highly efficient and you cannot go wrong with either one. That school district had high schools offering both AP classes and IB diploma programs. Each school participating in the IB program can make a decision whether to offer the diploma program through open or selective enrollment. One of the benefits of the AP program is that any student can self-select a subject she is interested in and take that for AP credit, without undertaking an entire AP lineup.
This can also be true of the IB program. Students can take select IB courses without pursuing the full diploma, if the school decides to allow it. Cost IB programs cost the school, the school district and the student significantly more to participate in than AP programs do. This is partly due to teacher training, curriculum development and testing costs. It is up to individual schools and districts to distribute those costs between schools and students.
In terms of cost to the individual schools districts, AP courses do not differ markedly from non-AP courses. The only cost for a student is the AP Exam fee. Students who qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program are eligible for AP Exam fee reductions.
There have been some pilot studies done one supported in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation about IB outreach to lower-income neighborhoods and students. Kahn cites Chicago as an example of a school district that has deliberately put IB programs in some economically challenged neighborhoods in order to improve the quality of and opportunities offered at neighborhood schools. Other cities, including Atlanta and Seattle, also offer IB programs in low-income neighborhoods identified by number of free and reduced lunch recipients.
Academic Comparison In , the Thomas B. The "grades" for most subjects were similar, though the IB results came in slightly higher. The strengths and weaknesses of each program varied slightly. Evaluators also said some important pre-university content was missing, but praised the clearly written curriculum guide. The IB review also cited a weak overview of U. Preferences are often based on individual experience. College credit and admission Financially, AP courses can be a plus for students who score high enough on the end-of-course exams to receive college credit.
Flores mentioned one student who was able to receive 56 college credits through AP testing. Students are allowed to take an AP test for college credit without actually taking an AP class. As IB becomes more prominent in the U. However, both programs are well regarded by college admissions officers, in terms of their academic rigor. Many college admissions officers look favorably on IB programs when making admission decisions, and go out of their way to recruit IBDP students. Many schools also offer scholarships for graduates of the IB program.
Vive la difference! Despite program and philosophical differences, academic choice is good, and having more than one rigorous academic program can impact competition, which may strengthen both programs. For example, according to Deborah Davis, Director of the AP College Readiness Communication, in the AP Capstone program will offer a seminar dealing with philosophical and critical thinking skills and an extended research project that can lead to an AP Capstone Certificate.
Yet some selective admissions high schools have opted not to use either the AP or the IB curriculum, saying that neither program allows for individual and teacher vision and values.