What Are Ib Classes In High School

What Do Colleges Think Of Ib And Ap

As it turns out, colleges don’t automatically consider AP or IB harder or more impressive on a transcript. Since IB is a rarer program, they can’t penalize students for not taking it. Plus, there are huge differences in how both AP and IB courses are taught and graded at high schools across the country.

Because of the differences in IB/AP course grading, collegesespecially the most selective onesjust want to see that you have taken the most challenging course load available at your school. So instead of worrying about AP versus IB, you should worry about taking the most rigorous classes your high school offers.

For example, Princeton says on its admissions website, “Whenever you can, challenge yourself with the most rigorous courses possible, such as honors, Advanced Placement , and dual-enrollment courses. We will evaluate the International Baccalaureate , A-levels, or another diploma in the context of the program’s curriculum” .

Princeton is more interested in how hard your schedule is considered at your school rather than whether you chose AP or IB.

So if your high school just has APs, then you should take some AP classes. If your high school has just the IB program, you should take some IB classes or, even better, go for the diploma. If your high school has both, you can take a mix.

How Do Colleges View The Ap

Nearly all U.S. and Canadian colleges accept AP scores for placement or credit, as do many international universities. The College Board provides a tool to see whether their scores are accepted.

As with IB exams, different colleges have different policies for awarding credit or placement based on AP exam score. Your child is more likely to earn one-to-one credit at public institutions or midtier private colleges, and to earn placement or acceleration at a highly selective college.

At the University of Maryland, for example, AP scores of 3 to 5 can be used to earn credit in a variety of subjects. At Haverford College, AP exams with scores of 4 or 5 can earn students up to four course credits . At Dartmouth, AP exams can exempt students from certain classes or place them in a higher level course, but wont count towards graduation.

So, there are two significant ways your child can benefit from AP courses: as a way for your child to demonstrate drive to top-tier schools, or as a way for them to earn course credit, graduate early, and avoid debt at a mid-tier or public school.

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Complete Guide To Ib Program

What will be covered in the article?

International Baccalaureate, or IB, is a two-year rigorous program for high school students from 16-19 years of age. This program will develop students into experts with excellent breadth and depth of knowledge. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a globally recognized diploma that will benefit them in the application process into global universities.

What will be covered in the article?

1. What is International Baccalaureate?

International Baccalaureate is a program for students from ages 3 to 19 that challenges them to excel and achieve in both their academic and personal lives. IB has four main educational programs:

• Primary Years: for students from age 3-12
• Middle Years: for students from age 11-16
• Diploma Programs : for students from age 16-19
• Career-related programs : designed for students from age 16-19

In this article, we will mainly discuss the Diploma Programs, because the IB Diploma Program is commonly offered throughout different secondary schools in America that offer international education. The difference between DP and CP lies in the focus on career development. CP students are required to take a minimum of 2 DP courses out of 6 subjects, on top of the core CP curriculum and an approved career-related study. The combination of two encourages and prepares students for higher education, an internship/externship, or an apprenticeship.

• Studies in Language and Literature
• Language Acquisition
• Mathematics

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What If A Student Does Not Live In The Case District But Want To Become An Ib Student

If your student attends Starbuck as an 8th grader, you need to select Case as your number one option during the School Choice process. Starbuck students who make that selection will receive priority admission to Case. If your student does not attend Starbuck, and you do not live in the boundaries for Case, you can select Case as your number one option during the School Choice process and hope to have your student selected in the lottery.

Key Differences Between Ib And Ap

Both the AP and IB programs offer challenging courses to high school students that you can earn college credit while doing. However, their philosophies and goals are quite different.

The AP program was developed in the United States to help high school students prepare for college by taking advanced courses, with no set program of courses. Students could take just one or even a dozen AP classes, depending on their school, schedule, and goals.

In contrast, IB was developed in Switzerland to be an internationally recognized diploma. To earn the diploma, you have to take a certain number of courses in a range of subjects. It is possible to take just a few IBs without earning the diploma, but IB was developed to be a set program of courses.

Now, let’s go over five key ways the two programs differ from each other.

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Group : Individuals And Societies

Subjects in this area encourage students to appreciate the physical, economic and social environments in our world. They also allow students to develop an understanding of the history of social and cultural institutions.

Subjects commonly offered in Group three include Business Management, Economics, Geography, History, Global Politics, Philosophy, Psychology, Information Technology in a Global Society, Anthropology and World Religions. However, not all IB schools offer every Group 3 course.

Learn more about Individuals and Societies.

The Ib Learner Profile

The aim of all IB programme’s is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

The IB learner profile represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities.

As IB Learners we strive to be:

Inquirers

We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

knowledgeable

We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

Thinkers

We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

Communicators

We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

Principled

We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

open-minded

caring

Risk-takers

Balanced

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Ap Courses Are More Common Than Ib Courses

There are 38 AP exams available. Although not every high school in the U.S. offers AP exams for all subjects, students can typically pursue several AP options at their school. According to the College Board, 1.2 million students took 4.1 million exams in 2020.

IB courses and programs are not as common in the U.S. As of July 2021, there were over 5,500 IB schools and 7,500 programs offered worldwide. Roughly 1.95 million students ages 3-19 participated in IB courses and programs however, less than half of these programs were based in the Americas.

Group : Language Acquisition

This group encourages proficiency in a second language and promotes understanding of other cultures by studying their language.

Students can study languages at two different levels: Ab initio courses are for beginners with little to no background in their chosen language. Language B courses are for students with some prior exposure to the language. Language B courses are available at a standard level or higher level.

Language selection depends on what your school offers.

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Ap Vs Ib: Which Is Right For You

Ultimately, most colleges do not consider AP or IB better than the other. Consider what classes are offered at your school to determine which program is right for you.

The IB diploma includes additional requirements, so factor in whether you have time to pursue this credential alongside your extracurriculars and other commitments. If you want, you can take IB courses without pursuing the diploma.

Although the IB diploma is impressive, taking several AP courses could allow you to earn more college credits and graduate college early. If your school doesn’t offer either IB or AP options, you can study for and take AP tests without enrolling in the courses.

What Are Ib Exams Like And How Are Ib Exams Graded

At the end of the school year students are subject to an exam period, during which they are tested over everything theyve learned in each of their IB classes.

Exams are graded from 1 to 7, and exam grades for classes in the same subject area are averaged so that at the end of exams, students have a score ranging from 1-7 for each of the six subjects. These are added together to give an overall IB score. The TOK and the Extended Essay may add a combined 3 points to a students total score. The highest possible IB diploma score is 45, but students who earn at least 24 points, do not have any failing scores, complete the entire curriculum, and meet other eligibility requirements are granted an IB diploma. A score of 1 is a failing score students with a 1 in any subject will not earn an IB diploma.

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Benefits Of Taking Ib Courses

Whether the college you ultimately attend gives college credit for IB courses or not, taking IB courses give great advantages to students:

What Is The Ib Program And What Are Ib Classes

One factor some students consider when choosing a high school is whether it has an International Baccalaureate program. Often compared with the Advanced Placement program, the IB program allows students to take college-level courses while in high school.

So what is International Baccalaureate? What is the IB Program and an IB Diploma, and why are IB classes worth taking? In this article, we introduce all things IB, including the Diploma requirements and features of the exams. We also explain whether you have to get an IB Diploma in order to earn college credit for your IB classes.

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Why Should You Take Ib Classes Or Pursue An Ib Diploma

On top of the opportunity for college credit, I truly think the IB program is the best preparation for collegeeven better than the community college classes I took in a dual enrollment program. IB prepares students to think globally and write about a variety of topics. I really believe in the IB program.

It provides students with more creative opportunities than do AP classes. Students are allowed to choose topics for their reports and are not typically assigned a specific area to research.

For example, I am very passionate about film and theatre. I got to explore that passion through my Extended Essay, and I also got to explore it in my oral presentation for my Spanish B class, in which I talked about Pedro Almodovar and Spanish cinema.

Also, I am very interested in my family history. As I mentioned. I wrote a report on Allied prisoners of war in Europe in WWII for my IB history class. My own grandfather was a prisoner of war. I got to track down details of his experiences and include it in my report.

Overall, IB is a fantastic program for students who love to read and learn about the world. It truly allows students to pursue their biggest interests and identify their passions.

Do Colleges Prefer Ap Or Ib

Colleges typically do not state a preference for AP or IB courses. Both options are rigorous and can help you earn college credit depending on your exam scores. If your school only offers AP or IB, you may want to simply stick with what is available.

If your school offers both, you should decide which program would be the most beneficial for you. While you can take both IB and AP courses, pursuing the IB diploma and preparing for AP exams may prove challenging. Unlike the IB program, AP offerings allow you to only take courses in the subjects you choose.

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What Are Ib Exams

For each of those six core classes, you also have to take an IB exam.IB exams are given in May . They have two parts: an external assessment and an internal assessment.

The external assessment is the more traditional exam portion and consists of two or three “papers,” typically done on the same day or a few days in a row. A paper is essentially an exam section, and they usually have a combination of multiple-choice, short-answer, extended-response, and data- or case-analysis questions.

You won’t spend much time bubbling in answers on an IB exam.

The papers are graded by independent examinerssimilar to how AP exams are graded by certified AP graders.

The internal assessments, however, are done by the teacher. These can include oral presentations, practical work , or other written work. Around 5% or more of the internal assessments will also be graded by a moderator appointed by the IB, and based on this moderation, the grading curve of that subject at the school will be set.

IB exams are graded on a scale of 1-7, with 6 and 7 considered an A, and anything 4 and up generally considered a passing score . Most colleges give IB credit for scores of 5 and higher.

To earn the IB Diploma, you need to score an average of 4 on each exam to get the minimum 24 needed points. You can learn more about IB exams on the IB website.

The Benefits Of The Ib Diploma Program

Universities recognize the outstanding qualities of IB Diploma Program students. Typically, diploma holders are ready to debate real-world issues from an international perspective and to provide leadership and support in the local and global community. They demonstrate a capacity for in-depth study while maintaining a broad perspective of the different subject areas. They are able to ask challenging questions but also know how to research a topic and express their opinion. They have a strong sense of their own culture and identity, as well as the ability to communicate in two or more languages with people who have a different perspective of the world.

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Factors To Consider When Comparing Ib Schools Or An Ib And A Non

If you’re comparing two or more IB DP schools or an IB School with a non-IB school, I recommend emailing the IB coordinator at each school and asking for the following:

• The school’s IB Diploma Rate however, this should not be the be-all and end-all. According to one IB coordinator, “IB allows schools to not count some students’ scores, so the school will not drop the student in order to help their percentage.” So, the rate may not be reflective of the whole school’s performance.

• What the admission criteria for their IB Programme is. Usually, this differs from the high school’s overall admission criteria.

• The overall graduation rate.

• How many graduates are headed to four-year colleges/universities.

You should also look at how long they have been an IB School . You can find this information on the IB school page .

If you’re comparing an IB school to a non-IB school, email someone in the administration at the non-IB school and ask for the following information:

• Overall graduation rate
• How many graduates are headed to four-year colleges/universities
• Admission criteria

The answer to these questions are important, and if the IB coordinator/administrator is not willing to answer them, you should be wary of the school.