Do Ib Or Ap Classes Have Better Teachers At Your School
Does your school have the same or different teachers for AP and IB courses? What are their reputations? The quality of a teacher can make or break your experience in a class.
You can ask upperclassmen about their experience in certain classes, or see if there is a way you can look at syllabi from current and past years for AP and IB classes.
You can also ask your guidance counselor about the exam pass rates for different teachers. This can give you a sense of a class’s reputation and how many students are successful.
From Prek To Graduation
For children ages 3 to 12, IB focuses on six themes: who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet. Students examine these ideas through a variety of prisms, by considering works that focus on language, social studies, math, arts, science, and personal, social, and physical education.
The interdisciplinary approach continues in the Middle Years Program for students ages 11 to 16. Since this program doesnt align perfectly with U.S. middle school ages, students may complete their Middle Years studies during their sophomore year of high school. Students consider IBs five areas of interaction approaches to learning, community and service, human ingenuity, environments, and health and social education while learning the usual middle school subjects, plus technology and a foreign language. At the end, students do a personal project that usually springs from the students interests. At one California high school, projects have included a board game, a skateboarding video, and a self-help book for teens. At Yonkers, one student interested in forensics created a murder scene.
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 I Consider The Ib Programme
International Baccalaureate programs are offered and recognized worldwide. The idea is that students in a variety of different countries will learn the same curriculum during high school. When it comes time for students to apply for college, institutes of higher education will know exactly what an applicants high school curriculum entailed. Theyll also know that the student has met college entry requirements.
Within the United States alone, over 1,600 colleges have policies that recognize the IB coursework that students completed in high school. For some institutions, qualifying grades on IB exams are enough to bestow college credit, while at other institutions, qualifying grades may not provide credit but may allow students to skip ahead past introductory-level classes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ib And Ap Classes
It depends. Some students argue that IB is more challenging because of the emphasis on critical thinking and the more application-focused evaluations. However, both IB and AP classes are considered college-level courses that many students find challenging.
Most schools will allow you to take both AP and IB courses. However, depending on the school and your course schedule, completing the IB Diploma Programme while taking AP courses may not be possible. Check with your school to find out what its policy is.
According to a survey released in 2011 by the International Insight Research Group , compared to the general acceptance rate, the acceptance rate of IB students into Ivy League institutions was 3-13 percentage points higher.
Harvard does not explicitly state a preference for IB or AP courses. To receive credit for IB classes, accepted students must earn an IB diploma. Incoming students must earn a score of 5 on at least four AP exams to earn college credit at Harvard.
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College Credit For The Ib Program
Policies regarding credit for IB and AP exams vary from school to school, so please check the website of schools that interest you for their policies. The document below summarizes the credit policies for some of the schools our students apply to most often: American University, The College of William and Mary, Virginia Tech, Towson University, Salisbury University, and the University of Maryland at College Park.
Why Are Ib Classes Worth Taking
The IB classes are unique from other advanced classes, like an honors-level class or Advanced Placement courses, because they fit into the educational ecosystem created by IB. The classes are part of the IB diploma and intentionally developed to promote interdisciplinary learning and critical thinking across different fields of study.
Furthermore, all classes within the IB diploma program advance the goals of developing students within the learner profiles, and this consistent approach further enhances the relationship between all classes within the IB program.
What are the IB Subjects?
The IB diploma begins in Grade 11, and focuses on three core elements
- the theory of knowledge, where students reflect on how we know what we know
- the extended essay, which requires students to write an independent research paper, and
- the CAS project, which stands for creativity, activity, and service, which requires students to create a project based on those three themes.
The classes within the IB diploma fall under six subject groups: studies in
- mathematics
- and the arts
As part of the diploma, students select classes from each of these subject groups to create their own academic path. Some of these classes are one year courses , which require 150 hours of study. Other classes take place over two years, , and require 240 hours of study to complete.
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Alumni Shaping The Future
To celebrate the IBs 50th anniversary, wed like you to meet some of our alumni who graduated from the IB Diploma Programme and went on to report from war zones, change the lives of refugees, create beautiful music, and soar through space. Our alumni do incredible things every day to make their communityand the worlda better, more peaceful place. These are just a few who represent what it means to be an IB graduate, and what it means to put the skills learned in the IB into practice.
What Makes Ib Different
All IB diploma candidates must complete coursework and take exams in six different areas of study. Students select three courses at the higher level , which involves two years of study at the IB level, and three courses at the standard level , which involves one or two years at the IB level. DP Curriculum and Core
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Ready To Start Your Journey
- The IB program is an international program focused on critical thinking and global awareness.
- The AP program offers courses that allow students to earn college credit in high school.
- IB and AP are different programs that offer engaging, challenging coursework for students.
High school students can take advantage of several programs that will challenge them academically and allow them to earn college credit. Many first-year college students enter school with college credit thanks to IB or AP classes.
Although both the IB program and AP program can help students learn higher-level thinking and analysis skills, the two programs are very different. Read on to discover what makes each path unique.
Recap: Determining Whether Ap Vs Ib Is A Better Fit For You
Taking either AP or IB classes will look very good on your college applications, as it shows you’re challenging yourself with college-level courses. There’s no real preference or benefit from doing one program or the other, as long as you do well in your chosen courses.
As one admission officer at Northwestern stated, “One qualification is not better than another.”
However, you want to make sure that you are doing well in your classes and not overloading. There’s no point in taking 10 AP classes or the IB diploma if you get a low GPA and don’t pass the exams.
Finally, you want to be sure that other parts of your application are strong, especially your ACT/SAT score. Along with your transcript and GPA, your ACT/SAT score can have an enormous impact on your admission chances, especially at selective schools.
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What Is International Baccalaureate
Standing in front of the room, the speaker veers back and forth between two disparate works of literature: Shakespeares Macbeth and Ken Keseys 1962 novel One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. In both works, gender roles advance the plot, he says, offering an array of examples to illustrate his point. Its a typical English class at Yonkers High School. The speaker holding the attention of a couple dozen students is a high school junior.
In-depth discussion controlled largely by students is what International Baccalaureate is all about. for students in international schools, IB is now offered in 5,175 schools across 157 countries with 1,852 public and private schools in the U.S. IB has gained popularity for setting high standards and emphasizing creative and critical thinking. IB students are responsible for their own learning, choosing topics and devising their own projects, while teachers act more as supervisors or mentors than sources of facts. IB emphasizes research and encourages students to learn from their peers, with students actively critiquing one anothers work. Beyond preparing students for critical thinking and college-level work, the full IB program calls for students to express themselves through writing, requires community service, and aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
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.
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How Does College Credit Work For Ib
IB exams are recognized for college credit in a way similar to how AP exams are used. You don’t have to earn the IB Diploma to get credit for individual classes, as colleges give credit course by course. For example, check out Stanford’s chart for IB credit.
Most IB classes come in two forms: Higher Level and Standard Level . We will discuss this in more detail below. Some colleges only give credit for HL classes, as Stanford does.
Also, some colleges will completely waive General Education requirements for students who have completed the full IB Diploma. See the University of Utah’s policy here as an example.
This means that a student with an IB Diploma could totally skip Gen Ed classes and jump right into their major. This would obviously save a ton of time and money, and shows why getting the IB Diploma can be a huge advantage.
To find a school’s policy on IB credit, search for ” IB credit policy.” Most universities have a dedicated web page for explaining their IB credit policies.
A Look At The International Baccalaureate Program
The International Baccalaureate program provides a course of study and tools for assessing students as well as programs for training teachers. The non-profit International Baccalaureate Foundation, based in Geneva, Switzerland, has consultative status with UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Students in the IB program are assessed by their own teachers as well as by international educators from around the world. Nearly 30,000 students are assessed each year by the IB Organization, and usually 80 per cent of students graduate with a diploma recognized by such esteemed universities as the Sorbonne, Yale and Oxford.
Ontario schools have a rigorous curriculum. But IB schools have an internationally recognized and sanctioned curriculum. They have a , , and .
The International Baccalaureate Program , a blueprint for learning designed 30 years ago for the children of globetrotting diplomats, is now used in more than 800 schools from Singapore to Sweden, including 117 here in Canada.
Developed in Switzerland by blending elements from various national school systems, the new hybrid two-year pre-university program was intended as a sort of “curriculum without borders” that would translate into any language and equip students for university in a number of different countries.
In an age of growing demands for standardization and rich course content, the International Baccalaureate appears to be an idea whose time has come.
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Outcomes Of Ib Classes
In addition to university readiness, DP students are also more likely to persist at university . A study conducted by IB and SRI Education found that DP graduates in the United States experienced more positive postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and graduation rates than the average American high school student.
An earlier study found that students that received the full IB Diploma were 35% more likely to enroll in higher education, and 40% more likely to graduate from a four-year institution than the average American high school student.
Longer-Term Outcomes
While many students focus on more immediate outcomes of the IB program, the benefits extend far past university. A global study of IB alumni found that the IB has the potential to powerfully shape the lives of the students who participate in its programs.
A majority of former IB students in the study reported experiencing profound and long-lasting effects. These are consistent with the goals of the IB Learner Profile, a roadmap for student development. Examples of these longer-term impacts include:
- the development of international-mindedness
- positive dispositions towards lifelong learning
How Much Does It Cost To Take An Ib Exam
Unfortunately, these exams are not free. Students must pay $172.00 to register for the exam period and an additional $119.00 per subject test. Students who are typically eligible for fee waivers should talk to their IB coordinators or guidance counselors to learn about the possibility of reduced or free testing.
Page last updated: 05/2019
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Can I Take An Ib Exam If I Took An Ib Class But Im Not Enrolled In The Ib Programme
Yes, students who take an IB class, regardless of whether they participate in the IB Diploma Programme, can sit for the associated IB exam.
Students who take only a couple of IB courses throughout their high school education will earn individual grades on each exam, like students aiming for diplomas. However, their scores will not be averaged to calculate subject scores and instead will stand on their own. Students can submit these scores to prospective institutions to determine if they will be awarded any college credit. Check with your institution to see if it accepts IB exam scores and rewards high scores with credit. Even if a school does not give credit for IB exams, the IB curriculum is internationally recognized, and taking IB classes and doing well on the associated exams enhances a students competitiveness on their college applications.
An Internationally Acceptable University Admissions Qualification
At the outset, the IB Diploma Programme was created for students 16-19. It was first envisaged as a diploma that would be recognized at universities around the world, and would be recognized as academically rigorous. The curriculum was written with that goal in mind.
Since, the IB curriculum has been expanded with the creation the and the . The PYP was created for students between the ages of 3 and 12, and the MYP for students 11 to 16. The was added in 2012, and uses the framework and values of the IB diploma programme to address the needs of students ages 16-19 in a career-related course of study. To complete the CP students take a minimum of two IB Diploma Programme courses, a core program consisting of four components, including a career-related study, and sit standardized exams.
Schools that offer IB programmes for all age groups, beginning with the primary years and culminating in the secondary diploma, refer to themselves as IB Continuum Schools. Schools typically develop the IB continuum over time, adding programs as the school grows, and in response to the needs of the student population.
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Advice From An Expert: Is International Baccalaureate Right For Me
Dr. Robert Bouressa is the Director of College Guidance for Saint Andrews School in Boca Raton, FL. He is the former Diploma Coordinator for IB Students at Saint Andrews, and now counsels IB students on college choice. Prior to joining the school, he spent 10 years as the Director of Admission and College Counseling and worked within the IB program at the Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro.