AP vs. IB

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
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<p>I’m in going to the second year of Pre-IB in two months, and I’m also self-studying for Calculus BC, Physics C (Mechanics), Chemistry, Statistics and Computer Science. Of course the AP courses are much harder than my 1st year Pre-IB courses. I think IB is more coursework but almost the same content. </p>

<p>IB is international, although I don’t plan to apply to a University outside North America, others might, and so it is useful for them. But personally I think AP’s are better; you can’t self-study an IB course and AP is one exam, not a ton of essays and “Internal Assessments”.</p>

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<p>@NameNotTaken</p>

<p>I kid you not. I did Pre-IB for the first 2 years and I’ve done some practice IB exams and papers on dares.
There’s a reason the IB Diploma rate at my hs is around 85% while the AP pass rate is 47%-ish.</p>

<p>at my hs, the AP & IB curricula overlaps for the first 2 years (called pre-AP & pre-IB) then it branches off (IB English III = AP Eng Lang) on some while others stay the same (APUSH = IB History of Americas I) and (IB Chem = AP Chem).</p>

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<p>What about TOK, CAS, EE, and all those supplementary stuff for IB.
CAS? Really? It seems like IB is geared towards college admissions, rather than helping out the community.
AP students frequently do community service too, btw.</p>

<p>EE- extended essay… basically if you take APUS or any social science AP for that matter, we write much more. Don’t you think? That is like a research paper due after AP exams- post AP material.</p>

<p>Thank you for other posters, and let us heat up the debate.</p>

24

<p>The IB diploma is soo much more than AP I think. By the end of high school, I will have taken 7 IB tests and either 5 or 6 AP tests. One test isn’t necessarily harder than the other. It depends what you’re good at. If you can’t write well, IB tests will be hell. I like writing, so I don’t mind them.</p>

<p>But for IB tests for subjects like history and psychology, you literally have the question and nothing else. On AP tests, you could work off the other questions (we’ve all not been able to remember a term or something at some point, and then found it elsewhere in the test) or you have documents for the DBQ.</p>

<p>Also, with AP you can take whatever tests you want. In IB, you need all six areas covered. Yeah, most solid AP students will take tests in every subject, but say you have a weak spot for foreign languages, so you don’t do one of those? In IB, you have no choice. You need to do everything.</p>

<p>There’s also no way AP writes more than IB. I’ve sat through many classes for both programs, and I have written a ton for both, but I have never written anything close to the length of my EE for AP. Yes, I’ve written long papers, but not a 4000 word one. And on top of that, we have internal assessments for every class. Do you have to write papers for your AP math class? Then there’s the TOK essay, and basically you just have to write for everything for IB.</p>

<p>CAS isn’t too difficult, but it is a required part of the program that you must do outside the classroom. As far as I know, AP doesn’t have any requirements that take up your free time.</p>

<p>You really don’t fully understand it unless you’re in the program or know people who are…IB is a full experience and it takes up so much time. It covers every subject and then extends into community service and gives you the opportunity to learn something in depth that the curriculum doesn’t cover with your EE.</p>

<p>They’re so different and individualized, I don’t think there’s a way to clearly say, oh, this one is harder. It’s different for each person. Personally though, I prefer IB and I feel like IB is getting me more prepared for college and I’m learning more.</p>

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<p>I think ouchance hits on a good point. While individual AP classes may be harder in some schools, each stands on its own, so if you have a weakness, it doesn’t cause a problem in other subjects. Not true of IB where you must have a level of proficience in all areas. My D did IB with a handful of APs thrown in and it was a great choice for her because she loves research and writing. It may not be the right choice for someone else. The bottom line is that both are most rigorous and prepare students well for college. What else really matters?</p>

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<p>No one really cares about ToK/EE/CAS. Yes they are annoying, but they’re required, and everyone deals with it - it’s not a big deal. Considering it takes a year to prepare a 12page essay, it’s not that bad at all, since you get to choose your topic.</p>

<p>CAS just makes sure you do EC’s, which anyone would do anyways.</p>

<p>ToK is a fun class, philosophy and busywork included.</p>

<p>That being said my experience in AP/IB shows that IB HL => AP >> IB SL.
You’re not going to learn Calculus-based physics in IB Physics HL, but if you take anyone in AP Calc BC and sit them for an IB Math HL test, odds are the curricula will be completely different. </p>

<p>The curves are OP in IB tests as well. I saw this today.
<a href=“http://www.ibo.org/facts/statbulletin/dpstats/documents/Nov2009StatisticalBulletin.pdf[/url]”>500;
If you look at the curves the tests are certainly not as generous in IB. It’s definitely harder to get a 7 than a 5 on any of these tests. You can blame it on small sample size (Fewer test takers on various subjects, as well as this being the May, not November session - there are two exam dates BTW), but it still shows that not very many people get a 7. At all. I can’t imagine AP Literature AND/OR Language requiring you to be in the top 2% of the sample size for you to get the “highest grade” on it.</p>