Can you pick and choose among your IB scores?

Keshira · 03-07-2008, 12:23 AM

Starting next year I will be entering into the IB Diploma Program. While I'll be taking English, US History, Math, Spanish, and Physics (? Maybe) for both years, for my last slot I will be taking two different SL electives. For the first year, I will take Art and for the second year I will take SL Chinese. My question is, should I take the SL tests for both subjects? If I do, will I be able to choose a score to include on my Diploma and be calculated into my final score out of 45? (Since I will already have 5 other scores from the other categories, plus these two, and I'm only supposed to have 6 in all). Or should I only take one test?

If any of you have experience with IB and have dealt with this situation, I would appreciate any advice

It's course selection season and I'm supposed to be planning the years I'm taking the tests, which subjects to take to HL, and stuff, and I'm getting a little bit confused.

psychgirl · 03-07-2008, 03:05 AM

You have to chose which subject to include on your diploma BEFORE you take the exams. Definitly take the exams for both tests, though, as you'll get a certificate for the extra subject in addition to your diploma.

5 HL subjects??? That's going to be tough... Good luck!

scansmom · 03-07-2008, 07:57 AM

I always thought that you could not take (apply) more than 4 HL subjects to your diploma score? At S's hs and other things I have read, you could take at least 3 but no more than 4 HL. Might want to check on that...

Keshira · 03-07-2008, 08:21 AM

No, I'm not taking 5 HL tests, I'm taking 3-4 to HL but taking all 5 subjects for 2 years regardless. It's not like I can stop doing math or English, I'm going to do 4 years of a language, we're required to take two years of US History, and I don't know about Physics but if it's my favorite science I'll take the second year over taking advanced Chemistry or Biology (which I've already taken less advanced versions of).

Thank you for the info

hsmomstef · 03-07-2008, 08:24 AM

the OP didn't state that the five classes were HL -- just that she was required to take them. At my son's school, you must take five core courses in IB: math, english, foreign language, science and a social studies course. The other two classes are electives, since you may choose what to take. At his school, you may choose which three to take HL (not all are offered at the HL level) and you have the option to take a fourth HL class -- but not only if that difficult, academically, but the scheduling can be a nightmare.

Marian · 03-07-2008, 09:54 AM

If you are in an IB school outside the United States and/or you plan to apply to universities outside the United States, I can understand your concern about trying to maximize your IB scores.

But if you are at an American high school and you're applying to American colleges, why do you care so much? Except for one or two SL tests taken in your junior year, nobody at the college you apply to is going to see your IB scores before you are accepted. And neither SL Art nor SL Chinese is likely to be accepted for college credit.

In your senior year, you may care about certain specific HL scores because they may get you advanced placement or credit at the college you will attend. But except for that, exact IB scores are not all that important to American students going to American colleges. As long as you get the IB Diploma, who cares whether your final score was a 32 or a 38 or whatever?

Keshira · 03-07-2008, 07:58 PM

For admissions ;-) And I'll be taking all the equivalent AP tests, not that it applies to this question (our SL classes are IB SL/AP). I'm trying to maximise my scores for my own sake. Achievement makes me happy! Of course I want to do the best I can on my assessments, and a 32 or 38 would reflect way different levels of knowledge lol.

But yeah, those 5 classes will be HL classes, but I won't take 5 HL tests because that's... impossible lol. And it'd be way too stressful even if it was allowed.