<p>Folks:</p>
<p>I have seen my friends from IB program who score an average of 3s and 4s. Currently, I have done 12 AP Classes with point average of 4.6. When I talk to them, I feel that I know lot more than they do in terms of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Liberal Arts. Make no mistake, intensive AP Program (more than 12 courses) is far superior than IB Diploma.</p>
<p>My son is enrolled in his schools IB program and in his school, the IB classes are taught with the AP kids. So basically he is taking AP/IB classes. What sets the IB program apart is the extra IB exams he has to take. They still can take the same AP exams. The IB program also has many other components that stretch the student. i/e 150+ hours of various kinds of community service, a thesis type paper, Theory of Knowledge Course etc…</p>
<p>Also, the I/B exams are on a different point system than that of the AP, so I don’t think it’s a fair comparison.</p>
<p>My son feels like he could have done even better on his AP exams had he not had to also study for the I/B exams. Again, the IB student is stretched much further because of all the other requirements and rigor of the program. I don’t think it’s a fair assessment to think that because the friends you have may be scoring 3’s/4’s where you are scoring a 4.6 necessarily means that the AP program is better or superior. </p>
<p>Most colleges that we have talked with are very interested in knowing first and foremost if you took the most challenging load you could have.(my son is looking at top notch LAC’s) </p>
<p>My son knew he could have probably gotten better exam scores by only taking his schools AP program, but he wanted to take the most rigorous program. The colleges that he has talked to and visited are very impressed and don’t get me wrong, AP is wonderful, but they liked the fact that he took the more challenging road and scored a little bit lower.</p>
<p>My son will be fulfilling his IB degree requirements and also on top of that will have credit on his transcript of taking 10 AP courses. I think the IB diploma will go a long way when the LAC’s he is looking at take into account all the extra work and preparation that the IB diploma entails. </p>
<p>I will say that I am quite impressed that you have taken 12 AP courses, but to say it’s superior is quite misleading.</p>
<p>Best of luck in all you do.</p>
<p>I feel IB certificate (4-5 subjects) + 5-6 APs (Scholar w/distinction) is good enough.</p>
<p>Why are you comparing a fail score in IB with your average 4.6…?</p>
<p>You do know IB is scored out of 7 right?</p>
<p>this comparison is quite biased, in the perspective of an ap statistics student.</p>
<p>150+ hours isn’t much at all. I know AP people who did 1000+ hours. </p>
<p>Personally, I think it’s fair to say that any AP kid (one who took 7+ AP’s) who switched to IB would still be able to do well, but the reverse may not be true. In AP, there’s more initiative involved. Correct me if I’m wrong, but in IB, you have to do x number of courses if you want the diploma, but with AP, it’s more about I’m still going to voluntarily take the 7 AP’s. There’s a huge difference when one is taking all these IB courses to satisfy diploma requirements versus when one chooses to take all these AP courses (not to mention self-studying).</p>
<p>And also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t see how an IBer taking an AP exam is that impressive. If one is taking IB Biology and takes the AP Bio exam, it’s not like one needs to study that much more to take the AP Bio exam.</p>
<p>Yes, but with IB you have to be committed and have follow through right from the get go. You don’t have choices to take or not take classes. In order to receive the diploma, you must fulfill every thing that is required. </p>
<p>The IB program is the most prestigious that is offered. That is not to say that schools that don’t offer IB will be looked down upon, just that admissions officers know if your school offers IB and would expect you to have taken that if you are considering the finest colleges.</p>
<p>There is also extra studying for the IB exams. Most IB’ers take all the same AP exams, but they also then have to take all of the IB exams too. There are more lab components and also different material that needs to be mastered within the IB exam. </p>
<p>My son had to study and learn extra material for lets say Chem exam than was needed for the AP exam. </p>
<p>Basically all I am saying is that the IB is a much fuller and in depth program that is why it’s revered as being the most intense and most well rounded. Many kids begin the IB program and many do not finish because of the requirements. Also, when you fulfill your volunteer hours they must be in very specific areas and must cover a broad spectrum of things. You can’t just go out and do 150 of trash collection etc…You must put in a certain amount of hours in particular areas. i/e Active(coaching) creativity(performing music) etc…For most IB kids, that is not a problem, because they tend to be very driven to begin with. And, to top it off you have your final paper that is not required when doing AP classes.</p>
<p>Isn’t IB recognized more in international schools [Oxford. Cambridge. IIT lol]
Also, ■■■■■. Baseless argument. What grades are they getting? Their IB tests? Their GPA? Of course an AP student could be smarter than an IB student. An IB student could very well be smarter than an AP student. durp</p>
<p>I’ll be doing IB Diploma + AP Scholar (maybe with distinction, already have calc college creds)</p>
<p>However, my biase goes as follows.
Science & Math
AP B/C> IB HL</p>
<p>AP Physics owns IB Physics. No calculus. 'Nuff said! AP Chem = IB Chem (Got a 5 on the AP after IB Chem SL)</p>
<p>Lit & History
IB HL > AP</p>
<p>HL arts and social sciences = 2 years of stuff to memorize, on more topics.
IE: APUSH covers Pre columbian history, sure.
IB HoA (just SL) covers no precolumbian history, but covers all of the America(s), including Latin American history. AP Lang+Lit pales in comparison with IB English HL. </p>
<p>■■■■■ successful :[</p>
<p>Except for IB Further Maths Sl, which pretty much > all american math courses</p>
<p>Personally, I don’t see how IB students would look more prestigious if they took AP exams. I mean, don’t IB and AP exams cover very similar content? It’s like if an AP kid decided to take an IB exam… what’s the point? You’re writing 2 exams, but you’re studying the same material.</p>
<p>No IB is a 2-year course, and AP is a one year. You can’t compare it like that.</p>
<p>AP may be a one year course, but at least in my school, AP builds on the prerequisite course. In other words, AP means that you’ve taken at least 2 years in that subject. For example, AP Comp Sci may be a one year course by itself, but they don’t let you take it unless you’ve taken the 2 pre-requisite courses, which makes AP Comp Sci a 3-year course if you look at it that way). </p>
<p>Even if some schools may offer AP in one year, I’d imagine that they’d cover what is usually covered in 2 years, as in they’d have more class time or the teacher simply assigns double the homework.</p>
<p>Either way, IB and AP are both covering pretty much the same material, so I really don’t see how writing 2 exams (covering the same material) is more prestigious than writing one. It’s not like you were tested on significantly more material just by writing an additional exam. </p>
<p>Edit: Actually, I’d imagine that IB exams may cover more material than AP exams do (since schools award more credits for IB exams?), so if you’re an IBer writing an AP exam, then you’re really not working that much harder. </p>
<p>The main difference: IB limits the subjects you could take though it <em>may</em> go in more detail (from my understanding) but AP doesn’t.</p>