IB and AP Exams?

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>I'm enrolled in 6 IB courses and doing very well in them- I'm receiving 7's in all my courses so far and I'm not exerting myself as much as other people do. </p>

<p>I am wondering if I should pick up some AP exams as well- has any one taken AP exams while attending IB classes? What's the difference between the IB and AP exams? Is the AP more difficult or easier in your opinion? </p>

<p>The reason that I want to take AP exams is because I'm in HL Spanish and HL Calculus as a junior, and I've taken a variety of AP level courses in the past, and would like to take the AP European History, Physics B, Chemistry, and Microeconomics courses this year. </p>

<p>Will I be able to get a 5 on my exams with one year of IB under my belt? And if not, what are the consequences of getting, say, a 2 or 3 on my AP exams? Would it hurt my application, even if I get a 40+ IB score?</p>

2

<p>HELP Please?</p>

3

<p>AP Exams are much easier than IB :)</p>

4

<p>So, I should just sign up or a few? What if I bomb them- will colleges look at my scores?</p>

5

<p>Firstly, you will not bomb them up because if you’re performing so well in IB, they should be child’s play for you. And, AP is taken for acquiring credits. I really wouldn’t suggest taking AP exams if you just want to take them for the heck of it. You’re performing really well in IB. So basically there’s no “need”. Though if you’re applying to the States, make sure you’ve taken SATs.</p>

6

<p>Thanks a lot, what you’re saying makes a lot of sense! AP is just repetition of IB and colleges accept the predicted IB score, from what I’ve heard. Is this true? </p>

<p>Part of the reason I want to take the AP is to show that I can do better than the cream of the crop of US students and to have something physically present when I send my transcript over to the admissions committee.</p>

7

<p>“Part of the reason I want to take the AP is to show that I can do better than the cream of the crop of US students …”</p>

<p>“So, I should just sign up or a few? What if I bomb them- will colleges look at my scores?”</p>

<p>US Students who are cream of the crop don’t fear about not doing well in both IB and AP. :p</p>

8

<p>Well excuse me, I’m taking 6 classes that are more college-level than AP, and I want to take potentially up to 5 other AP exams. </p>

<p>Besides, it’s not my fault I ended up in a school as a 12 year old that is the best high school in the nation and who created the AP exams along with Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. My grades are a mess, and the only way in hell I’m going to end up at a good school is if I turn to gold any standardized exam I take. </p>

<p>At least that’s my opinion. So please, in the future, add some kind of constructive comment.</p>

9

<p>I’m so confused. Are you getting all 7s or are your grades a mess?</p>

10

<p>Alright, let me clarify. I’m in my Junior year at a school in England, where I’m doing the IB program. I’m getting high 6’s (actually I had flat A’s on my report cards, so i’m just assuming that I might get a couple of 6’s) or 7’s and am doing senior work for HL math and spanish without breaking a sweat, so I’m sure that I’ll do fine. Before, at my old school, I went to boarding school, and I started as a 12 year old in 9th grade, and my grades were a complete mess. </p>

<p>The grades that I’m getting on the IB are good enough for Oxford or Cambridge; the problem is that I want to give myself the greatest chance of getting into an US college, that’s in the top 20 or so. I have gotten top scores on the PSAT and SAT (231 and 2360), and received one 800 on my SAT II’s, so I’m ready to compete at that level. However, my grades, in my opinion, are going to screw me over unless I show that I’m just better than all those people with 4.0 GPA’s (basically 50% of the students in the US).</p>

11

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<p>Dude, showing them you’re better than all those people with 4.0 GPAs won’t increase your chances of admission. Showing them you can afford your education probably will. You can’t really compare US students and international students because obviously universities follow different policies for each pool.</p>

<p>If you’re good enough for Oxbridge, you probably can get into a top-notch US institution. If you want your application to look excessively beautiful you can take AP exams. It’s really your wish.</p>

12

<p>The top colleges/universities in the US are fully aware of the value of an IB program. There is no reason whatsoever to waste your time, trouble, and money on AP exams UNLESS after reading the websites of the colleges/universities that you want to apply to, you find out that X score on Y AP exam will give you credit or placement for a class that X score on W IB exam won’t, and you absolutely do not want to have to take that class but it is required for your degree program.</p>

<p>Save your money. Concentrate on doing well in your courses and in the IB exams.</p>