<p>Assuming the rigor of each highschool is the same, which is better?</p>
<p>I've heard that all A's and an expected IB DIploma is more cometitive then all A's in AP. </p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>
<p>Supposedly they are both considered as good. Since colleges tend to only give credit for IB HL subjects, AP may be better for getting college credit. However, from the point of getting a great education, the IB is way better (I think, and I'm an IB diploma candidate so I'm likely to be very biased).</p>
<p>lol i'm an IB diploma candidate too, so i of course think its better too. It's like a whole curriculum insteat of individual tests/classes made by the evil collegeboard.</p>
<p>Yeah, and it is internationally recognized as being excellent. The IB actually teaches you how to think and analyze instead of memorizing. And I like that the exams are not the only thing that determines your grades- having IAs is stressful (I need to write my ToK essay, econ commentary and world lit 2 essay before school starts again... :( ), but also means your entire grade isn't dependant on how you perform on one day. Basically, I want college to be similar to the IB...</p>
<p>I've heard that IB year is harder and tests are easier and that AP year is easier but tests are harder, but it's kind of hard to measure easy/hard when both are hard!! >_< lol</p>
<p>AP sciences are more rigorous imo.</p>
<p>Both are businesses which rely upon local schools to administer their curriculum and tests. Yes, one is based in Geneva and one in NYC, and both are reputedly non-profit. But they are essentially education businesses like the University of Phoenix, ITT Tech etc. How "good" the programs (or programmes) are ultimately depends on the individual(s) who is teaching them. From what I've seen neither is the equivalent of a quality college classroom experience.</p>
<p>If think you might go abroad for college (like the UK or something), then IB is DEFINITELY better.
otherwise idk. people say that the rigor varies from school to school and depending on teachers and stuff. A hard AP course somewhere may be easier somewhere else and same for IBs (except the variation in rigor for IBs might be less because i believe the courses are more structured)
But, AP is supposedly much easier to get college credit for because I've heard that you can get credit for 4s and/or 5s (and sometimes even 3s) on APs and usually they only give credit for 6s and/or 7s on HL IBs and some people I've talked to say it's much easier to get a 5 on an AP than a 7 on an HL IB.</p>
<p>also keep in mind that for APs you can pick and choose your subjects while for IB you have to take courses in all subjects. So if you are not a well-rounded student (you're noticeably stronger in some subjects and weaker in others) then IB might not be a good option for you.</p>
<p>alamode, i've heard that too, that a 7 is very difficult to get on an IB test. and I also LOVE that there are internal assesments for the IB, that is, IMO, what really sets it apart from AP. I think that it is really important that you get assessed on long term progects, even if it makes senior year more stresssful. </p>
<p>PS:I'm almost done with my EE! woohoo!!!!!</p>
<p>
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How "good" the programs (or programmes) are ultimately depends on the individual(s) who is teaching them.
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<p>True. It really depends on each school that implements each program. In my state, the AP high schools have been faring better in highly competitive college admission, but maybe it's different where you live.</p>
<p>I think it depends on fit... some students enjoy the IB classes more, others the IB. One of my kids thinks the IB classes are more formulaic than the AP classes due to the exacting requirements placed on the teachers by IB on how they teach, test, and grade. He feels his AP classes are actually encouraging more analysis. Still, none of his IB or AP classes is anything like the college classes he has taken. Every student is different! I would suggest looking over the syllabus for an IB class as well as the description of the entire program to get an idea of how you fit in to their system. Or, just sit in on a couple of IB/AP classes this year and see what you think before you decide. I'm sure your guidance teacher would be thrilled to have a student take such an interest. Good luck.</p>
<p>my school is AP-only, and i'm doing it, but i REALLY wish i could do IB. in my opinion as an AP student, IB is better, in terms of both recognition and what you learn. from my friends who are doing it, i know that i do less work than they do, and i feel like they'll be more prepared for college. also, the strength of AP depends a lot on the teacher. i feel like IB is more uniformly interesting.</p>
<p>AP is easier to get college credit, but I think that's a travesty.</p>
<p>AP tests are subjected to validation studies on college students to check their comparability to college grades. </p>
<p>Choose whichever is more challenging at your school. I have to say though, I go to a school where both is offered, and IB courses are certainly regarded as more difficult (many people take all AP's and get straight "A's" whereas this is hardly the case with IB). This is similar to the experience my friend has at a school that offers both, as well.</p>
<p>yeah woohoo, that's one of the reasons I decided on AP. but there were other, more imp reasons two. such as that you can only start IB in 11th grade, and by then I had already taken 2 APs, which wouldve been a waste. Also, my school is new to IB so they only have the bare minimum of courses---the only history course was IB History of the Americas, and I'd already taken AP American History---so it would've been completely pointless. Things like that.
I wish I could've taken the IB program though, because I'm considering going to school in the UK and they look favorably upon it.</p>
<p>I'm biased, because I'm an IB student...so of course I think that IB is better. :) </p>
<p>BUT.</p>
<p>I have heard representatives and alumni interviewers say that IB is stronger in curriculum, while AP can fluctuate depending on the schools.</p>
<p>Plus, IB has a cooler name that I cannot even spell. International Baccleurreatelakdsjflsdjflds!!!</p>
<p>IB is probably the only way if you want to get into Oxford or Cambridge, more international recognition.</p>
<p>It's also better for the States than AP, and I would recommend taking the corresponding AP test for any IB tests.</p>
<p>In our school (3000 student suburban high school with around 500 students in IB) IB students can sit for AP tests if they are available for their IB class (they do both tests). S took one in 10th, 5 in 11th, and will take 5 more this year. So he gets the best of both worlds.</p>
<p>hmm we're an ib only schoo, (well theres also like 80% mainstream) and i've never ehard of people taking the AP tests. would you do it after one year of the class. like, i did SL bio last year and now im in HL bio. should i ahve taken the test last year? i wont this year bc im a senior and dont really care anymore plus colleges wont see it.</p>