Question about the IB program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate your honest feedback. I've wondered if IB is the right thing for my 7th grader. He cares about school, is willing to work (is compliant), but doesn't love academics and studying, and loves sports and is on a travel team. I've wondered if AP might be a "safer bet." If suddenly he starts loving schools and becomes a great student, then AP can serve him well. If he stays middle of road-ish, AP can still serve him well, with more flexibility - he can choose his AP coures that work for him, and figure out the number of APs he needs to take and score 4/5 for his target schools. I'd appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

Sounds right - AP is more flexible. But does he have a bunch of friends headed to the IB school?

[Anonymous]

I have two college grad kids who did AP. Both had roommates who received IB diplomas. Both IB grads said they wished they had AP instead. More flexibility and more college credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two college grad kids who did AP. Both had roommates who received IB diplomas. Both IB grads said they wished they had AP instead. More flexibility and more college credit.

The college credits (or not) may have evened out over time. The greater flexibility of AP is still a plus in its favor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have two college grad kids who did AP. Both had roommates who received IB diplomas. Both IB grads said they wished they had AP instead. More flexibility and more college credit.

We have the reverse experience--IB grads happier with their preparation for college and plenty of college credit. BTW, IB students can take the AP exam for any class --my kid found it was easier to get 5s on an AP exam without taking the class and no extra studying than it was to get 7/8s on the IB exam for the class he did take.

I think there are pros and cons to both AP and IB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it be fair to say that the seniors who graduate with the full IB diploma are the top students at that school?

Not necessarily. They could be. It’s a rigorous program and it shows they checked all of the boxes and took enough IB classes in each area. But what’s your definition of top student? They aren’t necessarily above those who opted to not take all IB courses because they wanted to take every computer science class possible. Or advanced math or literature. There are some schools that’s offer both AP and IB.

There is no IB school in FCPS that offers more than a few AP courses. IB schools in FCPS revolve almost entirely around making sure the kids who want to do the full IB diploma program can do so, even if it’s just 2% of the students.

exactly, so if 10% of seniors get the IB diploma, then they are in the top 10% ranking of the class?

I’ll ask again, what do you mean by top students? Highest GPA? Most advanced classes? You need to take a variety of IB classes, some HL and some can be SL, to get the IB diploma. I am a math teacher and know the most about those classes. You can take AI SL and that satisfies the math requirement for the IB diploma, assuming HLs are taken in other subjects. It is nowhere near the most rigorous math course offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it be fair to say that the seniors who graduate with the full IB diploma are the top students at that school?

Not necessarily. They could be. It’s a rigorous program and it shows they checked all of the boxes and took enough IB classes in each area. But what’s your definition of top student? They aren’t necessarily above those who opted to not take all IB courses because they wanted to take every computer science class possible. Or advanced math or literature. There are some schools that’s offer both AP and IB.

There is no IB school in FCPS that offers more than a few AP courses. IB schools in FCPS revolve almost entirely around making sure the kids who want to do the full IB diploma program can do so, even if it’s just 2% of the students.

exactly, so if 10% of seniors get the IB diploma, then they are in the top 10% ranking of the class?

I’ll ask again, what do you mean by top students? Highest GPA? Most advanced classes? You need to take a variety of IB classes, some HL and some can be SL, to get the IB diploma. I am a math teacher and know the most about those classes. You can take AI SL and that satisfies the math requirement for the IB diploma, assuming HLs are taken in other subjects. It is nowhere near the most rigorous math course offered.

I remember a parent talking about her DD not wanting to take Honors or AP (I'm sure IB would also apply) because she did not want to give up making "straight A's." That was important to her. I doubt she was in the top ten percent because she did not get a "bump" in the GPA.