why do people prefer AP schools to IB?

[Anonymous]

Don't understand why one is preferable to the other.... is there some major difference academically?

[Anonymous]

AP and IB classes are similar. There is an IB Diploma that requires a specific series of courses as well as additional work. There is no "AP Diploma", students can take as many or as few classes as they want.

[Anonymous]

Racism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AP and IB classes are similar. There is an IB Diploma that requires a specific series of courses as well as additional work. There is no "AP Diploma", students can take as many or as few classes as they want.

Additionally, the IB Diploma includes a lot of writing/language arts while AP classes may not be focused so much on English/LA. Students who are more STEM focused typically prefer to take AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Some colleges award credit for AP and not IB courses. Or at least that's the rumor.

[Anonymous]

AP allows for more flexibility in terms of course selection and allows students to take more math/science classes. IB is more prescriptive and forces kids to jump through the same series of pre-ordained hoops. Also, in FCPS, IB was put in mostly lower performing schools decades ago and hasn't really improved them.

[Anonymous]

1) Talkers like IB. Doers like AP.
2) If your kid moves into or out of an IB school mid-HS, they're screwed in terms of being properly placed.
3) Too many menial hoops in IB.
4) The principals at IB schools lie through their teeth about IB being the best educational program ever. But I guess when you say it repeatedly, you start to actually believe yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Talkers like IB. Doers like AP.
2) If your kid moves into or out of an IB school mid-HS, they're screwed in terms of being properly placed.
3) Too many menial hoops in IB.
4) The principals at IB schools lie through their teeth about IB being the best educational program ever. But I guess when you say it repeatedly, you start to actually believe yourself.

Full-on BS above.

IB is harder. Has more writing, and more restrictions. The "my kid is sooooo STEM focused" set prefers multiple choice tests and doesn't think a future scientist or engineer or physician needs to be able to write or be able to do interdisciplinary analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1) Talkers like IB. Doers like AP.
2) If your kid moves into or out of an IB school mid-HS, they're screwed in terms of being properly placed.
3) Too many menial hoops in IB.
4) The principals at IB schools lie through their teeth about IB being the best educational program ever. But I guess when you say it repeatedly, you start to actually believe yourself.

Full-on BS above.

IB is harder. Has more writing, and more restrictions. The "my kid is sooooo STEM focused" set prefers multiple choice tests and doesn't think a future scientist or engineer or physician needs to be able to write or be able to do interdisciplinary analysis.

And yet the top schools in FCPS are all AP, and most of the bottom-feeders are IB. The IB hype ran its course about 15 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Racism.

That's ridiculous and a very low-thought answer.

IB has a lot of "hoops" or maybe very specific hoops. AP is a la carte. If you want to take 3 science AP classes === you can do that. If you want to focus more on the english/history end, you can do that. The classes are stand-alone, so it isn't part of a "program." You can take IB classes as "stand alone" but you will be doing so against the spirit of the program (which is to earn the IB diploma). The diploma requires one IB class in each of six areas, 4 of which need to be higher level classes (i.e. IB classes that go for 2 yrs rather than one). All the tests have to be taken at the end of the senior year (I think you can maybe take one or two after junior year). There is an additional "Theory of Knowledge" class. And you have to do 150 hrs of community service, but it has to be broken up into three specific genres. On the one hand, it seems like a real accomplishment to complete the whole thing. On the other hand, it seems like it is more rigid in what you can choose and what you must do... which may not work out very well for teens who have a hard time committing to their plans for tomorrow, much less committing to take several classes for two full years each.

AP seems to have more to offer in STEM areas. I think AP gives kids the opportunity to take college level classes without the stigma of not completing a whole program. The "pick and choose" style of AP lends itself to more kids (with varying abilities). Whereas the IB program seems to be better for kids who are fully committed from the get go. You can still do well taking some IB classes.... so you can make either system work for you.

[Anonymous]

Military. AP has more portability. AP allows a kid to focus on their favorite subjects or take a broad variety of subjects. AP translates into college credit in many cases.

IB schools in fcps are almost all.low performing. A large, high quality student cohort isn't there at most IB schools.

[Anonymous]

They're two very different, but equally valuable programs. AP provides a wider variety of alacarte classes, and IB provides a comprehensive and writing-focused program.

Word on the street is that AP students get more college credits, but IB students are more prepared for college level writing.

Either program can be tailored to be heavy in either English, History, Science, or math.

AP classes are one year long
Some IB classes are one year and some are two years

IB has a bad rep in fairfax county because it was placed in the lower performing schools, however in most other areas it is a highly desired program.

Definitely don't rely on this board for info. There are several nuts who enjoy bashing each program. Do your own research and draw your own conclusion

[Anonymous]

IB is a dumb idea that is a waste of money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're two very different, but equally valuable programs. AP provides a wider variety of alacarte classes, and IB provides a comprehensive and writing-focused program.

Word on the street is that AP students get more college credits, but IB students are more prepared for college level writing.

Either program can be tailored to be heavy in either English, History, Science, or math.

AP classes are one year long
Some IB classes are one year and some are two years

IB has a bad rep in fairfax county because it was placed in the lower performing schools, however in most other areas it is a highly desired program.

Definitely don't rely on this board for info. There are several nuts who enjoy bashing each program. Do your own research and draw your own conclusion

Eight IB schools in FCPS produced a grand total of 13 NMSF this fall. The 16 AP schools, excluding TJ, had 65. With TJ, which offers AP and higher-level courses, the 17 AP schools had 210 NMSF. IB over-promises and under-delivers by every metric. It's no surprise the parents zoned for the wealthiest school districts in FCPS want to keep AP, while IB was foisted on the low-performing schools and hasn't managed to turn them around.

[Anonymous]

Parents view AP as more flexible, meeting the needs of more students. You might have a student who takes 1 AP only their whole HS career, or 3. It's open enrollment.