<p>So next year, I'm planning on doing the IB Diploma next year as a junior. My projected schedule is:</p>
<p>IB English HL Yr. 1
IB History of the Americas
IB Biology HL Yr. 1
IB Math SL Yr. 2
French 3
Theory of Knowledge/ and maybe one trimester of Band</p>
<p>So I'm thinking of maybe "self-studying" (not completely) some AP Courses that somewhat correspond with my IB classes. I'm thinking of doing AP Lit because it sounds like the IB English class reads a few books and analyze them a lot or something and I know that the AP Lit test makes you write essays analyzing books;I might do AP U.S. History along with IB HoA, but I'm not really sure yet. I'm pretty decent at history, but I think I'll wait on my decision probably until a few months into the year. I know some people that took the APUSH test while taking HoA, but had to do some extra self-studying. I think I'll self-study AP Calculus for sure along with my Math SL class. Math is one of my stronger subjects, and I know a lot of people at my school took the AP Calc AB test. I'm just kind of pondering if I should take the AB test, or maybe self-study a bit to take the BC test.
I honestly don't know about Biology. I took IB Prep Biology last year as a Freshman and I'm pretty good at the subject, but that's besides the point. Ever since we had the IB program at my school, IB Biology has been an SL course spanning only one year. Next year, along with Chem SL/HL, my school is spanning IB Biology over 2 years and at the end of the 2nd year, we decide whether we want to take the SL test or the HL test. So, I honestly doubt I'll self-study AP Biology until the 2nd year if I wanted to.</p>
<p>What do you guys think? You guys could tell me your experiences and workloads in these AP classes.</p>
<p>(I already posted this in the IB forum and in High School Life)</p>
<p>My main thought is that it will be a lot tougher than you think it will be.</p>
<ol>
<li>IB english - This one I’m okay with, but you will need to practice the multiple choice for AP Lit as that is usually toughest for most kids at my school. At my school IB lit and and AP lit were same course and most IB kids said the essays they could get 6s and 7s but they were scared to death of th multiple choice</li>
<li>U.S. History - I don’t know much about the I.B. curriculum. All I know is that after skimming through the textbook it looked very specialized and delved very deeply into specific topics like the holocaust and others. AP US is also going through an update so, that’s good and bad for you. It’s good because it will be easier because it will focus more on document analysis rather than facts, it’s harder because you will be going in blind as you will have no practice tests similar to the revised test. I wouldn’t do it. Lot of work.</li>
<li>Biology - This one could work out. At my school both classes use the same textbook (Campbells, but I.B. kids do have a supplemental IB specific text). AP biology was made harder though in terms you have to score very high to get a 5 and for this class you need a four to get full amount of credit at most colleges.</li>
<li>IB math SL - The curriculum for this course and AP calc AB should be very similar, but Calc BC would be 3 extra chapters of studying and that’s quite a bit. AP calc AB should be fine and you only need a 3 to get the max credit, but you woud probably want to check out the collegeboard released FRQs as they are notorious for giving kids a tough time. Also, it should be noted that my AP calc teacher (who used to teach IB HL and SL math) has stated that the BC exam is tough than the HL exam. Now obviously it’s hard to compare because one test allows two years of prep while one allows only one year of prep.</li>
</ol>
<p>The main thing is that in theory, with unlimited time and no exhaustion, it is viable to take these corresponding AP exams. The main thing though is that you will not be successful if you just read through a review book and look at exam formats for the month before the exams. My advice is to plan on English and Calc AB. The problem is time, you have to start CAS and your EE and your workload will also increase (Pre-IB is basically a glorified honor course while true IB is college-level work). Self studying on top of this will stretch you thin.</p>
<p>@Animefan1998 @jimmyboy23 , What do you think it would be like transferring into an IB program in junior year. I ask because Jimbo states pre IB is glorified Honors English and AP Lang which would be ok. However, my thought is that preIB is tailored prep for the IB HL program that would be a difficult jump into that cohort for my daughter, an accelerated AP and Honors student. Meaning the preIB courses while not a prerequisite are heavily weighted toward success, or are the preIB courses just hype. Secondly, are study groups commonplace.</p>
<p>@Sohoist Sorry, I don’t really understand what you’re trying to say. I’m so confused…</p>
<p>I think he is asking if it is okay to not take pre-IB courses during Freshman and sophomore year and then jump straight into the true IB program. The first thing I have to make clear is that pre-IB courses are glorified honors courses, BUT that is assuming that the honors courses are taught to completion with good teachers. Those two things are usually done in Pre-IB courses, but may not be done for honors courses even though they should. In regards to your daughter Soho, she will be at a slight disadvantage compared to the other kids if she did not have good teachers who taught the full honor course material. This will not be a huge difference or have any impact on her success. If she works hard in IB courses then she will see success. Also, I was not in an IB program just took alot classes jointly with IB kids and in my opinion the pre-IB classes are not “geared” towards HL courses. They are, like I said, just glorified honors classes where the teachers are certified and high quality and the courses are taught to completion.</p>
<p>@jimmyboy23 Thanks Jimbo, your on target. My D is pretty sharp 4.6 gpa, and is a year or two ahead in all subjects as an accelerated student. My major concern is that transferring to a new school as a junior and into a new class method will have a negative impact her gpa. I’m thinking no go, but don’t want to hold her back if it will help her.</p>
<p>I think she should be fine to adapt.</p>