Can someone help explain the IB math pathways at W-L?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP - good to know! Which are the most monstrous of the IB classes? Flying a bit blind as he rolls into this…

I would say that she finds History of the Americas, Physics, and Calculus to be the most challenging. Psychology has been less challenging so far.
HOA, Physics, and Psychology were not her first choices.

IB Diploma students also have to take Theory of Knowledge during their Junior year. This might be new; I think they used to be able to take it senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now-senior full IB student at W-L took Alg. 2/Trig as a freshman, then Dual Enrollment Pre-Calc as a sophomore, then AP Calc AB as a junior, and is now in the 1 year IB Math Studies class.

So is that the partial IB option?

Oh wait - you do say “full IB”. I didn’t realize DE & AP was an option for IB…

As someone else mentioned, it's not that IB kids are taking AP classes, it's that there are IB classes that translate to AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC, and the classes are taught to a mix of students. IB students are given the option of paying to take the AP exam (APS will pay for either the AP or the IB exam, but not both) in case they go to a college that doesn't accept IB credits.

Did that make sense?

I guess I misunderstood - I thought there was just a 2-year math class for full IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now-senior full IB student at W-L took Alg. 2/Trig as a freshman, then Dual Enrollment Pre-Calc as a sophomore, then AP Calc AB as a junior, and is now in the 1 year IB Math Studies class.

So is that the partial IB option?

Oh wait - you do say “full IB”. I didn’t realize DE & AP was an option for IB…

As someone else mentioned, it's not that IB kids are taking AP classes, it's that there are IB classes that translate to AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC, and the classes are taught to a mix of students. IB students are given the option of paying to take the AP exam (APS will pay for either the AP or the IB exam, but not both) in case they go to a college that doesn't accept IB credits.

Did that make sense?

I guess I misunderstood - I thought there was just a 2-year math class for full IB.

I think that you have to take (3) 2-year classes (HL) and (3) 1-year classes (SL). But you can chose the classes. So if you don't love math, you can choose a different 2-year class, like History of the Americas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now-senior full IB student at W-L took Alg. 2/Trig as a freshman, then Dual Enrollment Pre-Calc as a sophomore, then AP Calc AB as a junior, and is now in the 1 year IB Math Studies class.

So is that the partial IB option?

Oh wait - you do say “full IB”. I didn’t realize DE & AP was an option for IB…

As someone else mentioned, it's not that IB kids are taking AP classes, it's that there are IB classes that translate to AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC, and the classes are taught to a mix of students. IB students are given the option of paying to take the AP exam (APS will pay for either the AP or the IB exam, but not both) in case they go to a college that doesn't accept IB credits.

Did that make sense?

I guess I misunderstood - I thought there was just a 2-year math class for full IB.

I think that you have to take (3) 2-year classes (HL) and (3) 1-year classes (SL). But you can chose the classes. So if you don't love math, you can choose a different 2-year class, like History of the Americas.

Thank you for clarifying!

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all! If aiming for the AB and not BC math track, would IB Math SL Part 1 sophomore year and Part 2 junior year be about right?

Also, PP, which of the IB classes tend to be harder to get? He is pretty targeted in his interests. Looks like he has a future at a SLAC or similar, as interests are really humanities-oriented (history, psych, business, sports science). Is thinking HL would be history, psych and foreign language. Maybe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all! If aiming for the AB and not BC math track, would IB Math SL Part 1 sophomore year and Part 2 junior year be about right?

Also, PP, which of the IB classes tend to be harder to get? He is pretty targeted in his interests. Looks like he has a future at a SLAC or similar, as interests are really humanities-oriented (history, psych, business, sports science). Is thinking HL would be history, psych and foreign language. Maybe?

I think we're at the part where kids need to talk to their counselors/IB coordinators. Maybe you can help make up a list of questions for him to ask?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all! If aiming for the AB and not BC math track, would IB Math SL Part 1 sophomore year and Part 2 junior year be about right?

Also, PP, which of the IB classes tend to be harder to get? He is pretty targeted in his interests. Looks like he has a future at a SLAC or similar, as interests are really humanities-oriented (history, psych, business, sports science). Is thinking HL would be history, psych and foreign language. Maybe?

I can’t answer the math question; dd took SL math as a sophomore and moved into Calc BC. Im not sure what other Math options are available but I’m sure there are a few.

The scheduling problem happened because of TOK. She had to take TOK but there were only a few classes being offered and none at times that fit her schedule. So almost every class had to be switched.
Not ideal, but I think TOK has been helpful in going over the expectations of the IB program.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. Really helpful! He and I are working up a list of questions. Do guidance W-L counselors actually help with figuring out which IB classes are lighter versus more challenging and creating a balanced load (or at least asking for one)? My older child went to a different school where the guidance counselor would not dream of opining on such things (and was generally not helpful at all).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now-senior full IB student at W-L took Alg. 2/Trig as a freshman, then Dual Enrollment Pre-Calc as a sophomore, then AP Calc AB as a junior, and is now in the 1 year IB Math Studies class.

So is that the partial IB option?

Oh wait - you do say “full IB”. I didn’t realize DE & AP was an option for IB…

PP here. You can take AP and DE classes if you end up doing to the full IB program. But you have to meet the IB requirements as well. In my son's case, he took 5 AP classes (World History (9th grade), Psychology (10th), Spanish Language (10th), US Gov't (10th) and Calc AB (11th)), as well as the Dual Enrollment pre-calc class in 10th grade. Almost all full IB students take the AP US Gov't class in 10th, because taking this class, or something similar subject-wise, is required by Virginia for HS graduation. All of his IB classes are 2-year classes, except for his IB math class noted above, and the Theory of Knowledge class, which he is taking as senior (as most kids do).

[Anonymous]

To stay in full IB, what is the minimum level of math required in grade 9? It is time for DC to engage with the counselor and make a move down a level from A2 Intensified. There are so few assessments in the class it took a while to confirm (only two or three this quarter, so wasn’t clear they were def bombing again until recently). Have a tutor and seems to be understanding more but mastery is fleeting and performance on the few assessments not strong, and there is no curve or oppty for retest to get up to an 80 or anything like that. I am quite sure being in A2 Intensified is not necessary. DC likes math but isn’t passionate about enough about it to spend more than the 10-15 hours outside class during the week that they are already spending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My now-senior full IB student at W-L took Alg. 2/Trig as a freshman, then Dual Enrollment Pre-Calc as a sophomore, then AP Calc AB as a junior, and is now in the 1 year IB Math Studies class.

So is that the partial IB option?

Oh wait - you do say “full IB”. I didn’t realize DE & AP was an option for IB…

PP here. You can take AP and DE classes if you end up doing to the full IB program. But you have to meet the IB requirements as well. In my son's case, he took 5 AP classes (World History (9th grade), Psychology (10th), Spanish Language (10th), US Gov't (10th) and Calc AB (11th)), as well as the Dual Enrollment pre-calc class in 10th grade. Almost all full IB students take the AP US Gov't class in 10th, because taking this class, or something similar subject-wise, is required by Virginia for HS graduation. All of his IB classes are 2-year classes, except for his IB math class noted above, and the Theory of Knowledge class, which he is taking as senior (as most kids do).

At our private AP Euro History is what you take in 10th. Strange because it is the hardest of all the AP History courses.

[Anonymous]

I’m confused about the IB math A and A versus A and I. Which is harder? Is HL always harder than SL? Trying to avoid harder… probably will be in A2 Int for 9th (doing ok not amazing), DE pre calc in 10th, and then I’m lost. What does a full IB kid do next?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. Really helpful! He and I are working up a list of questions. Do guidance W-L counselors actually help with figuring out which IB classes are lighter versus more challenging and creating a balanced load (or at least asking for one)? My older child went to a different school where the guidance counselor would not dream of opining on such things (and was generally not helpful at all).

Our counselor at W-L has been fabulous and incredibly honest when answering our numerous questions. I have found that they want to set your child up for success and to find a balance, so they will easily entertain a lower class level if that’s what’s best for your child. What I love is they will flat out tell you the pros/cons of every scenario or at least ours does. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all. Really helpful! He and I are working up a list of questions. Do guidance W-L counselors actually help with figuring out which IB classes are lighter versus more challenging and creating a balanced load (or at least asking for one)? My older child went to a different school where the guidance counselor would not dream of opining on such things (and was generally not helpful at all).

Our counselor at W-L has been fabulous and incredibly honest when answering our numerous questions. I have found that they want to set your child up for success and to find a balance, so they will easily entertain a lower class level if that’s what’s best for your child. What I love is they will flat out tell you the pros/cons of every scenario or at least ours does. Good luck!

I think it's hit or miss with the counselors ours is like this too but I know friends have had completely unhelpful ones.

I don't understand the IB math but know that when DS did AP Calculus BC he also had IB students in the same class so it's the same content under a different name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To stay in full IB, what is the minimum level of math required in grade 9? It is time for DC to engage with the counselor and make a move down a level from A2 Intensified. There are so few assessments in the class it took a while to confirm (only two or three this quarter, so wasn’t clear they were def bombing again until recently). Have a tutor and seems to be understanding more but mastery is fleeting and performance on the few assessments not strong, and there is no curve or oppty for retest to get up to an 80 or anything like that. I am quite sure being in A2 Intensified is not necessary. DC likes math but isn’t passionate about enough about it to spend more than the 10-15 hours outside class during the week that they are already spending.

Minimum math requirement for pre-IB in 9th grade is Intensified Geometry.