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How is IB different than AP?

• AP is a United States program created by the College Board.

• IB is a worldwide program headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.  IB offers 4 challenging programs worldwide:  

  • • Primary Years

    • Middle Years 

    • Career-related      

    • Diploma

  • The IB curriculum is the same throughout the United States and the world.

  • IB focuses on a student’s depth of learning not on preparing a student to take an exam

  • IB courses focus on world perspectives

  • IB courses involve research and written components. (all courses)

  • IB uses multiple assessments to determine a student's IB score. All courses use internal and external assessments.  

  • IB assessments are internationally standardized

Just like Advanced Placement (AP), IB provides:

• Rigorous and challenging learning opportunities

• A GPA point bump (5-point scale) for IB DP courses in 11th and 12th grades

• End of course exams – exemplary scores translate to college credit – IB DP courses in 11th and 12th grades

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 (AP vs IB) 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.

(from https://blog.prepscholar.com/whats-better-for-you-ib-or-ap)

What's the difference between honors courses, AP classes, and International Baccalaureate classes?_VIDEO

• • International Baccalaureate courses are widely recognized by the world’s leading universities because IB students learn more than a collection of facts.

  • The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is different from other pre-university courses or assessments in that it is a comprehensive, integrated program that emphasizes international perspectives.

  • IB assessments include multiple, varied forms of external and internal assessment.

  • Recent studies on IB Diploma Program graduates at universities confirm that they perform well and have significantly higher grade point averages and higher graduation rates than students who did not complete the IB Diploma Program. Scores on IB assessments are also a significant predictor of university performance.

  • How to make your credentials stand out  (pdf)

  • How do colleges and universities view the International Baccalaureate? (video) 

  • The value of an IB education with Stanford University’s Debra Von Bargen (video)

Please check out this document for more information

Find countries and universities that recognize the IB

Also see how the top 25 US universities value the IB Diploma

HOW TO GUIDE for APPLYING "IB Style"

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