Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not following your logic. Taking SOME AP courses is equivalent to taking SOME IB courses. They are both advanced coursework. Students in an IB school do NOT have to get the full IB diploma - they can take IB courses a la carte.

If you feel that the advantage to taking a single AP class is college credit:

1. AP credit is not always accepted in college
2. IB credit credit can be given at college in the same way AP credit can
3. IB students can still take AP exams if they feel that the AP credit is more likely to be accepted at a school

Different poster here, but I think some of the skepticism arises from the fact that IB proponents sometimes suggest that the IB program is a well-designed sequence of inter-connected courses that, taken together, help students learn "how to think" and prepare them for college-level classes. But, when someone points out that few students at IB high schools in FCPS actually pursue or receive IB diplomas, the immediate response is that individual IB classes are just as valuable as AP classes taken "a la carte."

To which the response is two-fold: (1) if the full diploma program were as beneficial as claimed, you'd expect to see greater enthusiasm and demand for IB, both within existing IB schools and at AP schools that don't offer IB; and (2) if IB is really just the same thing as AP, why bother incurring the additional expense associated with IB, such as dedicated IB coordinators at individual schools. If feels like a game of "whack-a-mole" that avoids the ultimate question as to why not just go with AP. Yes, IB students can sign up for AP exams without having taken AP classes, but they have to prepare for those exams on their own - and we're told that the IB diploma is so rigorous that you'd wonder when students would ever find time to study for an AP exam.

The full diploma seems very beneficial. But, lots of kids can't do it. You must: take and pass an exam in a 2 year class in: a 4th & 5th year foreign language; BC calculus level math, a science, a history, English, and one elective (some electives are only one year, like psychology). 3-4 of these must be at HL, generally though more rigorous than AP. That's the equivalent of 11-12 AP classes. Plus take a 2 semester theory of knowledge class (lots of kids take it in the evening because they don't have room in their schedule), conduct independent research and write a 4000 word paper, and complete 150 extra hours in service (50 hours), performance/arts (50 hours) and action/sports (50 hours). You also have to take an approaches to learning seminar. Almost all of this is done junior and senior years. If you miss one element you're not a diploma candidate. So yeah, lots of students do the program a la carte, because they can't or don't want to meet the requirements. But for those who get through successfully, it's a big accomplishment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not following your logic. Taking SOME AP courses is equivalent to taking SOME IB courses. They are both advanced coursework. Students in an IB school do NOT have to get the full IB diploma - they can take IB courses a la carte.

If you feel that the advantage to taking a single AP class is college credit:

1. AP credit is not always accepted in college
2. IB credit credit can be given at college in the same way AP credit can
3. IB students can still take AP exams if they feel that the AP credit is more likely to be accepted at a school

Different poster here, but I think some of the skepticism arises from the fact that IB proponents sometimes suggest that the IB program is a well-designed sequence of inter-connected courses that, taken together, help students learn "how to think" and prepare them for college-level classes. But, when someone points out that few students at IB high schools in FCPS actually pursue or receive IB diplomas, the immediate response is that individual IB classes are just as valuable as AP classes taken "a la carte."

To which the response is two-fold: (1) if the full diploma program were as beneficial as claimed, you'd expect to see greater enthusiasm and demand for IB, both within existing IB schools and at AP schools that don't offer IB; and (2) if IB is really just the same thing as AP, why bother incurring the additional expense associated with IB, such as dedicated IB coordinators at individual schools. If feels like a game of "whack-a-mole" that avoids the ultimate question as to why not just go with AP. Yes, IB students can sign up for AP exams without having taken AP classes, but they have to prepare for those exams on their own - and we're told that the IB diploma is so rigorous that you'd wonder when students would ever find time to study for an AP exam.

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not following your logic. Taking SOME AP courses is equivalent to taking SOME IB courses. They are both advanced coursework. Students in an IB school do NOT have to get the full IB diploma - they can take IB courses a la carte.

If you feel that the advantage to taking a single AP class is college credit:

1. AP credit is not always accepted in college
2. IB credit credit can be given at college in the same way AP credit can
3. IB students can still take AP exams if they feel that the AP credit is more likely to be accepted at a school

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is what I still don't understand. Taking half AP courses, the benefit is obvious. But talking (only) half IB courses, what benefit? Seems like IB is all or nothing.

I'm not following your logic. Taking SOME AP courses is equivalent to taking SOME IB courses. They are both advanced coursework. Students in an IB school do NOT have to get the full IB diploma - they can take IB courses a la carte.

If you feel that the advantage to taking a single AP class is college credit:

1. AP credit is not always accepted in college
2. IB credit credit can be given at college in the same way AP credit can
3. IB students can still take AP exams if they feel that the AP credit is more likely to be accepted at a school