IB and SAT subject tests?

<p>To do well on an SAT subject test (such as biology or literature), will it be enough to know what you learn in the those subjects when you do the IB program?</p>

<p>Most definitely. The IB is probably the most rigorous standardized high school academic program in the English-speaking world. SAT Subject Tests are a joke next to it, especially in the sciences and math. Literature is a tougher issue - I've no idea what the SAT Literature tests expect you to have read, but I think it's probably different from what you read in IB Language A1 classes.</p>

<p>Another caveat: I took Physics HL and because of the way the teacher did it, I hadn't learned anything about electricity and magnetism by the time I had to take the SAT II Physics, so I had to self-study that part. It wasn't hard, though - the SAT II tests don't go into great depth on any subject.</p>

<p>Yeah, I was looking at the sample problems for physics online and I had no idea what I was looking at. But I just got the subjects blue book and the phys problems in there I realized I did know except for a few subjects. You can't use a calculator and there's no need to, which is really different from my IB physics class...we use our calculators a ton and need to. </p>

<p>I would still study a practice book because IB is different from AP and College Board and all that...I wouldn't automatically assume our curriculum is going to cover all the topics in the same way on the test. It's also factual and not thematic (can't think of another word for it) which on some tests might mean you have to consider what you learned a little differently.</p>

<p>Ok, thanks for the answers. </p>

<p>Princedog, when you say that its :factual and not thematic", do you mean that unlike in IB, you aren't supposed to think for yourself and draw conclusion and make analysises, but rather just memorize and spew out some dry old facts? :)</p>

<p>Yes. The SAT II mentality is: "Do you know [blah fact]?" The IB mentality is: "You've been taught [blah skill] and [blah fundamental idea]. Now, here's a big problem you've never seen before; apply your skills and knowledge of fundamental ideas to solve it." Often this includes deriving the facts that you're supposed to just parrot on the SAT II.</p>

<p>The same goes for AP exams. IB is generally enough background to do well on an AP exam, with the exception of foreign languages and Physics C.</p>

<p>To clarify about the foreign language exams: any IB foreign language class level A1, A2 or B will overprepare you for an AP foreign language exam, but not a foreign literature exam, just because the curricula specifying which works you're expected to have read are different.</p>

<p>Definitely. SAT Subject Tests seem to test everything just barely to IB level. I don't do Chemistry nor Biology, and yet my good IGCSE scores and learning seem to have prepared me enough for those. Now, imagine the subjects I do higher level and how I am prepared for those.</p>

<p>What about A levels do ya think those are good for sat 2s too?</p>

<p>my school is IB central
and we also offer about 30 APs</p>

<p>ancedotal evidence: the AP sciences teach you more than the IB sciences
IB exams are hard when testing higher level, especially, but IB is partly difficult (maybe this is an understatement) because of the integration of subjects and the demand of a broad courseload</p>

<p>IB math HL-3 is harder than AP Calc so I hear
I took BC Calc and so did my friend the year before I did
He took HL-3 this year, and said it was difficult as hell--3 days of it
I am taking it next year so we shall see from my end</p>

<p>IB and AP are both hard with varying theories about academia
IB is the world-approach so HOTA is not going to prepare you for APUSH unless you study WWII--2000s on your own
IB Econ is better for Macro</p>

<p>IB Methods SL-2 is good PREP for AP STAT</p>

<p>and IB Latin is not going to cover everything needed for AP Latin but again, both difficult and there will be overlap
some self-studying or personal instruction will most likely be needed to go from IB Latin IV to taking AP Latin anything</p>

<p>all of the above is from personal experience, ancedotal evidence, and inference, so take what you want from it</p>

<p>but I guess I digressed from the OPs ?</p>

<p>so... my old physics teacher (pre-IB or MYPIB Physics I) said I will be ready for the SAT II in physics, but he also knows I am a math dude, and he also expects me to do some review</p>

<p>

Most people go from Math Studies SL to AP Stats and from Math Methods SL to AP Calc BC.</p>

<p>HL-2 is basically BC
SL-2 is a good prep for STAT
SL/HL-1 to HL-2 is AB/BC basically--well, at least at my school
going from SL-1 to AP STAT is not going to hurt you
I was just making the point that SL-2 introduces some topics in AP STAT</p>

<p>again, this is based on ancedotal evidence as I took HL-2, not SL-2</p>

<p>as far as sciences, my mistake... I should have said AP has been considered harder than the second year sciences in IB (at my school)
It may because of the double-block scheduling </p>

<p>thank you for the corrections</p>

<p>"IB exams are hard when testing higher level"</p>

<p>I should have said IB CLASSES are harder when at HL</p>