Hanajima Arashi

It seems that they're typically the same for college admissions.

However, if at your school IB is regarded as and/or is actually easier, take AP. You don't want councilors and teachers writing that you took the easy way out, because colleges are taking this in the context of your school

jason32894

to clear up the question:

how were IB and AP clases for you? Whats different about them compared to regular clases?

Hanajima Arashi

Well, at my school, IB is considered more difficult than AP. I think this is because most kids do not choose to take AP as a "program," and just take selected classes here and there.

In reality, I've found the classes to be pretty similar in terms of difficulty, though I believe that the AP sciences are harder. The other main difference is that IB gives you a whole load of extra work to do so it's somewhat more time-consuming. IB and AP also emphasize different things in each subject, so that's something to consider.

As compared to regular classes, IB/AP classes will be more challenging and require more work. They also generally have the fortunate effect of containing less idiots than normal classes, at least in my experience.

CDN_dancer

Note that you'll only be able to get college credit for HL IB courses (SL typically doesn't qualify for credit) whereas all AP courses can qualify. AP is great for specializing, whereas IB forces well-roundedness. The full IB programme can be very challenging, especially since you need to add TOK, EE, and CAS (EE's probably the worst in terms of eating up time; TOK and CAS aren't that big of a deal, but they also eat up time with essays, forms, etc. to write)

Both IB and AP are well regarded by colleges.

excelblue

They're usually regarded as equals when it comes to colleges, so the deciding factor should be what's best for you.

If you are a well-rounded student who fits in well with the IB curriculum and are willing to commit to the system and go through with it, then IB is probably for you. It has the advantage of giving a wider perspective while pushing you to do a few things you usually won't do otherwise.

However, if you prefer flexibility and tend to have a clear niche for some subjects, AP is more focused and does things in a more "American" way. For some courses, AP is more rigorous than IB, so you can gain more for those.

It really comes down to who you are and what you want to do. I personally took AP because IB would have held me back and caused lots of arbitrary inconveniences because of my strengths in math. So, I did AP and had the opportunity to take more math and science classes in the area that I was interested.

In short, IB drives you towards a generically better education, while AP allows you to drive yourself for your own needs. Which one is better really depends on you.

BunsenBurner

Colleges know both AP and IB well. BTW, AP is not a "program". IB is very reading/writing intense, and many courses require several resarch papers which are sent to an external office for grading. Also, IB exams are heavily concentrated towards the end of the senior year (does not bode well for senioritis-prone individuals). AP exams can be taken at the end of a course in any grade, or one can self-study or take an IB class and give the corresponding AP exam a shot. At D's school, juniors are not allowed to take more than 2 IB exams, and none of those exams can be in HL IB classes. D will be taking quite a few IB exams before she graduates in June, although she opted out of the full IB diploma.

BandTenHut

Full IB program with diploma is 'harder' than just maximizing AP classes. However, AP is easier for colleges to deal with and therefore it's easier to pick up college credits with AP. As has been said, IB SL classes rarely transfer, even though an IB SL is very comparable in difficulty to an AP class.

kutibah

IB in my opinion is "harder" for two reasons:

1. IB requires MUCH more work than just taking classes (Diploma program)

2. IB requires more material to be retained and taught for tests. For example, IB expects students to know about 80-90% of the material for the IB Biology HL exam while the AP Biology exam you are only expected to know about 40-50% of the material.

Grande Antilles

Most school if not all don't give credit to SL IB but some of them will grant you 30 credits iof you score 30/ 42 for your IB. Which means, that when you attend the school, you will have sophomore standing and depending on your HL, you won't have to take some prerequesite. If you score 7 for your IB econ HL, you will more likely receive credit for two principle classes or a principle and an intermediate econ class

Grande Antilles

IB>Ap

I bet that any of the people who are saying that IB was too easy would fail French A1. That's the big deal
LOL

tokenadult

That proves nothing unless we know what material is fair game for each test.

mistofolis

I take FULL IB Diploma and I can tell you that 2-year program is time-wise more in depth than AP programs.
Not only that, in IB Diploma, you have to take Theory of Knowledge (TOK), produce an Extended Essay (EE) on the subject that you are interested in and also meet up with Creative, Action Service (CAS) credits. Not to mention that some people are taking 7 subjects or 4 Higher levels and 2 Standard Levels.

IB gives an all-around education and students see the interlinked-ness of the subjects through TOK, EE and CAS. I think it is more comprehensive than AP, which is 'class'-drive, not program-driven...

but that is just my opinion..

paradoxical

Daughter completed Full IB Diploma and took AP exams in the same subjects, plus AP European History. Except for IB Theory of Knowledge and IB History of the Americas the AP and IB classes are together. This is a very large public, non-selective H.S. with a large minority population. Several hundred students take AP tests, while 15-20 complete the IB Diploma program. Historically about 80% of the full Diploma candidates get the IB Diploma.

Because the IB Core (Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action, Service) is taken very seriously, the Diploma Program is better preparation for college level work. The students get a one-on-one mentoring experience with the EE supervisor, they learn strategic learning--how to think and learn for themselves--in TOK, and they learn how to create and execute a project that solves a problem in CAS and document it. Most educated adults learn these skills in college, graduate school, and on-the-job.

The IB test scores are generally lower than the AP scores, but the IB kids get more acceptances at highly selective colleges. Through shared suffering and learning to respect each other's abilities--the kids who are great at art help the math whizzes and vice-versa--they become friends and stay in touch with each other. They aren't necessarily the strongest students academically, but they are strong in spirit and develop incredible esprit de corps.

rmadden15

Haha, I am so lucky at my high school. We have what is called "The Bridge Program", in which all of the students in it accelerate and get their IB dimplomas as Juniors and take college classes as Seniors. I personally love IB, though it is not as hard as it is said ot be. However, I really doubt that AP is any harder. Anyways, I took 2 IB tests this year( I am a sophmore), and survived, so it is not so hard.

SDaul

As a sophmore (this coming year) in the IB program at the only school in my region that offers IB (with AP), I've come to earn 3 extra credits (not much, though as much as i could get), finishing all my requirements for highschool (except tech) next year, first semester. My grades aren't the greatest, but with my added points my GPA is a 3.8/3.9.
And yet I party, go out, and screw around too often. IB cannot be as hard as it is said to be, or I wouldn't have survived this year (though it's not much). I've destroyed my habits, ready to start the next upcoming year with patience, anticipating the finish of sophmore year with 2 electives of my own choice, and about 16 credits without an other AP tests. (I have taken World Geography, one of the most useless AP exams that can be taken as a freshmen and recieved college credit).
I'm graduating with double language (Japanese & Spanish), 4 years in guitar, FFA (welding, agriculture offered at our school), and computer science as optional electives. I'll also take AP Gov/Eco in Junior year, and all together I should reach about 39 credits, without AP exams.

Now I'm honestly wondering, is it smarter for me to take AP, and get out of IB? will my GPA be any better, and will i have more freedom? THe only way I'll get into college is through scholarship.
(And i do realise I haven't actually reached real IB and am in pre-IB, but pre-IB = pre-AP, no? )