Reply to IB Program- What is it? IB or AP?

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Reply to "IB Program- What is it? IB or AP?"

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[quote=Anonymous]The quick and dirty answer -- IB is a very rigorous program of studies.  You can earn the IB diploma by taking a series of classes (many are 2 yrs long) and taking the tests at the end, plus you have a written project and service hours to do.  It is focus more on a cohesive philosophy of learning with a global influence.  Most people who start into it do not finish it and you won't know if you get the IB degree until after you have graduated.

AP is a set of stand-alone courses that last one year each with a test at the end.  You can take one or 10, but none of them are necessarily related to the others (unless it is a higher level of the same subject).  AP is considered better suited to kids with math/science interests b/c there are more offerings than under IB in those subjects.

Colleges are now giving credit for both AP and IB classes, but each college can set a different score for which they will give credit.  Some colleges will not give credit for AP/IB classes if those classes are part of your major program of study (i.e. you may have to take calculus at StateU if you want to be an engineering major even though you passed the AP Calculus exam in HS.  If you are a biology major, they may give you credit for it.)

IMO IB sounds like a great program (from an adult perspective), but in practice most kids find it too onerous or limiting even when they had full intentions of completing it when they started.  AP allows for much more of a "pick and choose" process.

If you are zoned for an IB school, you can opt out to go to the assigned AP school, but you will have to provide your own transportation and you must take at least 4 AP classes.  [/quote]

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