IB Program, taking AP tests

[Anonymous]

Just trying to get a feel.

Does it make sense for an A student destine for the IB Diploma to take lots of AP tests in the classes they have SL/HL courses? Or is it just unnecessary work/pressure?

[Anonymous]

Following. Was thinking my IB kid might sit for the AP in the same subject, maybe with a little prep (like for SL Econ). Bad idea?

[Anonymous]

No, I don't think it makes sense. They will be taking the IB exams. Why take both for the same class?

[Anonymous]

My kid took all the AP tests that aligned with his IB courses and did very well without significant extra studying (more just reviewing the listed content areas to see if there was anything he missed--there really wasn't).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I don't think it makes sense. They will be taking the IB exams. Why take both for the same class?

IB exams tend to be harder.

[Anonymous]

Given the IB tends to lean more towards the Humanities, I would say plumping out a resume with say AP Physics, or AP Chem is not a bad idea if your student has strengths in those subjects and wants to pursue a pure science or medical degree. That would be my only suggestion. Otherwise I would say stick with the IB as it stands.

The other thing of course is where the IB is being taught. If kid is at RMIB then you know they're getting a good coverage, if at BCC however where you can pick and choose from IB subjects, mix it up and not get a full diploma, I would say it's more likely you'd need to add in APs.

[Anonymous]

My kid (now in college) took both IB and AP exams. It was a lot of exams, but it definitely added flexibility when it comes to college credit. Most colleges and universities take both kinds of credits, but they may not line up in the same way. I think it also depends on which exams, how much work it would be to take the AP exam on top of the IB exam for the course, and your kid's tolerance for taking those kinds of tests in general.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Given the IB tends to lean more towards the Humanities, I would say plumping out a resume with say AP Physics, or AP Chem is not a bad idea if your student has strengths in those subjects and wants to pursue a pure science or medical degree. That would be my only suggestion. Otherwise I would say stick with the IB as it stands.

The other thing of course is where the IB is being taught. If kid is at RMIB then you know they're getting a good coverage, if at BCC however where you can pick and choose from IB subjects, mix it up and not get a full diploma, I would say it's more likely you'd need to add in APs.

IB doesn't lean towards the humanities. IB Chem HL is significantly harder than AP Chem--my kid passed the AP Chem exam with a 5 after just the first part of IB Chem (it's 2 years).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given the IB tends to lean more towards the Humanities, I would say plumping out a resume with say AP Physics, or AP Chem is not a bad idea if your student has strengths in those subjects and wants to pursue a pure science or medical degree. That would be my only suggestion. Otherwise I would say stick with the IB as it stands.

The other thing of course is where the IB is being taught. If kid is at RMIB then you know they're getting a good coverage, if at BCC however where you can pick and choose from IB subjects, mix it up and not get a full diploma, I would say it's more likely you'd need to add in APs.

IB doesn't lean towards the humanities. IB Chem HL is significantly harder than AP Chem--my kid passed the AP Chem exam with a 5 after just the first part of IB Chem (it's 2 years).

It does and is long known internationally as such. It's known to lean towards languages and linguistics and history over the sciences. I'm not saying it is deficient in the sciences, not at all - that's just not it's forte.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given the IB tends to lean more towards the Humanities, I would say plumping out a resume with say AP Physics, or AP Chem is not a bad idea if your student has strengths in those subjects and wants to pursue a pure science or medical degree. That would be my only suggestion. Otherwise I would say stick with the IB as it stands.

The other thing of course is where the IB is being taught. If kid is at RMIB then you know they're getting a good coverage, if at BCC however where you can pick and choose from IB subjects, mix it up and not get a full diploma, I would say it's more likely you'd need to add in APs.

IB doesn't lean towards the humanities. IB Chem HL is significantly harder than AP Chem--my kid passed the AP Chem exam with a 5 after just the first part of IB Chem (it's 2 years).

It does and is long known internationally as such. It's known to lean towards languages and linguistics and history over the sciences. I'm not saying it is deficient in the sciences, not at all - that's just not it's forte.

Well, all I can say is that as a biochemist I am more impressed with the IB curriculum than the AP. Math is a little different--I think the AP fits more with how math is taught in the US--it's hard to assess which is stronger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given the IB tends to lean more towards the Humanities, I would say plumping out a resume with say AP Physics, or AP Chem is not a bad idea if your student has strengths in those subjects and wants to pursue a pure science or medical degree. That would be my only suggestion. Otherwise I would say stick with the IB as it stands.

The other thing of course is where the IB is being taught. If kid is at RMIB then you know they're getting a good coverage, if at BCC however where you can pick and choose from IB subjects, mix it up and not get a full diploma, I would say it's more likely you'd need to add in APs.

IB doesn't lean towards the humanities. IB Chem HL is significantly harder than AP Chem--my kid passed the AP Chem exam with a 5 after just the first part of IB Chem (it's 2 years).

It does and is long known internationally as such. It's known to lean towards languages and linguistics and history over the sciences. I'm not saying it is deficient in the sciences, not at all - that's just not it's forte.

Well, all I can say is that as a biochemist I am more impressed with the IB curriculum than the AP. Math is a little different--I think the AP fits more with how math is taught in the US--it's hard to assess which is stronger.[/quote
]

I agree the full IB diploma is definitely a lot stronger curriculum than anything else offered in the US education system.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in an IB track but has taken a few AP exams at school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in an IB track but has taken a few AP exams at school.

+1 not all IB exams are given credit for college, either, even with a 7.

Most of the RMIB students I know took AP exams as well as IB exams to get the college credit, including my DC. Between IB/AP exams, DC had 58 credits going into college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given the IB tends to lean more towards the Humanities, I would say plumping out a resume with say AP Physics, or AP Chem is not a bad idea if your student has strengths in those subjects and wants to pursue a pure science or medical degree. That would be my only suggestion. Otherwise I would say stick with the IB as it stands.

The other thing of course is where the IB is being taught. If kid is at RMIB then you know they're getting a good coverage, if at BCC however where you can pick and choose from IB subjects, mix it up and not get a full diploma, I would say it's more likely you'd need to add in APs.

IB doesn't lean towards the humanities. IB Chem HL is significantly harder than AP Chem--my kid passed the AP Chem exam with a 5 after just the first part of IB Chem (it's 2 years).

Yes but did your kid take HL Chem and HL Physics and HL Bio and HL Psych? Most IB kids don't, and STEMy IB kids take AP classes to round it out.

Also you don't know how your kid would have scored on IB Chem exam after first year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Given the IB tends to lean more towards the Humanities, I would say plumping out a resume with say AP Physics, or AP Chem is not a bad idea if your student has strengths in those subjects and wants to pursue a pure science or medical degree. That would be my only suggestion. Otherwise I would say stick with the IB as it stands.

The other thing of course is where the IB is being taught. If kid is at RMIB then you know they're getting a good coverage, if at BCC however where you can pick and choose from IB subjects, mix it up and not get a full diploma, I would say it's more likely you'd need to add in APs.

IB doesn't lean towards the humanities. IB Chem HL is significantly harder than AP Chem--my kid passed the AP Chem exam with a 5 after just the first part of IB Chem (it's 2 years).

Yes but did your kid take HL Chem and HL Physics and HL Bio and HL Psych? Most IB kids don't, and STEMy IB kids take AP classes to round it out.

Also you don't know how your kid would have scored on IB Chem exam after first year.

Both SL and HL IB courses received credit at the colleges my kid was interested and both SL and HL receive the same weighted credit as AP for HS GPA. They took HL Chem and HL Bio--they did AP Physics their sophomore year before the IB diploma began. Not interested in psychology, but could have taken that. SL courses seem equivalent to AP, HL have more lab-time. That's the best part about IB science in my opinion -- there are a lot more labs and research projects.

Not sure why you think it matters how my kid would have scored on IB chem after first year--probably poorly since they only had 1/2 the content at that point. They got a 7 the second year.