<p>anyone at CC doing an IB program? is it more difficult than an AP courseload and would you recommend doing the two simulatenously?</p>
<p>bumpppp :)</p>
<p>I'm doing IB. I find that it is a tougher courseload because you have a set amount of courses you need to take, and in a way, they all seem to be related. </p>
<p>Unlike AP, the IB is a program, with strict regulations and guidelines. It's not as 'sit though the class and take the exam' as AP is. To get an IB diploma, you need to complete a 4000 word research essay on a topic of your choice (they call it the Extended Essay) and it is graded externally. This is completed in your senior year. You also have a special class called Theory of Knowledge. The name is pretty self-explanatory. You learn about all aspects of learning (how people learn, what your specific learning type is, etc.). This class is very interesting, and doesn't contribute to the workload at all. It is just meant for discussions, and to broaden students thinking skills, and so on. The last requirement is Creativity, Action, Service (CAS). This is basically 150 hours of work outside of school. 50 hours are spent doing something creative, 50 are spent doing something active, and 50 are spent doing community service.</p>
<p>As I'm sure you know, an IB student takes 6 classes: 2 languages, a science, a math, a humanities subject, and another subject from the previous list. 3 of these are taken at the higher level (this means that the class lasts a minimum of 250 hours, I think) and the rest are taken at the standard level (minimum of 150 hours, I think). Gifted students may take 4 HL subjects. </p>
<p>If you're worried about the language requirement, I have good news. The first of the two languages that you need to take is your native language (called the A1 language). The second language can be a variety of things. It can be a language that you have achieved near-native competence in (called an A2 language), or a language that you can understand but that you aren't fluent in (called a B language), or, finally, a language that you are learning for the first time (an Ab Inicio language).</p>
<p>Most IB classes involve tests and assignments that are graded internally, as well as external assessments. The external assessments are essays in the language classes, a major project in the sciences, and so on.</p>
<p>Exams are graded externally as well, on a scale from 1-7. I, personally, find that 7s are harder to get than 5s. A problem with the IB is that that there aren't very many (there are a few in the popular subjects like biology, english, etc.) review books you can buy for the exams, so you're screwed if you get a bad teacher. </p>
<p>There is absolutely no point in taking an AP exam in a subject you're doing in the IB higher level, since you get the same university credit value. This is a general rule, and does not always apply (AP psychology is equivalent to standard level IB psychology, for example). </p>
<p>A positive thing about the IB diploma programme is that it is internationally recognized (you may randomly decide to study in Turkey, and guess what, you can). Also, a student can not self-study the IB diploma programme.</p>
<p>If you find that all these requirements are too much to handle, you can take IB classes in specific subjects, and get certificates of completion in them. It's best to do the diploma, but it isn't completely necessary. With the certificates, you miss out on all of the good IB stuff, so you might as well stick with AP.</p>
<p>As you can guess, I highly recommend IB. If you have the chance to take it, don't miss out on the great opportunity.</p>
<p>hey rocker thanks for the post. the thing is i wanted to take some IB classes (at a different school) in addition to the ap courses im taking in HM ...</p>
<p>I don't think you would be allowed to do this, unfortunately. </p>
<p>Also, if you're interested, here's a December 2006 time magazine article praising the IB:
<a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1568480,00.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1568480,00.html</a></p>
<p>There was an entire post on this. It's all preference. Colleges look at them the SAME.</p>
<p>And my school does not offer IB but has more extra graduation requirements than IB, so you can't always argue the extra requirements as a reason why IB is tougher.</p>
<p>Here it is:</p>
<p>In my opinion, AP is better for students in the U.S. who plan to go to an U.S. college.</p>
<p>Do you go to a private school? If you do, it is pretty normal for your school to have many extra graduation requirements, but not everyone has that priviledge...</p>
<p>And also, the additional requirements aren't what make the IB special. It's the internation perspective it gives students. That's all I'm trying to say, so take it as you will.</p>
<p>No, I go to a public school. We have to do research papers + oral presentations every year (9-12 grade). The research papers have to be at least 2000 words. In senior year, it has to be over 4000 because we have to do a senior project. Then we have to do at least 20 hours of service learning each year and write a page (typed) about what we learned and experienced. And of course we have to use pathfinder every year, which is a program that guides us through high school and into college. If you get a D in a class, you're kicked out of the school. If you don't pass the state standardized test, you get held back or have to take a supplementary class to prepare you for the next time. Our school isn't even going to offer regular classes next year. We have to choose between honors and AP. Some classes will be "pre-AP".</p>
<p>There are other requirements such as 4 years of math, english, and science. Also 3 years of a foreign language. Not to mention, every student has to take at least two AP classes throughout high school. We have other requirements, but I can't think right now.</p>
<p>Well then you really don't need IB, and I really congratulate you on finding such a good school. I don't mean to make AP seem bad (I'm self-studying for some exams myself), but I would choose IB if my school offered both. That's just me, and I don't mean to force my opinions on anyone.</p>
<p>I understand. </p>
<p>I have a very logical/mathematical mind and I suck at analyzing things. AP is better for me because it suits my learning style. Likewise, some people who are very verbal-minded will do better with IB because they may like to write and analyze more than answer MC questions. </p>
<p>Both cannot be called equivalent and neither one can be called more rigorous; it all depends on which one suits the student.</p>