Advanced Placement

Background of the IB and the AP

International students planning on pursuing undergraduate studies in the US are often mystified as to whether the IB (International Baccalaureate) or AP (Advanced Placement) offers the best path – Which is harder and which is more likely to impress admissions officers.

Both the AP and IB programs offer challenging courses that can earn you college credit. However, their philosophies and goals are quite different.

The AP program was developed in the US to help high school students prepare for college by taking advanced courses, with no set program of courses. Students could take just one or even a dozen AP classes, depending on their school, schedule, and goals. In contrast, the IB was developed in Switzerland to be an internationally recognized diploma. To earn the diploma, you have to take a certain number of courses in a range of subjects. Although it is possible to take just a few IB courses without earning the diploma, IB was developed to be a set program. AP courses tend to focus intensively on a particular subject, while IB courses take a more holistic approach. AP tests are designed to see what students know about a specific subject, pure and simple. IB tests ask students to reflect on the knowledge they possess in order to test a student’s skills and abilities to analyze and present information, evaluate and make arguments, and creatively solve problems.

4 Key Differences Between IB and AP

1. AP is much more common than IB in the US:
   In the US, more than 2.8 million students took AP exams in 2019, but only about 166 000 took IBs. AP also reported that over 30% of US public high school students took at least 1 AP exam.
2. IB and AP have different program goals:
   IB puts more emphasis on writing and developing critical-thinking skills—not just on the exams themselves. AP focuses on teaching students specific content and testing their knowledge via exams. There is more multiple choice on these tests and a greater emphasis on meeting certain content goals.
3. Only IB requires enrollment in IB schools :
   You can take AP exams without being enrolled in an AP class, but you must be enrolled in an IB school to be able to take an IB exam. If you have proficiency in a language that’s not offered by your school or you want to self-study for a niche subject such as art history, then the AP program affords more flexibility.
4. IB offers higher-level and standard-level courses:
   Under IB, to get the Diploma, you have to take at least 3 higher-level courses. AP courses are offered at a single level, though there are certain subjects, such as Calculus and Physics, that have different course options.

Comparison on the benefits of IB and AP:

IB Benefits

• Students take a standard set of courses and corresponding assessments during the IB program.
• An IB diploma is recognized by universities and colleges worldwide.
• IB’s global educational philosophy works well for international students.
• Community service and a research paper (Extended Essay, commonly known as the EE) are IB program requirements.
• With its emphasis on global education, IB may be ideal for those interested in eventually living or working abroad. An IB diploma might be more common for students applying to the UK schools, for instance, since students with IB qualifications are UK universities’s second largest application group after A-level students.

The IB program is not solely about academics; it also challenges students to enhance their personal growth. IB aspires to develop well-rounded students with strong character and a global mindset while allowing the gaining of excellent time-management skills and other critical attitudes needed for academic and personal success.

The IB increases understanding of languages and cultures and explores globally significant ideas and issues in each subject area. However, subjects are not taught in isolation: IB classes are interdisciplinary and connect learning across the curriculum; it is an integrated or liberal arts approach to education. As students must study 2 languages, math, science, individuals and societies, and the arts, there is both depth and breadth.

A unique part of IB is the requirement of 3 core courses for full diploma status: Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, Extended Essay (EE) research project, and the Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) component.

Finally, in terms of assessment, students have multiple opportunities in each course to “show what they know” using various modes of communication and formats. The IB program is not about memorizing and guessing from a list of answers, but about truly understanding the material at a deeper level.

AP Benefits

• AP classes reinforce your choice of major and/or minor. High scores demonstrate advanced skills in your subject of interest.
• Taught at a college level, the rigorous schedule impresses Admissions.
• Students’ AP specialized classes such as Micro and Macroeconomics, Art History, Computer Science, Human Geography, Psychology, and Statistics can open doors to a whole new world of interest.
• The AP agenda can improve study skills and time management, both of which are essential for college success.
• As AP is solely curricular, it may be the right choice for students who are over-scheduled and cannot meet extracurricular commitments included under IB.
• Many schools give extra weight to AP grades when calculating your GPA. Getting a B in an AP class is often better than getting an A in a regular class.
• Universities and colleges may grant credits for a minimum score of 3 in an AP exam.

At most colleges, students receive some sort of class credit for AP exam scores of 3 and higher (exams are scored from 1 to 5). This credit often goes toward introductory-level college courses in the same subject. With the option to skip some introductory classes, AP students can choose to graduate early. Further, AP students often find more flexibility in their scheduling at college because they can jump right into deeper waters once they matriculate.

How does the AP Capstone compare to the IB Diploma program?

The AP Capstone and IB Diploma are both optional programs.

The AP Capstone was introduced in 2014 in an effort to create a program that is more interdisciplinary, along the lines of the IB Diploma. AP Capstone is a diploma program based on 2 years of additional courses - AP Seminar and AP Research. These courses are designed to complement other AP courses that the AP Capstone students may take. Instead of teaching specific subject knowledge, AP Seminar and AP Research use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time-management and presentation skills needed for college-level work. These components are comparable to the IB program’s 2-year sequence and the additional components of TOK, EE, and CAS that are compulsory to receiving a full IB diploma.

Is the IB or AP a more difficult program?

Students say the IB is more difficult because you should be enrolled in the IB Diploma program which requires you to complete a 4000-word Extended Essay and 150 hours CAS (creativity, activity, service). Internal Assessments must also be passed and you need to score 4 out of 7 to pass IB exams compared to the need to only score 3 or higher in your AP class final exam.

IB higher level is, at some high schools, considered harder than AP. Most colleges give credit for AP exams and higher-level IB exams, but not all give credit for standard-level IB exams. Elite private institutions generally have stricter requirements for credit or only offer advanced placement , whereas state schools often offer generous course credit that count toward graduation or the degree.

The AP and IB programs are both considered the highest level of courses a student can take in secondary school. In recent years, the IB has become a preferred curriculum for many post-secondary institutions because of its similarity to university-level learning and teaching methodologies; nevertheless, the AP is still the predominant and most prevalent curriculum in America’s schools.

In general, U.S. universities and colleges equally appreciate the AP and IB as they both show that a student has the dedication and determination needed to succeed academically. Because the IB is taught much more like a college or university class, some schools believe that the IB offers a more seamless transition to higher education. Further, an IB Diploma stands out because a student has had in-depth study in all types of subjects, not just the ones in which a student is strong. However, that may be perceived to be the downside of IB as you have to complete classes from all six categories in the core, so it’s possible you will have to take a class in a subject you dislike or are not very strong in. That said, the AP Capstone program, because of its similarities to the IB Diploma program, definitely gives students an advantage in the college application process as well.

Overall, colleges tend to aim toward neutrality on this and don’t state preference simply because few students have a choice in programs. If they want rigor, students will have to go with whatever their high school offers.

If not enrolling in a class at your school for whatever reasons, consider taking an AP course through a third-party provider like UC Scout – University of California or Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth which offer online AP classes. They can be useful for independent study if you are motivated, have access to quality materials, and know how to find balance with other classes. Engaging a tutor’s help to oversee your mastery of concepts and making timely progress would also make a lot of sense.

How can we contrast between their exam methods?

For most courses in IB, written exams are a major component of the assessment. There are also in-house assessments, labs, performances and oral exams. Externally assessed coursework, completed by students over an extended period under authenticated teacher supervision, forms part of the assessment for all IB courses and several program areas, including the TOK and the EE essays. In most subjects, students also complete in-school assessment tasks. These are either externally assessed or marked by teachers and then moderated by the IB.

For AP, the exams are given at the end of the year as the culmination of a yearlong course. All AP exams (with a few exceptions) combine multiple-choice questions with a free response section in either essay or problem-solving format. For students skilled at standardized testing, the AP might be a better program in terms of assessment.

How can we contrast between their grading systems?

Because IB is a global program, the scores for these exams are more widely accepted in universities and colleges all over the world. Because there are more score ranges in IB, the highest-ranked students are truly the top in their class, while in AP there is a wider range in each level.

AP tests are accepted by most U.S. colleges and universities (some international universities will consider them, as well), while IB is accepted worldwide at most universities and colleges.

How do the programs differ in focus?

IB focuses on learning subjects deeply within the context of an interdisciplinary curriculum, while AP is more fast-paced and encourages students to learn as much as possible in a subject in a short amount of time. If a student enjoys writing and reading, IB might be a more suitable program; students who enjoy studying material at a fast pace and taking standardized-style tests will likely find AP more appealing.

You might be attracted to the IB’s focus on writing and a broad education, or you might think the AP’s flexibility makes it a better choice for you. The bottom line is that you should consider your school’s offerings and how challenging your schedule (including extracurriculars) looks. If you can, try to take AP classes in a broad range of subjects while digging deeper into subjects you are passionate about. For example, if you are a writer and do well in your English classes, definitely take AP English Literature and AP English Language if you can. But you should also consider taking AP Statistics or AP Calculus to prove that you have strong quantitative skills and versatility.

Does IB or AP give you more college credit?

While IB higher-level courses are usually accepted by colleges, standard-level IB courses aren’t always taken. In contrast, AP is offered at one level. So if you take three higher-level courses and three standard-level IB courses as part of the diploma, you might end up with less credit than you would for the same six AP courses. Furthermore, many colleges have slight variances in credit hours between AP and IB. For example, at Stanford, the IB and AP credit lists are mostly the same, with language and math receiving the same credit. However, you receive more credit for IB Chemistry than AP Chemistry. Generally speaking, you only receive credit if you have a 5 or higher on IB exams or a 4 or higher on AP exams.

Should you switch between IB and AP schools?

Colleges evaluate you in the context of your school. But if you feel like you won’t have many opportunities to be challenged at your school and really want to attend a different one, you can do so – just don’t feel pressured to switch because you think either IB or AP will look better on an application. In most cases, it is more feasible to stay and make the best of it. In the end, it’s all about a student’s performance. Did they perform at the very top of the scale for either program? Did they pass the independently administered exams with flying colors? If so, colleges will be heavily recruiting those students, regardless of the AP or IB label.

How do I choose between AP or IB?

If you are sticking with your school, embrace the curriculum offered by your school and do the best possible job you can in that curriculum. However, some students may be considering a choice between two high schools offering the AP and IB respectively. Consider your preferences. Do you want a bit more freedom to accelerate your learning in areas that interest you the most? Do you want to double up in some subjects in which you perform extremely well, while dialing back on those that are not your cup of tea? If so, you may want to choose AP which allows you to pick and choose the AP courses that suit you best.

Consider IB if you tend to like a variety of subjects and perform well in all of them or if you are serious about advancing in many subjects, not just those you are best at. Similarly, consider the IB if you would like to focus on a particular subject during the two-year diploma program. Some students find that they get more out of their IB chemistry or physics courses because they dive more deeply into the subject over two years than they can during a one-year AP course.

You may also want to consider that while the IB program worldwide does offer quite a few different courses and curricular options, the reality is that economies of scale dictate the offerings. For example, an IB program in a small private or international school may not have a large enough enrolment to offer a full range of courses in the social sciences or fine arts. Do look carefully at what the school does and doesn’t offer before you sign up for that school.

From experience, IB students often have a harder time balancing extracurricular commitments and their social lives with the rigors of the IB diploma program. The cafeteria-style AP program, on the other hand, can be better for students who want to find a better balance. They can choose only those AP courses that interest them, and in which they feel they can and want to succeed.

So if you do have a choice between AP and IB, don’t focus on which will give you a better shot at your dream school. Both will do the job as long as you perform at the highest level. Rather, consider which curricular structure best suits your personality, learning style, preferences, and academic curiosities. Also, don’t neglect other factors like your extracurricular priorities as they can be decisive when it comes to whether you can manage your academic load.