sugangel7

As far as I'm aware, IB SL tests are not always comparable to AP tests, so there's no conspiracy. And I think the person above me is right when they say AP falls sort of in between HL and SL.

Although I'm in the IB program and I would say that depending on the subject the SL test can be comparable to the AP test or it cannot but, quite honestly, the same goes for HL tests. I'm taking HL Spanish and the HL test is not nearly as hard as the AP Spanish Literature and I would say AP Spanish Language test as well.

Not to say that you're not getting as good an education with the IB program if the HL or SL subject test isn't as hard as the AP test in that subject or vice versa, but the two program just have such different learning/teaching philosophies which impact what they choose to focus on in the various subjects across the board. If that makes sense

I would say this is pretty much accurate. The only thing is I think the part about 'harder courses' can be misleading. Like steelyboy said, AP is really about a regurgitation of facts than anything else which I think is what makes certain AP classes/tests harder because it's just so technical and AP asks you to be this brilliant machine who can just know everything -- even the most obscure stuff -- there is to know about the particular subject.

My friends and I say that AP tests try and find out what you don't know, while I.B. tests want to find out what you do know.

I love I.B. because I think that taking the full diploma programme really is a more endearing experience and it does bring you closer together with your peers but most of all it allows you a freedom of expression and intellectual creativity that I don't think you get with A.P. With stuff like the ToK and E.E. essay and alot of our internal assessments, it's really up to you the student to take an active role in your own education and CHOOSE something you are passionate about and like and write a scholarly essay/paper on it. You can't just sit there and study and absorb the information that they want you to now and then fill in bubbles based on this storage of information.

And okay, I guess now it sounds like I'm bashing AP (and yes you DO write essays in AP too) and I guess part of those statements might be just how IB or AP is run at my school and obviously these statements don't apply to everyone. You still are intellectually challenged with AP but I'm just more likely to get kids in AP classes that are just studying for the test and don't care about what they're learning just about how what they're learning will look good to colleges. And I guess alot of kids do that and that's their prerogative and they'll care once they get into the college they want...I guess just being in I.B. has really highlighted to me the importance of actually making school about learning and not just test-taking or studying for some test or to make the grade.

Obviously I do that too and it's important to me to get good grades, but the reason I don't regret my I.B. experience is because it really has allowed me to fulfill my intellectual potential in a manner that I don't think could've happened with A.P.

And wow, my post has nothing to do with what the original thread question is asking.

But for people wondering what to choose...I'm a complete I.B. advocate but I do realize that it is not for everyone. Honestly, I think there are some schools that do prefer I.B. and if you just ask, I think they'll make it clear if they do or not (BC I know does, universities in Florida like was mentioned, the diploma takes care of your first year at Pitzer). But right now the majority I'd say do regard them with equal weight like they say.

I think when it comes down to it, it might not be so much AP vs IB but what courses you decide to take in either of those programs. Colleges will want to see that you've taken either AP or IB (or honors, whatever is the most demanding at your school) or both and then they'll look at how many and how challenging of AP or IB courses/tests you took.

P.S. At my school though, only if you do the I.B. program do you get the designation of "Most Demanding." I guess that's based on our I.B./A.P. coordinator's perspective though (although I'm not sure if she coordinates AP still...)