IB Diploma Program and Advanced Placement
Not many high schools get to offer multiple prestigious college-prep programs like the IB Diploma Program and Advanced Placement. That's a great opportunity for students at Central, but it creates some difficult choices going into 11th and 12th grade. Both of these programs have interesting classes, caring teachers (sometimes the same teachers working in both programs), and the possibility of earning college credit at colleges and universities with a qualifying exam score. The question is not, "which is better," but rather, "which is better for me?"
Here are some of the similarities and differences between IB DP and AP classes:
IB and AP comparison
|
IB Diploma Program (IB DP) |
Advanced Placement |
|
- IB DP classes are part of a larger, integrated program with a common vision of learning and student success |
- AP classes are offered individually and built around a commitment to advanced curriculum in each subject |
|
- IB DP classes cover a wide range of topics representative of college study in a particular subject |
- AP classes cover a wide range of topics representative of college study in a particular subject |
|
-The IB DP offers cohort programs (full IB Diploma, IB Scholar with Distinction) |
- AP offers levels of recognition (AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, AP Scholar with Distinction) for taking and scoring well on multiple exams. |
|
- Students must take the class in order to take the IB examination in May |
- Students do not need to take the class in order to take the AP examination in May |
|
- IB DP courses and exams are restricted to 11th and 12th graders |
- Students can begin taking AP classes and exams in 9th grade |
|
- Formal assessment combines work done in class (the IA) with a timed exam in May, such that part of a student's 1-7 score is complete before they sit for the May exam. May exams for a subject are usually broken up over two days |
- Formal assessment takes the form of a single exam taken in May. A student's 1-5 score comes from their performance on this exam |
|
- Qualifying scores on IB DP exams are accepted for college credit at most colleges and universities. Some schools will offer credit only for high scores on Higher Level (HL) exams |
- Qualifying scores on AP exams are accepted for college credit at most colleges and universities |
|
- The IB DP has the "IB Core" program, built around developing research skills, thinking critically about knowledge, and reflecting on one's engagement with the world |
null |