Written By: Mariem Kamal
Edited By: Joseph Kim
There are so many different ways in which one can carry out their high school and college careers. When chosen carefully, each student follows a unique path that will help them succeed on their academic journey. There are two particular paths that many students have found themselves taking: the AP and IB programs.
The AP Program
First, let’s look at the AP system. AP stands for Advanced Placement, a fitting title for a program that offers students the opportunity to take college-level classes during any of their high school years. According to the official College Board website, they currently offer thirty-eight AP classes. On the surface, AP classes do not look much different from other high school classes for they still take place in the normal setting of a high school classroom. Of course, these classes are not actually for anyone. Since these are college-level courses, the workload is oftentimes more, and the curriculum is far above that of an average high school class. More than 80% of American high schools offer at least one AP course.
But why even bother taking classes that may sound this difficult? For one, the process to enroll in one or more of these courses is fairly simple. As long as you have met the prerequisites your school demands, it is just like enrolling in any other class but with worthwhile benefits. Colleges often look for how many AP classes students have taken as a way to see if their applicant is ready for college. Similar to college courses, AP classes provide a fast learning process since a lot of material is taught in just a school year.
Another unique factor of AP courses is AP Exams which typically occur in May administered by the College Board, the non-profit organization that runs the AP program and the SAT. There is a singular multi-hour exam for each course, and each test has multiple parts such as a multiple-choice and free-response section. One downside about these exams is the fact that they do come at a cost, literally, almost one hundred dollars. However, there are ways to get these few waivers based on income, and either way, the benefits of taking the exam are likely to outweigh the money aspect. The AP exam is graded on a 1-5 rubric, a score of 3-5 being passed. The vast majority of American universities will accept scores of three through five in place of certain general education classes, which depend on the individual colleges. Passing multiple AP exams during high school has sometimes allowed students to essentially skip an entire year of college because their scores were transferred as college credit. This freedom may allow you to take extra classes you may be interested in or allow you to focus more on other obligations. Additionally, skipping a whole year or even a semester of college is a great way to save money and avoid a considerable amount of student debt.
Furthermore, It should be known that AP classes are weighted. This means that if a student receives a B in the class, it technically counts as an A. If a student receives a C, they technically received a B. This can be beneficial especially since AP classes are known to be difficult, depending on the school and teacher, of course. Students who take many AP classes can boost their weighted GPA which is very important when applying to college. However, if you decide to enroll in an AP class you should be aware that A’s are not always guaranteed. So if you are someone who prioritizes a perfect GPA, be warned and do your research before taking any AP courses. Nonetheless, these classes are still a great opportunity and experience that benefits many students in the long run.
The IB Program
Another academic program schools may have is the International Baccalaureate or the IB program for short. IB is a bit different from AP in that it is an international non-profit organization, and its credit is more globally recognized. This program begins in your junior year of high school and although it contains individual courses, it is more of a learning path as a whole. There are many classes that you must take in any of the four IB education programs you may choose. What is especially unique about the IB programs is that you can receive a diploma from completing this program. To obtain the diploma you must take a certain six subject group classes in topics ranging from mathematics to the arts. There are also other requirements for the program such as an essay and participating in service activities. However, if you are looking for something less rigorous, there is also an option to simply take IB classes within the program without achieving an IB diploma.
Like the AP program, there is also an IB exam. The difference is, you must take an exam for each of the six core classes required for the IB diploma. Passing these exams can also transfer over as college credit. Graded on a 1-7 scale, the majority of colleges accept a four or higher for credit. In fact, some colleges will even take a full IB diploma as a replacement for all general education classes. All of these factors are bound to save students both time and money. But it should be noted that IB classes are known as being extremely challenging, they contain so many vital college-level skills such as hypothetical and strategic thinking as well as proper research skills.
In essence, both the AP and IB program offers challenging, high-level courses, as well as exams that give college credit. IB gives you an internationally accepted diploma but is also said to offer harder classes than AP does. However, AP is far more popular with almost three million students enrolled in their courses each year. And, of course, IB & AP curriculum and class/exam structures are obviously different, with IB offering more studying and learning tactics/skills. If you are interested in a more challenging and immersive experience, then the IB program with its diploma may be the route to choose. If you want to take individual classes and perhaps boost your GPA, then consider an AP class or two. At the end of the day, each student is different and wants a different path towards a college-level education. It is important to analyze both programs and determine which program has pros that outweigh the cons to find out whether AP or IB is the best fit for you.