IB Programs
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Anonymous
When I was looking at the typical sequence for BCC kids, it looked like kids who did HL math had already done AP Calc BC junior year. |
Anonymous
Respectfully, you’re trying to prove a point without having the slightest clue about Calculus, it’s almost comical. There’s a way to teach calculus rigorously using theorems, proofs and essentially derive as much as possible from first principles, which requires time and effort. Then there’s the IB way where you just memorize and apply formulas because you’re cramming two semesters of calculus in two months. For the example from MIT OCW to show the derivative of sin(x), the rigorous treatment is to start with the epsilon delta definition to prove the squeeze theorem. Then you use the squeeze theorem to show that limit of sin(x)/x is 1, which you use to show the derivative of sin(x) is cos(x). They go over that briefly in the prior video, and keep in mind that’s not the totality of the class content, there’s recitation, exercises and homework too. At the lowly community college where my child took Calculus 1, they go over some form of epsilon delta and proof of sin(x) derivative. Even Khan Academy goes in more depth https://www.khanacademy.org/math/calculus-1/cs1-derivatives-definition-and-basic-rules/cs1-proof-videos/v/derivative-of-sin-x https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-limits-new/ab-1-8/v/sinx-over-x-as-x-approaches-0 I bet MIT does it too, they’ll teach the fundamentals and some more. Not in IB though because that would be fetishism. How about the rest, like teaching Calculus without the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus! Got it, that’s fetishism too, we can’t have that. Then you have some complete morons with the nerve to claim that IB goes in depth and does “analytical writing”, while AP is rote memorization and teaching to the test. In all honesty if a child talented in math is made to take the IB route that’s bad parenting and teaching malpractice. |
Anonymous
High school curriculum is essentially math, English, science, social science, and foreign language. People tend to focus on Math and English because it’s a common experience, all others are more variable. Are you taking Physics or Biology? History or Economics? Spanish or Mandarin? They way European History is taught may not be relevant to psychology. So math is chosen as indicative of stem quality, and English for humanities. |
Anonymous
But plenty of kids do AP math and IB humanities, even diploma kids, so trying to make broad statements about the IB curriculum based on what theorems they teach in math is of limited use. |
Anonymous
Most kids aren't going to MIT so not relevant. |
Anonymous
What are the chances that IB Math is crap and IB Physics or Chemistry is amazing? They are correlated to some degree. |
Anonymous
Not sure they are but there is a whole other set of courses generally known as humanities. Many people will say IB is better for humanities than STEM, in part because of the focus on depth, analysis and writing. Kind of like how a kid focused on STEM might not benefit from the St Johns college curriculum. |
Anonymous
You can say that about any other single school. People use MIT as an example and indication of rigor. If MIT gives some credit then it’s probably a good class. One could equally reference Berkeley, Stanford, Yale, or Ohio State for that matter. If MIT gives some credit to AP Capstone, then that information has more value to me than any marketing blurb from College Board, even if my kid has zero chance of going there. I might even consider advising my student to take that class. |
Anonymous
Not really. The listening and speaking components are tougher and more extensive for IBD. AP test more grammar and has more multiple choice. |
Anonymous
| It's just not that difficult to score a 5 on an AP language exam. In fact, MOST of those who take AP Chinese score 5s. Scoring a 7 on an IBD HL language exam is another story. Very very difficult. |
Anonymous
| +1. My kid took IBD and AP French exams. Only scored a 4/7 on IBD HL with an easy 5 on AP. |
Anonymous
A very large fraction of the Chinese and Spanish exam takers are native or heritage speakers. Not surprising they score 5. The importance of foreign language is slowly waning since English is the de facto language used everywhere and everything can be instantly translated with AI. Most people these days learn a language outside of school, like through Duolingo. I always found their annual reports quite interesting. For Spanish and French most people learn for fun and connecting with people while English learners motivation is supporting their education. For academic preparation, foreign language ranks last in priority in my view, time is much better spent learning English well. |
Anonymous
You need to keep in mind there are two AP language classes like AP Spanish Language (easier) and AP Spanish Literature (harder, even for native speakers). IBD HL may be comparable with the second one. If the goal is getting college credit then go with the easy AP, satisfy your requirements and you’re done. If the goal is learning a language well, I don’t think taking high school classes is that effective, you’d be up to early B1 in AP Spanish Language. Immersion is more helpful you could get to B1/B2 in about a year if you’re serious. Make a Netflix profile for Spanish, talk to native speakers, hire tutors on italki, read in the other language. I took that route and after one year I can watch TV in Spanish and get about 90%, can keep up a conversation etc. For certification neither AP nor IB are that useful, there are language specific ones like Dele/Cervantes for Spanish. |
Anonymous
AP only has French Language and Culture. The AP French literature was discontinued, because too few students were taking it. Only Spanish has the AP Spanish Literature class. |
Anonymous
+1 DC had to take an oral and written IB exam for FL. They also took the AP exam, which did not have an oral component. |