What characterizes the IB Program and how is this different from AP?
The IB Diploma Program challenges motivated students to take six courses which meet international standards for admission to a university. To earn the diploma, students must pass examinations, take a philosophy course that examines theories of knowledge, document 150 creativity, action, and service hours completed in the time between completion of tenth grade and graduation, and write an extended essay about a subject the student selects. The integration of the program’s curriculum, teacher preparation, the international standardization in its internal and external assessments, and practice writing in all subject areas distinguish the IB student. While it is not designed to provide a gateway for international study, it is a measure of the prestige of the IB diploma that it is the only route an American student can take to enter a British or European university without a year of additional preparation first. While it is definitely a college preparatory program, it is not exclusively for youngsters identified as gifted and talented; rather, it fits any highly motivated student and teaches how to balance a heavy load without succumbing to either burn-out or perfectionism. Having diploma students also improves the academic climate for all students enrolled in a designated IB World School.
Below is a chart describing the difference between an IB Diploma Program and AP Course Work.
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IB Diploma Program
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AP Course Work
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International program – schools in more than 140 countries |
Predominately U.S. Program |
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Integrated curriculum at college level |
Individual college level courses |
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Students must be enrolled in certified IB school to take examinations |
Any student may take examination whether enrolled in course or not |
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Concept based exams focus on analysis and written essays call for evidence of evaluation and synthesis |
Many exams offering content-specific and multiple choice formats, concentrates on what students know |
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IB Proctors assess samples of individual instructor’s projects and papers |
No internal samples of an instructor’s work |
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Exams graded by educators internationally |
Exams graded by ETS grades and by machine scoring centers |
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Evaluation documented by teacher assessment, projects, oral exams and well as written exams supervised by proctors |
Exam taken in a single sitting (oral in foreign language only) |
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Students are assessed in each of six subject area including those which may not be areas of individual strength |
Independent exams allowed students to concentrate on areas of strength |
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Program requires extended essay, theory of knowledge class and assessment and documented creativity, action and service hours |
No additional requirement
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IB Learners strive to be
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-Minded
- Caring
- Risk-Takers
- Balanced
- Reflective
