<p>I apologize if this is repititive. I tried searching but had trouble finding results. Our school is considering switching to the IB program. Currently we are on the AP system only, but the switch to IB could take effect next semester, meaning that our classes would no longer be weighted and I would lose credit for a lot of my current AP courses because they would change to IB. Would someone mind explaining the specifics of the IB program and the possible impact this could have on my AP courses and the exams I planned to take? I am somewhat confused as to what exactly IB entails. Thank You!!</p>
<p>IB is the International Baccalaureate Programme. IB has a rigorous curriculum that promotes international understanding, which is based from Geneva, Switzerland. IB tests in six subject areas, which are Language A, Language B, The Arts, Experimental Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Sciences, and Indiviuals and Societies. IB also has CAS hours, which are Creativity, Action, and Service hours or volunteer hours. The IB Programme has two types of classes, HL and SL classes. HL classes are classes that someone would take their junior and senior year (a two-year course) and take the IB exam at the end of his or her senior year, and SL classes are classes that someone would take his or her junior year and take the class at the end of his or her junior year (a one-year course). To recieve the IB Diploma, the IB candidate must have 3 HL classes and 3 SL classes, yet, some might take 4 HL classes and 2 SL classes. IB exams are graded from 1-7, 1 being the lowest and 7 be the highest possible grade. Most colleges award college credit to students that makes a six or seven on the HL exam that they took. IB has TOK (Theory of Knowledge). The teacher of the TOK class is suppose to interweave all the IB subject areas so that the commonalities and differences in man's various fields of knowledge are explored. In every IB subject, iA (Internal Assessment) are done. Internal Assessment are papers or labs that someone must do to complete his or her IB requirement. IA are usually sent to specific locations of the world for grading to see if their is a defect in your school's grading system, and iA are also apart of the exam grade of that course. With all these requirements, students also have to do an EE, which is an Extended Essay. The Extended Essay is usually about 4,000 words, the essay topic is chosen from within one of the subject areas, and reflects a combination of research skills and thoughtful analysis. The essay is planned with the IB Coordinator and IB subject teachers early in the second semester of the junior year.</p>
<p>i think your school will weight ur grades even if it switches to IB. IB is just as tough as AP, so it wouldnt be fair to unweight ur grades.</p>
<p>IB is weighted just like AP, except IB is harder than AP</p>
<p>Nice summary, Murrah! Most colleges accept IB exams for credit. Even if they don't, you can still take AP exams (if your school pays for them). Speaking as an IB and AP Diploma student, IB is not really "harder" than AP; it's just more info and work, which might make it harder, I suppose.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the info guys! Our school already said that they are planning on not weighting IB classes, not sure why. We just got a new principal this year, so everything is gettting mixed up! I am a little confused about TOK. Is that a seperate class that is offered? Also, one of our teachers was talking about how she will have to submit her weekly lesson plans and tests to our local university to make sure the curriculum is the same. In accordance with this, we would need to buy the same textbooks the college uses. From what I understood, this would switch some of the material in our biology course because it would then match up with a gen. ed. course at the college. Does that sound right about the gen. ed. stuff? I really don't trust my calculus teacher, she's a little spacey, lol. One more question, since technically our IB class would only be a half-semester, would that make it an SL class (I'm a senior if that matters)? Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate all the info, especially Murrah, I know it takes a while to write so much. :)</p>
<p>TOK is a separate class. IB has its own textbooks. </p>
<p>I'm not sure about the half-semester class. I've never heard of a person starting IB their senior year...it's not really advisable (you won't get an IB Diploma).</p>
<p>IB has alot more work than AP, thats why its harder. I havent even started on my EE and its due in 2 weeks, yea im F ucked with a capital F</p>
<p>Murrah, nicely stated! Succinct, without going overload in details. </p>
<p>I'd like to add that at least one Lang A (native), one second lang (either Lang A, B (foreign), AB initio (beginners)), one natural science, one math and one individual and societies subject are required. The 6th subject can be an Arts subject or one from the other 5 groups. (For example, a lot of people take 3 languages or 2 sciences.)</p>
<p>thrilss4ever - same here! And my EE is in Chem and only one experiment done. :o</p>