<p>I’ve been on CC for a while now but still am sure about a number of terms or phases that are used regularly. Please educate me on the following:</p>
<p>1) IB (International Baccelarete) Classes – What are they? Who takes them and why?</p>
<p>2) SAT IIs – How are these different from AP exams or SAT I tests? Who takes them and why? Do most top tier schools require these?</p>
<p>3) Honors Classes in High School – I often read that kids are taking these AND AP classes. At our high school kids either take regular classes, AP classes or credit classes through the local community college. Are high school honors classes the same as these community college classes for credit or are they something that is specific to private or prep high schools?</p>
<p>1) Can’t answer
2) SAT II’s are subject tests (eg, English, Chem…) Yes, most top tier schools require some; you can obtain details on each school’s admissions website
3) At our hs (public), kids could take “regular” (College Prep) classes or Honors classes. Honors required a certain level of achievement in prior classes or teacher permission. Most who took Honors in one subject took that in all or almost all. Our HS offered a few AP classes. Students who qualified could take AP for one or more of their courses (completely optional and typically not until Junior year). So it was common to have mostly Honors Classes and 4-6 or so AP classes. Other HS’s offer a lot more AP’s and allow them to be taken earlier. But no one can take all of their classes AP. In our hs, the GPA was weighted to recognize Honors and AP coursework.</p>
<p>What I’ve gleaned from years of reading CC: to take IB classes in high school, the student must attend a school that offers the 2-year IB program. Classes are offered in six subject groups (math, sciences, social studies, etc.). There are roughly 1250 schools in the US offering the high-school level IB program. The rigor of IB classes is roughly comparable to AP classes (though many would say it is more so).</p>
<p>In our area, only 1 school offers the IB program, and the results have not been impressive in the 3-4 years it’s been offered. My understanding is that there’s a range of success in IB programs, as there is in AP class offerings at individual schools.</p>
<p>Note that you cannot take the SAT Reasoning (SAT 1) and SAT Subject tests on the same testing day.</p>
<p>Many universities use SAT Subject test to determine class placement (e. g. class placement in general education classes) for the first two years of college, if AP scores are not available. For example, I never took AP classes in high school, but I did take three SAT subject tests and my college used my scores to place me in Freshman Math and English. </p>
<p>3) Honors classes - at D1’s high school (a top public high school in Maryland) a student can take regular, honors, or AP classes in a variety of subjects. Generally, the bright, motivated kids sign up for honors English or honors math, or honors science/history in their Freshman and sophomore years. The regular classes are seen appropriate for only ESOL or low-achieving students. </p>
<p>About the level of intensity between Honors and AP: at D1’s school, Honors World History covers 500 years of history while AP World History will cover 5000 years of history in the course of a year. Not too mention pages and pages of required reading assignment nightly in AP World History. </p>
<p>I know several people with kids in IB programs. These students choose something equivalent to college majors in the programs, whereby they meet general requirements but focus on a couple subject areas. In order to get an IB diploma, they have to do significant community service, write a substantial research paper, and get a minimum number of points on the tests they take at the end each course. My impression is that the individual IB classes may not be harder than the equivalent AP classes, but overall the IB program is more rigorous and integrated.</p>
<p>My sons’ public high school (no IB program) has on-level, honors, and AP classes for many subjects – in increasing order of difficulty. While the on-level classes are less rigorous, I think ldwendy overstates the case as far as them being as seen for low-achievers. While honors and AP are more desirable, especially if you are aiming for a top tier college, on-level courses are not in any way remedial. My 10th grade son, for instance, is in an on-level Science course because Science is neither an interest nor priority for him. He is in honors English and History, because those subjects are more interesting/relevant to him.</p>
<p>Many schools give extra points in the weighted GPA for honors and AP courses. So it is hard to have a top GPA without lots of those courses.</p>
<p>1) My son did the IB diploma program at his HS. (At his HS you can also take IB courses and the IB tests and receive a certificate in a particular field of study). The IB diploma requires that students take exams in six fields (English, History, Math, Science, Foreign Language and one other subject of the student’s chosing). Therefore, an IB student can not “opt out” of taking a demanding course in a core subject (like AP students can). In addition, IB students must write a thesis-type paper on a subject approved by the IB advisor. They are also required to complete at least 150 hours of certain types of community service.</p>
<p>2) SATIIs are the equivalent of the old SAT Achievement Tests. You have to be a geezer to remember that term. Georgetown may require 3 SATIIs, but no other school does. Some schools require specific type SATIIs (like math or physics).</p>
<p>3) At my son’s HS all AP, IB and and what they call “pre-IB” are all weighted equally. I suppose that you could call these “honors” courses.</p>
<p>In addition to the Diploma Programme (grades 11-12 in the U.S.), IB also offers the Primary Years Programme (grades 1-5) and Middle Years Programme (grades 6-10).</p>
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<p>frazzled, what you’re observing about your local program is pretty typical. Successful IB programs are generally long-established IB programs. It just takes some time to get running it on all cylinders. I wouldn’t send my child to a program which had been in place for less than 8-10 years.</p>
<p>Good Lord, I remember asking: What the heck is a SAT-II? Scared the you know what out of me . . . it was such a foreign term. OP: get ready for the education about education!!!</p>