<p>Is IB necessarily better/harder than AP? And what’s the difference between the two? </p>
<p>Just curious, as my high school only offers AP.</p>
<p>Like many other people here my school offers both IB and AP. I’ve started visiting colleges and while they do like both, I have heard from almost all of the schools (including top colleges like Penn, UVA, Duke, and the top Ivies) that they prefer IB to AP when it comes to admissions decisions, mostly because IB makes you a much better writer and critical thinker than an AP student.</p>
<p>Also, while its true that IB restricts your course options, I would disagree that AP automatically equals more difficult classes. At my school, English is unquestionably more difficult in IB, and all of the AP and IB sciences and math classes (except for Physics, where AP is more difficult) are taught together (same class). </p>
<p>The IB kids who come back to our school to visit while in college also say that IB required more work and was in general way more difficult than college. I’ve heard this from students who are attending Princeton, Carnegie Mellon, Duke, Harvard, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis, and Chicago.</p>
<p>Finally, IB students at my school are unquestionably the best of the best, whereas AP classes, with the exception of the sciences, are seen as classes that every student who isn’t capable or willing to do the diploma program take.</p>
<p>lol! ur already worryign about this for ur eigth grader? serously? it doesn’t really matter it all depends on the school and how its ranked</p>
<p>I went to an IB school for three years (Fresh & Soph = Pre-IB, Junior = IB). When I was pre-IB we took AP classes and then IB as Junior/Senior. In my opinion IB is harder then AP, especially HL, I took HL Bio, HL English and HL History. Most colleges only take credit from IB if you took HL and got a 6 or 7 which is very hard to do. Most colleges take credit from AP if you have a 3, 4 or 5 depending on the class. It’s really unfair considering IB program is 2 years opposed to 1 year for AP and IB is harder. If you want to be prepared for college take IB if possible, if not do AP. Like most people said just do the hardest classes possible.
And my friend who did IB got into Yale, both AP and IB look good.</p>
<p>IB rocks socks hands down</p>
<p>IB makes you take every type of class. For AP, you can choose whatever class you’re willing to take.</p>
<p>So here’s a problem for IB students: almost all of them are forced to take classes that they don’t like or weak in because of IB requirement. </p>
<p>AP, you don’t have to do that. Take classes that you’re good at, omit the ones you hate, and, boom, nice GPA!</p>
<p>IB, no, no way. They already chose the classes for you, so even if you know you’ll suck in that class it’s not like you can opt out of it. For example, my IB school. A lot of people are failing spanish 3 and 4 right now because it’s really, really hard (failing as in Ds and Fs). Most high schools require only 2 years of foreign language. IB requires 4. You think these students wanted to take 4 years of spanish? HELL NO! They would’ve got out and took something else and don’t have to get crap on their transcript with a usless class that they know they can’t do well in even if they try.</p>
<p>IB students also have to take all the classes he dislikes at college level, so they can’t just cruise through those classes using honors or standard and get away with them so they can take desirable AP classes and shoot up their GPA.</p>
<p>We also have to do Internal Assessments and Extended Essay (4,000 word research paper) in addition to doing a lot more work than AP students.</p>
<p>But since there aren’t many IB schools out there, AP students would underestimate this program’s rigor to the point of absurdity.</p>
<p>I am a former IB student who is now an AP student, I had to to leave the IB program for a medical reason, and IB definitely has more rigor than AP. With the IAs, EEs, and CAS requirements IB is definitely more helpful in college prep. As a former HL Bio, English and History student, i assure you that my AP bio, English language, and us history classes are no where near as informative as my old Ib courses.</p>
<p>I’d go for the best program out there. I’m in a sort of IB-program for all subjects and I can tell you, it’s not that hard. I can easily get a 90-95% score on all subjects and them I’m not even trying real hard. So I’d say: go for the hardest program and if AP is harder than IB, go for it!</p>
<p>Some information to add to this topic…</p>
<p>Lots of universities do not give sophomore status to IB holders. See each state’s page for exact information on the IBO recognition policy summary.</p>
<p>[Recognition</a> Policy Summaries](<a href=“http://ibo.org/diploma/recognition/recognitionpolicy/]Recognition”>http://ibo.org/diploma/recognition/recognitionpolicy/)</p>
<p>Eg for California here
<a href=“http://ibo.org/diploma/recognition/recognitionpolicy/documents/2010-CaliforniaGrid-8x14.pdf[/url]”>500;
<p>you can see which schools give the credit for HL courses and which for SL courses as well.</p>
<p>I don’t think comparing AP’s to an IB is exactly correct because many American high school students do the same thing as CAS hours, without having the CAS label. It is the American aspect of the IB. It’s hard to get into a good American university if you don’t have some sports, community service and drama/creative type experience…Typical European baccalaureates have no place for sports, service, or creativity. And you don’t need any of that to get into university (though I don’t know England well at all, so it might be different). So I think they put those aspects into the IB to sell it to American schools. Over here it is just study, study, study. </p>
<p>While the IB is accepted in European schools, the ones I’m familiar with require a higher/ and sometimes much higher grade than just passing the IB. In fact, even though the IB was started here in Geneva, the University of Geneva requires a 32 and doesn’t count the bonus points and only accepts the IB if it is done with certain subjects. So you have to be well-informed.</p>
<p>About European medical schools letting IB holders enter medical school, this is because the system is completely different over here. Any high school graduate, with courses in the proper subjects and a country’s baccalaureate or its equivalent can go to medical school. They do not do undergrad before medical school. The same goes for law school. They start right after high school.</p>
<p>To me the IB is a package… a formula that opens some doors but not all, esp if your grades are not that good. It is easier to analyze because of this formula, but as others have mentioned, it tends to lack flexibility for those who want it or need it. It seems to be an attempt at making the US system (in bringing it to the US, not for the reason it was started) more like the European one which has a more standardized approach (in general). The US high school diploma is such a patchwork of standards because of the freedom of each state. </p>
<p>Joan</p>
<p>Don’t you have to compete w/ othe rppl in your county to be accepted into the IB schools (that are not neccessarily offered at your own school?" Or at least thats how it is for my area. </p>
<p>But really, the selection process is unfair.The only way you could get accepted is mainly how well you achieve on their tests. For two hours, you must quickly do several problems that requires immediate logic and swift thinking skills. The only way to get that high score is if you take those magnet/ IB prep classes whichj brings a disadvantage to those who don’t have the time to take them or are at a financial disability. </p>
<p>All the ppl accepted from my school took those classes. You can get in to the waiting list if you score high on the test, and do average in your actual classes.</p>
<p>Everyone else in my school who got into magnet schools mostly got wait-listed first. Which is pretty easy for this certain magnet school in my county b/c all the IB aceptees signed up for that school too, but decided to take the IB school instead. </p>
<p>Is there such thing as a IB middle school. My friend claims she had been to one in Texas.</p>
<p>I think IB looks better but trust me if your child wants to enjoy high school don’t do it. If they do well in AP they will have no trouble getting into a good college but if they do IB they will hat high school. In my experience IB gets isolated from day one, they only take classes with other IB kids and even stay in the same part of the building. An IB kid being friends with a non IBer is frowned upon and I could never be friends with an IBer because typically they are the most egotistical elitists I’ve ever seen. They believe they are entitled because they took harder classes. Do AP.</p>
<p>I’m an international student and my school only offered IB.
and it is HARRRRRRRRRRRDDDDDDDDD.</p>
<p>Seriously, it’s almost ridiculous to get 7 and very difficult to get a 6 (especially in sciences)in an IB program whereas it is STILL difficult for 4 and 5 is APs but A LOT EASIER.
IB is a 2 year program=> you are tested in 2 years worth of material
AP=> 1 year. </p>
<p>You basically learn the same “amount” but it’s just harder to get better scored in IB which is a bit disadvantageous when you get to college because you won’t get credit for all your work.</p>
<p>However, IB is a reallllyyyyy thought provoking program where a lot of analysis and THINKING is required. Even for sciences there are so many short essay type questions etc where you can’t just answer by memorization but you REALLY need to know what you are talking about…
(I believe AP is more memorization)</p>
<p>I think IB students will be more prepared for college work but it’s just that we won’t get college credit.</p>
<p>^correct, albiet with realllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy long words.</p>
<p>I am an IB student and I can confirm that you need to really know what are you talking about in the questions. The textbooks teach you the method and theory, but the exams are not testing whether you know the method lol. They test whether you can use the method for a more complicated problem.</p>
<p>Like for example, it is as if IB is a video game. The textbooks will teach you about health bars and how to shoot and switch weapons, but the real exam will be like a rescue mission. In the rescue mission, you will not be tested on what is a health bar and how to shoot, but you need to itegrate all those things in a complex activity in rescuing the thing.</p>
<p>That was probably a bad example. How about this, the stuff you lean in class could be like learning how to spell words and grammar, but the real exam would be telling you to write a short story. Lots of thinking that uses the tools that you learned in class.</p>
<p>For those who complain about the way IB forces you to take subjects from different disciplines… This is not a disadvantage. This the whole point of IB. It makes you think about the way how different areas of knowledge integrate together, and that it is not English, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, and Music, but rather Reason, Emotion, Observation, etc etc. </p>
<p>For me, I have discovered very similar thought processes in Art and Math. My IB math internal assesment had me investigate a problem and come up with a mathematical theory to prove (like the quadratic equation). The amount of creative thinking in making a new proof out of nothing is like trying to make a piece of art.</p>
<p>Hence IMO IB would prepare someone very well for a liberal arts education in College (i.e. Most of the Ivies). If you just want to study a specialised skill in one narrow focus like engineering then you may regard learning spanish or making art a waste of time.</p>
<p>PS. in terms of college credit, IB and AP are the same. Because of the moderation and restrictions placed by IBO(no IB school can offer IB without a representative from the organization supervising the school’s practices), it is simply unrealistic to expect the average citizen to be able to do IB. Hence colleges cannot fairly give IB students advantage cetaris paribus.</p>
<p>If you want the easiest way to get college admissions, just pick the hardest course load possible in your school. If it happens to be IB than go for it. If it happens to be taking the max no. of AP classes than take that.</p>
<p>AP is better for college credit because it is more recognized for the above reasons. The point of IB is not for college prep but for knowledge development, so bear that in mind.</p>
<p>Ahh typo in last few paragraphs. What I meant was that for college ADMISSIONS, IB and AP is the same, because not allot of schools can offer IB, and the best way to impress the admissions officer is to take the hardest course load posssible, be it the IB diploma or 20 million AP’s or whatever is the hardest.</p>
<p>how is A level considered??</p>
<p>quite frankly speaking, AP’s are a complete waste of time. I had a classmate who studied in the US for a couple of years and got 5’s on several AP’s, but when she went over to study in Europe for the IB, she did not do well at all. She’s in Harvard right now and got in, I believe, based on her AP grades and SAT scores as oppposed to her IB grades.</p>
<p>It’s easy to get 6’s and 7’s on the IB, although during the exams, there is the likelihood of getting a 5 (but really low…). I studied a month before the examinations and got over 40 without sweat. There isnt anything as having no life when having the IB. It is simply a case of proper time management. If you want to have parties and leave all your school work till the last minute, then it is your own problem and you have no one else to blame but yourself…Personally, I felt that the IB helped alot with critical reasoning as opposed to something like the A’s which is just cramming, although I’m sure there are people out there who disagree…</p>
<p>Just my two cents…</p>
<p>IB is harder in general, viewed the same way as AP (assuming that your school is strong in both AP and IB), harder to get college credit, drags down your GPA (according to my friends), and forces you to take classes in subjects that you’re not interested in.</p>
<p>Okay? Why am I not surprised that the American invention (AP) trumps the European one (IB)? In the end, IB kids are more well-rounded, yes, but AP kids can be well-rounded too. AND AP kids can show where their interests lie – for example, let’s say I want to major in science, so I take all the AP science courses – Chemistry, Biology, and all three Physics exams. You can’t fit those classes into an IB schedule.</p>
<p>You can have a life outside of IB. All my son’s friends are heavily involved w sports, clubs and other ECs. My son captains two varsity teams and is heavily involved with three clubs. Time management and no sleeping till noon on weekends. </p>
<p>Now, has it or will it help as opposed to AP, sadly, I doubt it. Six IB classes senior year as opposed to friends taking four AP classes (2-3 in some instances) should count, but I’m not a believer. </p>
<p>IB Magnet school was a choice. In hindsight, public or private with AP only would have been sufficient.</p>
<p>You can have a life outside of IB. I did it all and still managed to smoke cannabis all the time senior year.</p>
<p>well said melin720</p>