My DC took Honors Chem this year and will be doing HL1 Chem in 11th, next year. They are thinking of taking the AP CHem exam---how much studying did you child have to do for a 5 ? |
When my now 11th grader (Full IB program) was in 6th grade, the principals of two local feeder schools came to a PTA meeting -- They explained - AP teaches you what to thnk and IB teaches you how to think. |
I suggest you be strategic. Most
Colleges will give credit for HL classes. So no need to take overlapping AP tests for Biology for example of your kid is already in IB Bio HL. Very few top colleges give credit for IB SL courses. My DD for example chose Spanish SL. Didn’t get college credit for it. If she had decided to go for the AP test I’m pretty sure she could have done it with minimal additional work. Figure out which colleges your kid is aiming for, learn what they give credit for, and then make a game plan to earn additional credit for a few more AP tests. Understand that depending on major, and on the college, as another pp said, your kid may need to retake a topic regardless of college credit earned. For example my DD did HL Economics. But her B school required her to take Micro and Macro at her college, she got only elective credit for the Econ HL class. |
I’m a Biochemist too and think AP Chem and AP Bio are both terrific. Who really cares anyway? It seems silly to do both. That is a lot of exams. Why torture your kid? |
IB Physics and Math are clearly inferior to the AP counterparts. You’re much better off taking one year of Calculus BC and one year of Statistics instead of the HL Analysis. IB Physics is algebra based, enough said. What do you mean by “teach to the test”? Often it’s meant to throw some shade at the multiple answer portion of the exam, which in my view is misguided. Multiple chose questions are good at sampling more of the material taught in class and it decreases the test variability. It’s not perfect, but neither is the IB approach. I find it slightly amusing that you’re the spokesperson for you STEM PhD spouse. Please ask why they thought the IB classes were more thorough. |
It depends, you’d have to be more specific to what classes, for humanities and foreign languages generally yes, sciences and math it will be much harder. IB Math Analysis to Calculus AB maybe, Calculus BC not because IB HL doesn’t cover BC topics. AP Statistics definitely not. IB Physics HL to AP Physics 1 and 2 maybe the style of questions is very different. AP Physics C don’t bother. For Chemistry and Biology, IB HL and AP are roughly equivalent. IB computer science to AP Computer Science, it really depends how it’s taught. IB to AP Principles yes, but to AP Java probably not, unless the IB class is thought with a focus on coding. I would not take science and math AP exams after SL classes without a good amount of self study, odds are not good, too little material covered. Honestly it’s a little pointless to ask it at this time, the real question should have been the choice between AP and IB when choosing the high school. |
I’m wondering how impartial were those principals pitching their high schools to parents. For sure they wouldn’t be exaggerating. |
And did you chose not to think? |
2 years. |
lol, that was funny. |
Nearly all college admissions folks understand what a 4 or 5 onan AP exam (only if taken before senior year !) means. Many college admissions folks do not understand what an IB exam score means (again, for any exams taken before senior year) — simply because IB is much much less common across the country as a whole. |
My IB kid has taken AP tests in history, stats, and calc. Got 5s on all. Just took IB exams so waiting on those scores. |
This has always been the case. Both DH and I had to retake classes for which we had AP credits. Colleges/universities are a business too. I think it’s naive to think otherwise. |
OP why are you asking and what would be the purpose of taking the AP exams?
I have kids in HS who will be applying to UK universities so the AP exams for them, are essential. But they're not taking the IB, which if they had done, is fully accepted in the UK (and the rest of Europe) plus a few other places. |
It sounds like your kid took the AP exams after taking the AP classes. Nobody in their right mind would take AP Calculus and AP Statistics after the first year of HL math, without any other preparation. The OP asked about taking the corresponding AP exams after completing the IB coursework. |