Reply to If AP is more popular/better/more flexible, why does FCPS put IB in all the lower-ranked schools?

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Reply to "If AP is more popular/better/more flexible, why does FCPS put IB in all the lower-ranked schools?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm the OP... Please explain something b/c I must be missing  some facts.  Let's assume nobody at the IB schools gets the official IB degree.   If kids take IB classes and pass the IB test, my understanding is that many/most colleges are giving credit for passing the test.  This seems to be the same as AP --- kids get college credit for the classes they take in HS.  So, why is IB inferior to AP?  Forget about the IB diploma -- from a functional standpoint, kids take a few IB or AP classes, pass the tests, and get college credit.

What am I missing about the way IB works?[/quote]

You are basically right,but IB is more expensive and any IBO-accredited school has to offer all the courses needed to get a full IB diploma.  If students just take a few IB courses on an ad hoc basis, they aren't getting what the IBO considers the full, holistic enchilada and it begs the question as to why the school doesn't just offer AP, which is less expensive, instead.  In addition, some IB courses are two-year courses, so students not interested in the full diploma may be reluctant to sign up for them, since it will tie up their schedules.

Finally, you take AP exams at the end of the AP course, so many sophomores and juniors take AP exams.  If they do well, it encourages them to take more AP courses.  In comparison, IB students take most, if not all, IB exams at the end of their senior year, so they may have less concrete evidence as to how well they'll do on those exams as they are progressing through high school.  So it arguably functions best for those who've bought in to the full program from day one and are prepared to make the substantial time commitment.

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