<p>My school offers both IB and AP but I don't know which path i should take.
Could someone give me advice?
Thanks.</p>
<p>Here’s a helpful link: [AP</a> vs. IB? - Ask The Dean](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/ap-vs-ib.htm]AP”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/ap-vs-ib.htm)</p>
<p>I’m trying to find the answer as well. I’ve read all the AP vs IB cc threads, and many other sources, talked to counselors, students, etc. Both have huge advantages, and yet both have significant drawbacks. Right now, I’m leaning a little more toward AP, but that could change.</p>
<p>Based on my experience with both programs, I would say AP is better for recieving college credit. Each exam you take will count for credit, unlike IB (only 3 higher level exams will count, and some school only give credits for full diploma.) In my opinion, the testing for IB is more in-depth and the requirements are more interesting.</p>
<p>I never took an IB course, so I can’t give a great answer.
But, IB looks a lot harder than AP to me</p>
<p>You can always do the IB Programme, which in my opinion the classes are better, but take AP tests for credit - undoubtedly AP is better for college credit. Best of both worlds kind of thing. Many of the SL IB classes are very similar in curriculum to the AP classes.</p>
<p>IB is better…a lot more in-depth learning, requirements to make students well rounded, and the above poster is true about the taking tests for AP credit. You can also take an AP test if you are in an IB class as well…for example, my school requires those students in IB Math HL and IB Math SL to take the AP exams as well (HL takes AP Calculus BC, SL takes AP Calculus AB). </p>
<p>PS:IB kids tend to have higher GPAs since you need to take like 6 IB classes a year (plus one IB elective if you REALLY want to) for the IB Diploma. So you can’t go wrong with that. (:</p>
<p>The best plan:</p>
<p>Take IB classes (full diploma with 4 HL classes), and take the equivalent AP test for every IB class you take. Also, if you have room in your schedule and have maxed out the # of IB classes you can take, take AP classes as well.</p>
<p>I don’t get this well-roundedness. I’ve taken 14 APs across my high school career and have taken an equal balance of social sciences and regular sciences. I don’t see how that makes me less rounded.</p>
<p>Just draw straws.</p>
<p>IB is an entire curriculum, involving CAS and the Extended Essay. IB exams tend to focus more on essays than multiple choice. </p>
<p>If you’re equally strong in all academic areas, either curriculum could work. I would look at the students on the two tracks. Are there equal rates of success in college admissions? Which group is more stressed? Which group includes your friends (IB, at least at my school, is a pretty self-contained group)? etcetcc</p>
<p>most people say it doesn’t matter which one to take in terms of college acceptance</p>
<p>It really depends on how it works at your school.</p>
<p>I’m a senior anticipated IB diploma candidate and I’m kind of hating IB right now. I think it has too much structure and limitations. I guess it depends on exactly how many IB courses your school offers, but at my school we don’t have IB Economics, we have to take HL English, we only have SL Physics and we don’t have IB computer science. Also TOK is a really fun class, but it does take a spot in your schedule so you can’t take as many other classes. The extended essay is kind of pain too. And, remember that you can only take IB tests in your junior and senior years, and only take HL tests in your senior years, even if you took the classes earlier. And you have to take the classes (including SL/HL 1 for the HL tests) in order to take the tests. SL tests never give you college credit, but you can usually just take the AP equivalent test. IB is really structured, and doesn’t allow for as much flexibility as I would like. </p>
<p>However, it really depends on how your school works. My school only sort of does AP - we have AP English and History, and stats and calc, and the sciences are IB SL/AP (slap!) so theres a lot of overlap between the programs. If I had to start over, at the same school, I would do IB again just because most of the smart kids do it. The level of the AP English classes, for example, is much lower than the level of IB English.</p>
<p>So this doesn’t give you the answers you’re looking for, but basically, it really depends on how it works at your specific school.</p>
<p>I don’t think it really matters, I would actually recommend taking a mixture. I think a lot of it has to do the teacher that teaches each course, like if you’re deciding between AP Lang or IB English, I would go with whichever class has the better teacher. But that’s just my opinion (:</p>
<p>^When you take the IB Diploma program, you have to take six IB classes (at my school, this leaves room for two electives/AP classes. At some schools, this would be every class). You can’t pick and choose IB and AP classes unless you’re in the less rigorous Certificate program, which is generally looked down on by colleges. </p>
<p>If you’re having a lot of trouble deciding, you probably should take AP. Since it’s just a selection of classes and not an entire program with limitations, deadlines, extra projects, etcetc, you have to be fully committed to it. If you’re not, I’d advise taking the less constrained route.</p>
<p>^ I know that you can’t really take both if you’re taking IB Diploma… but I don’t really see anything wrong with taking 3 AP’s and 2 IB’s or something…</p>
<p>In general, I think IB is a bit harder… I mean, IB has CAS and EE, which are both incredibly time-consuming. Plus, if you take AP, after your AP exams in May, you’re basically free ^^</p>
<p>But you can’t take both (at least as far as core classes go) and still receive the diploma…</p>
<p>Depending on the school, you could take somewhat of a mixture.</p>
<p>Everyone at my school takes AP US History because US history is a state requirement and IB doesn’t have a US history course (because it’s international). You also have to take AP Calc (AB) before you take HL 2 Math and a few people going for the IB diploma will take AP stats senior year after taking SL math studies junior year. And all of our sciences are combined AP/ IB SL. </p>
<p>In terms of rigor or the classes, generally SL is easier than AP and HL is harder. A lot of depends on how the class is taught.</p>
<p>At my school History of the Americas counts as US History.</p>
<p>^Yeah, same here. What I’m saying is that you can’t combine IB and AP core classes and get the diploma (versus certificate). You can, however, take IB classes and take the AP tests for college credit. Personally, I’d wait till senior year until taking APs though, since your classes won’t specifically prepare you for the AP exams (except for math, since Methods is basically Calc AB) and so your scores are iffy.</p>
<p>Oh sorry! Misunderstanding… ^^
Hm, I don’t think that if you take 2 IB’s as opposed to full IB Diploma, colleges will count that against you though, will they?</p>