<p>As our dear moderators encourage us to start new threads regarding information on topics, I thought it would be wonderful for all of us to compare different educational systems, their pros and cons, viability and rigor. I am sure I've written extensively on this issue in posts in other threads but I can't seem to find any through the search feature.</p>
<p>A little background: I have studied under CBSE up till grade 11. Taken IB/AP classes in grade 12.</p>
<p>So, what does everyone think? It would be interesting to know what those people think who have taken only the AP exams or those who shifted from CBSE to IB in grade 11.</p>
<p>CBSE Chemistry>>>>>>>AP Chemistry
CBSE Physics(Mechanics)>AP Mechanics(The latter is better for strengthening ones concepts)
CBSE Calculus~AP Calculus BC
CBSE Calculus >AP Calculus AB(but taking Calculus AB in junior year is beneficial -recommended)
CBSE Physics>>>AP Electricity and Magnetism</p>
<p>I would reccomend AP courses despite of their less rigorous curriculum because taking them early in the year i.e. is May in ur junior and senior year gives one a head start for Senior Secondary Examinations</p>
<p>Tizil, how did you start taking AP and IB classes in grade 12? did you switch schools? and what is the IB curriclum like, compared to ISC and CBSE?</p>
<p>hey @Tizil7 I’m a tenth grader and I’m new on this forum but I do have a brief idea of the US college application system(spent almost 4 months researching )So, is it worthwhile to spend the next two years in AP/IB or CBSE and if the latter AP or an IBDP ??
since you’ve studied in multiple boards throughout your high school period, i think you’re the right kind of person to ask this question to .</p>
<p>Well, there are multiple aspects to answering your question. From a completely academic standpoint, CBSE would any day be more rigorous, challenging and demanding than either the AP or IBDP. Now if you factor in labs and practicals, both AP and IB (moreso, IB) gain a considerable level of competence with the CBSE.</p>
<p>Now, looking from it at from an apprehensive high school senior point of view, I think that college admissions officers ‘favor’ the AP just because of the simple fact that they are familiar with the system.</p>
<p>If you need help with anything else, ask me :)</p>
<p>Admission officers feel more comfortable with an AP/IB background - these are internationally accredited and acclaimed programs. In India, they will also find CBSE acceptable (ISC is marginally preferable due to its harder English course). State boards are, for the most part, a strict no-no. </p>
<p>Take CBSE or ISC, and give some AP exams (5 should be good) in the summer of your 12th. Be careful though, the syllabus is the same, but the questions are all application based and no amount of mugging can get you through them.</p>
No. Just no. Take* AP exams during the may of 11th grade. If you do so, it wouldn’t matter much because your scores won’t be released until after your decision, and therefore, the impact of having AP scores wouldn’t be accessible to you.</p>
<p>That’s what I meant. Most Indian schools run from an April to March academic year, so summer of the 12th for a student giving the board exams in March 2012 is May 2011, not May 2012. I should have been more specific, sorry for any confusion caused.</p>
<p>Just thought I should add an IB perspective here :)</p>
<p>I did CBSE up until Grade 10, and currently do the IB.</p>
<p>The first thing I want to say is that there are two ways doing the IB - mixing and matching with AP classes (which I assume Tizil is doing), or doing the complete IB Diploma program.</p>
<p>The IB Diploma program is more than just the exams at the end of two years - if that were all it were, CBSE would be more rigorous (save English, Economics and Modern Language where the IB is LEAGUES above).</p>
<p>The Math and Sciences might not be as hard as CBSE, but that’s if you only consider the exams. The other stuff - labs, portfolios and the various compulsory IB Internal assesment criteria are more rigorous than their CBSE counterparts. In the end, the CBSE board exam might be more difficult, but if you consider the two years as a whole, I think students of both boards have to work as hard.</p>
<p>As for English and Economics - IB is much harder - no contest. Modern Language isn’t a component in CBSE, so I can’t compare, but if it helps, IB requires you to learn more french in two years (AB Initio) than CBSE does from Grade 6 to 10 (Grade 6 was when people started french at my school).</p>
<p>Also, don’t forget the Extended Essay (which I should be doing right now…). ToK and CAS requirements. Those take a LOT of time, effort and thought, and are only compulsory for those who do the full IB Diploma.</p>
<p>Just lending some perspective - I can’t say that overall IB is better than CBSE or vice versa, but I know that IB was better for me.</p>
<p>I have a question. Out if curiosity, if a person does CBSE commerce and takes AP classes in say, PCMB is that person eligible for engineering at a university in India or abroad?</p>
<p>@rroar: no, I’m quite sure Indian colleges want at least PCM in your 12th board subjects if you want to do engineering. In UK, Australia and Singapore they would want these subjects too.</p>
<p>At US colleges, they would be fine with either.</p>
<p>@rroar - there’s a difference between the AP <em>course</em> (accredited) and the <em>exam.</em> Most engineering schools (and even libarts) require you to have a certain number of years of high school math, physics, and chemistry, which means they want the course, not the exam. The exam is not a substitute for the course. </p>
<p>You should look at the academic preparation requirements for the colleges you are applying to and see what they need. Note: If you aren’t taking math, you aren’t in a good position for most engineering colleges (which require math COURSES through calculus, regardless of whether you took/passed the AP exam).</p>
<p>Most libarts schools which offer engineering degrees (Princeton, MIT) do not have distinct requirements for students who show an interest in engineering (as opposed to those interested in the humanities), while vocation schools (Cornell Engineering) do have distinct requirements in the sciences/math for those who apply for engineering.</p>
<p>Do AP exams substitute for AP courses ?? are there AP COURSES available in Delhi or Mumbai ?? @Tizil7 which high school are you in ?? just asking 'cause AFAIK not many schools in India provide such flexibility of taking IB/AP courses for just an year or just a semester, instead they require you to complete a whole IB diploma for two years … i mean if one applies for IB curriculum in 11th he/she will end up wasting one year as they would have to start their junior year all over again. I’ve even sent e-mails to many schools in Mumbai and they’ve replied saying the same.</p>
<p>@reich: No, the exams don’t substitute for the course. That’s my point. The benefits of taking the exam are:</p>
<p>-College credit
-Showing them that you know a subject to such-and-such extent (so if you have are from an unknown/state board, taking the exam in certain subjects would help. The adcom will be able to assess your qualifications and the extent of your study more accurately).
-Showing that you are willing to go the extra mile, although this is very subjective and may be interpreted in many ways, some good and some bad.</p>
<p>To find accredited courses in your city you can go on the AP website, which can be found, obviously, through google.</p>
<p>@rroar: No typical american university is going to ask for an olympiad rank, that’s ridiculous. By “distinct” I mean “separate”, not “extraordinary”. They look at your application holistically and will never require a rank etc.</p>
<p>However, they will require basic stuff (like the SATs etc.) to make sure that you have some level of minimum academic preparation (they don’t want you failing out). These basic things include high school math, physics, chemistry, biology, english and social science courses.</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, Princeton and MIT want you to take a science and math SAT II if you demonstrate an interest in engineering - even though they’re libarts schools. They require math and science classes for ALL their applicants, though.</p>
<p>@rroar: Although IMO, it’s pretty sketchy if you don’t take sci/math SAT II’s, don’t take science classes in school, and still demonstrate an interest in engineering.</p>
<p>If you really want to demonstrate that interest but also want to take commerce subjects, you should consider science and math SAT IIs as absolutely necessary.</p>
<p>@speachy: Oh ok. Thanks for clarifying! One more thing. Which top universities in the US offer need-blind financial aid to international students? </p>
<p>Also anybody doing A-Levels here? Want to share your views?</p>
)So, is it worthwhile to spend the next two years in AP/IB or CBSE and if the latter AP or an IBDP ??