While a student is in high school, it is the time when they start planning for their college-level academics. Students can attain early college credit while they are in high school by exploring the subject that they would like to study at any university. Advanced Placement (AP classes) or International Baccalaureate diploma (IB classes) programs are plausible ways to attain college-level courses credit at the high school level. If you are inquisitive to know more about the IB vs AP debate, we are here to guide you through AP courses meaning and IB meaning lanes.
The Differences Between AP and IB
What Do You Mean by AP Classes?
AP classes or Advanced Placement courses are designed for high school students to provide college-level experience and boost college preparation. There are 38 AP courses in 22 academic subjects. The primary objective of the AP classes is to connect students with the academic rigor and environment of a college even before stepping into it. Based on studies, it has been seen those students knowing AP courses are more successful in college admissions than students from non-AP backgrounds. Such AP classes are generally more exciting and help to instil in students' professionalism from an early age.
What Do You Mean by IB Program?
The International Baccalaureate diploma program, or IB meaning school, is an academic program curated on European educational philosophies. The IB program comes with four basic versions and ten learning profiles that promote intellectual development. The different programs' segregation are Primary Years Program (PYP) and Middle Years Program (MYP). There are many categories for easy educational quality evaluation in the IB diploma, and they are Thinkers, Inquirers, and Communicators. The IB classes help students develop the mind and skillsets required for the various industries through the core career classes, collaborative projects, and community service projects like Creativity Activity Service.
Therefore, what are the key difference between IB and AP? Here are the differences based on categories:
Key Differences
Both the AP classes and IB classes programs offer high-level challenging courses to high school students, but they come with different ideologies and educational philosophies.
The AP courses originated in the US to aid high school students and groom them for their college lives. The AP classes have not set several courses, and a student can opt for as many AP courses they want to be based on their schools, schedules, and objectives. On the contrary, students have to complete a wide range of IB courses to earn the IB diploma.
What Do These Programs Have to Offer?
Both the AP classes and IB classes programs offer different goals. The IB program emphasises more on writing and critical thinking abilities. The IB diploma colleges demand few requirements like a long-extended essay, a research paper written in a college-style format, and few colleges ask for extracurricular requirements like Creativity Activity Service. The IB classes also include unique elements like Theory of Knowledge that promote interdisciplinary learning.
On the other hand, the AP classes teach students specific skills and test their knowledge through exams. Multiple-choice exams are the primary assessment methods offered to the students to meet a few set goals in AP courses.
What Is the Reputation of these Courses in International Universities?
You might be worried about the thought of which course is more acceptable in international university admissions. Then this section might help you to understand the fact.
Firstly, colleges do not consider any competition among the AP classes and IB classes. They cannot penalise a student for not accepting an IB class, which is rare. Moreover, how the two types of courses are taught across the country has a vast difference in course structure, subject choices, grading systems, and assessment methods like internal assessments, external assessments, and written responses. The primary focus of the students should be to choose the most academically rigorous classes offered to them.
AP and IB for International Colleges
Obviously, students planning to go for the IB diploma courses do not wish to get admitted to Indian colleges. The primary focus of the students is on the international Ivy League and top elite colleges and universities.
Students sitting for the AP courses exams still need to choose either ISC or CBSE board for their high school education. The AP classes exams act as an additional set of exams for them besides their board exams.
The added advantage of the IB classes is that it offers students with holistic education along with college credits. The IB diploma curriculum also grooms students to prepare for the rigorous future college-level courses.
Universities all around the world accept AP courses. The AP classes exams are conducted in more than 120+ countries. However, a higher score in the AP courses test (4 to 5) provides an edge to a student application, boosts their GPA beyond 4 and helps the student qualify for college credits.
Final Thoughts
Therefore, students willing to prepare for college or university life from the high school level should focus on the AP classes and IB classes programs. By now, we hope you have gained considerable knowledge about the key differences between the AP courses and IB courses. However, it is better to consult with some professionals before jumping into the new world. UniVisory can be your one-stop destination for complete consultancy solutions regarding university admissions in the top Ivy League and elite universities.