Generally yes, but there's nothing to stop an IBD student from taking a HL test if they took at SL class then did some extra prep, as long as their school offers the HL test. Likewise, nothing to stop a kid from taking a Cambridge A-Level if they're willing to do some extra prep. IBD allows up to 4 subjects to be taken at the Higher Level, 1 more than the mandatory 3 at the HL.

IBD students can only take IB tests offered by their school the world over. This a policy drives some IB families to AP tests, which can be taken by any student at any school that will permit them to register for an exam (v. easy to register for AP exams not given at a kid's school via the College Board web site). If a kid's IB program isn't offering an exam in a certain subject, but AP is, or Cambridge is, the kid can easily take a non-IB subject test to demonstrate mastery.

There's another reason to take AP or Cambridge tests, to recover from lackluster grades in an IB program. Let's say an IB kid suffers from a personal setback junior or senior impacting their grades for a time, but recovers and learns the all course content through self prep. If the kid takes the corresponding AP or Cambridge exam and scores high, they recover academically in the eyes of colleges. For example, if a kid gets a B one quarter in IB SL chem but scores a 5 on AP chem, or an A on Cambridge AS-Level chem, all is probably forgiven when applying to even the most competitive colleges.

It's worth knowing that 100% IBD exam scores don't come from the tests themselves. Class work accounts for 20-30% of the exam score, depending on the IB subject. If the course work didn't go as well as it might of, but the kid is capable and diligent, not a bad idea to double up on taking AP and Cambridge exams to try to recover from mediocre grades.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you stick with DCI for HS, you want to look up IB rules about testing yourself on the IB Geneva web site. The rules say that kids can only take 2 SL exams early, in June of junior year. You want to have your kid do this, although it's not required by DCI or by IB Geneva. Make sure your kid prepares for the test by taking a couple SL subjects that are offered as 1-year classes, geography, environmental systems, a few other options, so they're well prepared for early exams.

AP language exams are easier than IB (hardly any speaking or listening on AP) so have your kid take AP language in May of junior year. A few enterprising DCI parents have kids take Cambridge AS-Level Exams in Nov of senior year at the British Intl School of DC (look that up) to add standardized test scores for college applications. I'm not sure how seriously colleges take "predicted IB exam scores" on the remaining IB exams taken in June of senior year on applications.
The counselors claim that predicted scores are as good as real IBD test scores, which I highly doubt.

You get the message, you want to make sure that your kid has some standardized test scores before applying to colleges in Jan of senior year.

Thank you, this is interesting and helpful.

2 Questions:

1. What is an "SL exam"? I assume the L is language, but SL?

2. What is a "Cambridge AS-Level Exam"?

SL stood for subsidiary level when I was an Ib student. I is now “standard level”. You need to take a certain number of exams Higher level and a certain amount of exams standard level.

No clue about the Cambridge exams since I wouldn’t send my kid to the UK.l

And this means you need to take a certain number (3?) of HL classes and the rest are SL. You take the test that corresponds with the class level you took.

Cambridge Exams are catching up in the US in large part because the College Board ditched SAT II subject exams, what used to be called Achievement Tests, a few years ago.

SAT IIs were v. helpful to American IB Diploma students to show mastery of subjects IB doesn't test until June of senior year. SAT IIs used to be given several times a year, like the regular SATs.

I remember taking 3 or 4 SATs as an IBD student. I went to a top 10 SLAC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you stick with DCI for HS, you want to look up IB rules about testing yourself on the IB Geneva web site. The rules say that kids can only take 2 SL exams early, in June of junior year. You want to have your kid do this, although it's not required by DCI or by IB Geneva. Make sure your kid prepares for the test by taking a couple SL subjects that are offered as 1-year classes, geography, environmental systems, a few other options, so they're well prepared for early exams.

AP language exams are easier than IB (hardly any speaking or listening on AP) so have your kid take AP language in May of junior year. A few enterprising DCI parents have kids take Cambridge AS-Level Exams in Nov of senior year at the British Intl School of DC (look that up) to add standardized test scores for college applications. I'm not sure how seriously colleges take "predicted IB exam scores" on the remaining IB exams taken in June of senior year on applications.
The counselors claim that predicted scores are as good as real IBD test scores, which I highly doubt.

You get the message, you want to make sure that your kid has some standardized test scores before applying to colleges in Jan of senior year.

Thank you, this is interesting and helpful.

2 Questions:

1. What is an "SL exam"? I assume the L is language, but SL?

2. What is a "Cambridge AS-Level Exam"?

SL stood for subsidiary level when I was an Ib student. I is now “standard level”. You need to take a certain number of exams Higher level and a certain amount of exams standard level.

No clue about the Cambridge exams since I wouldn’t send my kid to the UK.l

Cambridge International Exams are a UK exam brand that's catching on in elite college admissions in this country mainly because, unlike AP exams, they're given in both Nov and May/June. Highly competitive US colleges know Cambridge exams well because they're v. popular abroad, taken by foreign students applying to US colleges from around the world, particularly from British Commonwealth countries.

Cambridge exams can be taken on three levels, GCSE (10th grade), AS-Level (11th grade, half an A-Level) and A-Level (roughly comparable to the content of a Higher Level IB exam). Cambridge tests in 55 subjects, AP only in 32, so if your kid has a quirky interest they've developed, like Marine Biology, or Islamic Studies, or Accounting, they can demonstrate mastery by taking a Cambridge Exam. AS-Level Cambridge is roughly comparable to AP. Detailed curricula for Cambridge exams are published on the company's web site and prep materials aren't hard to come by.

Some kids like Cambridge exams because there's no multiple choice, kids have to write out answers and spell out math problems. These exams are more sophisticated than AP. Colleges like to see good Cambridge exam scores partly because they show initiative - here's what I'm good at, here's what I like, here's an extra test score to show what I know. Cambridge Exams run you around $200 at the DC British Intl school, easy to register. Good option for the unusually enterprising in US college admissions.

You know every post about acceptances is a lie right? What is the point of these posts?

I totally agree - Get a freaking life !! Rivals?? Good Lord!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you stick with DCI for HS, you want to look up IB rules about testing yourself on the IB Geneva web site. The rules say that kids can only take 2 SL exams early, in June of junior year. You want to have your kid do this, although it's not required by DCI or by IB Geneva. Make sure your kid prepares for the test by taking a couple SL subjects that are offered as 1-year classes, geography, environmental systems, a few other options, so they're well prepared for early exams.

AP language exams are easier than IB (hardly any speaking or listening on AP) so have your kid take AP language in May of junior year. A few enterprising DCI parents have kids take Cambridge AS-Level Exams in Nov of senior year at the British Intl School of DC (look that up) to add standardized test scores for college applications. I'm not sure how seriously colleges take "predicted IB exam scores" on the remaining IB exams taken in June of senior year on applications.
The counselors claim that predicted scores are as good as real IBD test scores, which I highly doubt.

You get the message, you want to make sure that your kid has some standardized test scores before applying to colleges in Jan of senior year.

Thank you, this is interesting and helpful.

2 Questions:

1. What is an "SL exam"? I assume the L is language, but SL?

2. What is a "Cambridge AS-Level Exam"?

SL stood for subsidiary level when I was an Ib student. I is now “standard level”. You need to take a certain number of exams Higher level and a certain amount of exams standard level.

No clue about the Cambridge exams since I wouldn’t send my kid to the UK.l

Anonymous wrote:If you stick with DCI for HS, you want to look up IB rules about testing yourself on the IB Geneva web site. The rules say that kids can only take 2 SL exams early, in June of junior year. You want to have your kid do this, although it's not required by DCI or by IB Geneva. Make sure your kid prepares for the test by taking a couple SL subjects that are offered as 1-year classes, geography, environmental systems, a few other options, so they're well prepared for early exams.

AP language exams are easier than IB (hardly any speaking or listening on AP) so have your kid take AP language in May of junior year. A few enterprising DCI parents have kids take Cambridge AS-Level Exams in Nov of senior year at the British Intl School of DC (look that up) to add standardized test scores for college applications. I'm not sure how seriously colleges take "predicted IB exam scores" on the remaining IB exams taken in June of senior year on applications.
The counselors claim that predicted scores are as good as real IBD test scores, which I highly doubt.

You get the message, you want to make sure that your kid has some standardized test scores before applying to colleges in Jan of senior year.

Thank you, this is interesting and helpful.

2 Questions:

1. What is an "SL exam"? I assume the L is language, but SL?

2. What is a "Cambridge AS-Level Exam"?

I am a DCI parent. There is a Yale admit and a Harvard admit in terms of ivies (two different kids).

Anonymous wrote:I earned an IB Diploma at one of the first 50 public schools in the country to offer IB. My school was in a small, mainly working-class town. I wound up at a top 10 SLAC because of IB.

From where I sit, the best way to head off IBD studies burnout is push rigor in middle school.

We supplement in core subjects at DCI and don't plan to stay for HS.

Are you from SSP?

I earned an IB Diploma at one of the first 50 public schools in the country to offer IB. My school was in a small, mainly working-class town. I wound up at a top 10 SLAC because of IB.

From where I sit, the best way to head off IBD studies burnout is push rigor in middle school.

We supplement in core subjects at DCI and don't plan to stay for HS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your poor children. Making them do AP tests on top of IB exams? That’s insane.

You sound like you've been talking to the DCI college counselors. Hint: the best UMC admissions results are coming from families hiring their own.

Actually, you sound like a snowplow parent. Hope your kid doesn't get so burned out that they fail in college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at DCI but heard they have 2 ED to Ivy and few other top schools this year.

They had Ivy admits last year too.

They only have had 3 graduating classes so not a lot of past info to follow. But above is impressive for a school only in their 4th graduating class this year I believe.


Frankly I don’t care about Ivy admits and not shooting for that although DC is high performing and we are in a feeder. I care more that they have the IB diploma which will prepare my kid for college.

I went to a state school on a full scholarship and turned our way more than fine.

You heard? Feel free to post the schools.

DCI will post the list of colleges for the class of 2023 in 2026 when they update the website, so we can then see if what you “heard” is correct.

They have posted currently the Class of 2020 college list, which has zero Ivies.

You mean the 1st graduating class OK. 2nd and 3rd class is different story

I mean the only one DCI has bothered to post on its website.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at DCI but heard they have 2 ED to Ivy and few other top schools this year.

They had Ivy admits last year too.

They only have had 3 graduating classes so not a lot of past info to follow. But above is impressive for a school only in their 4th graduating class this year I believe.


Frankly I don’t care about Ivy admits and not shooting for that although DC is high performing and we are in a feeder. I care more that they have the IB diploma which will prepare my kid for college.

I went to a state school on a full scholarship and turned our way more than fine.

You heard? Feel free to post the schools.

DCI will post the list of colleges for the class of 2023 in 2026 when they update the website, so we can then see if what you “heard” is correct.

They have posted currently the Class of 2020 college list, which has zero Ivies.

You mean the 1st graduating class OK. 2nd and 3rd class is different story

The DCI counselors don't necessarily advise students that they can take two Standard Level IB tests junior year. Most teachers don't seem to know this either. As far as I know, most students don't take early IB tests.

You have to push for this to happen for your student.

Anonymous wrote:Your poor children. Making them do AP tests on top of IB exams? That’s insane.

You sound like you've been talking to the DCI college counselors. Hint: the best UMC admissions results are coming from families hiring their own.