Is The IB Program Really Worth It?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The IB is very good at teaching critical thinking

, while AP is much more memorization (as I’ve heard from friends who take AP classes). It is true that the IB is very rigorous, but it is definitely doable. … “IB, due to its curriculum structure, is for students who want to be well-rounded.

Do IB students have an advantage?


IB students often perform better

IB students develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics. They are also likely to perform well academically – often better than students on other curricula. Read key findings from IB research to learn more about how the IB programmes impact students and schools.

Do universities prefer IB?


Universities appreciate the IB’s rigour

and they know it takes hard work and dedication to perform well, particularly in Higher Level (HL) subjects. This is demonstrated by the fact that most US universities award course credits for IB Diploma subjects.

Do colleges look at the IB program?

As it turns out,

colleges don’t automatically consider AP

or IB harder or more impressive on a transcript. Since IB is a rarer program, they can’t penalize students for not taking it. … If your high school has just the IB program, you should take some IB classes or, even better, go for the diploma.

Is IB a waste of time?

The IB Diploma is

a colossal waste of time

and causes extreme unnecessary stress that disrupts your years as a teenager. … There has been plenty of research showing that the stress levels in IB student is significantly higher than those who don’t take the diploma.

Is IB harder than leaving cert?

The IB can be used for Irish universities as well, but you don’t get quite as much bang for your buck. In order to match a student who gets 600 leaving Cert points, I would need to get 45 IB points, which is the maximum. That is not easy –

the exam is recognised as being harder.

Why is IB so hard?

The intensity of IB is one of the factors which makes it appear

‘difficult

‘. Students, to a large extent, have to perform as all-rounders. With the help of CAS, IB ensures that student’s education is not only limited to their classrooms. This can be both a good and a bad thing.

Does Harvard prefer IB or AP?

Does Harvard prefer IB or AP courses?

Harvard does not explicitly state a preference for IB or AP courses

. To receive credit for IB classes, accepted students must earn an IB diploma. Incoming students must earn a score of 5 on at least four AP exams to earn college credit at Harvard.

Does Harvard accept IB?

The short answer is that

Harvard does take IB scores into consideration

. In fact, it is believed that a high scoring IB diploma (DP) correlates well with success in the Harvard application. … However, it is important for IB students to score at least 38 points and above if they are aiming for an ivy league school.

Is a 5 good in IB?

AP grades on a 1 to 5 scale, while IB mostly uses a 1 to 7 range. Parents may be used to the traditional letter grade system of A, B, C and so on that most high schools use. But AP and IB exams are scored using a numerical score,

with 5 and 7 being the best score students can receive

.

What are the disadvantages of IB program?

  • Length of Study. The IB is no walk in the park. …
  • Heavy Workload. …
  • Less Flexibility.

What percentage of IB students get into college?

University or college IB students acceptance rate IB students vs total population Stanford University

15%

+8%
Columbia University 13% +4% University of California – Berkeley 58% +32% Harvard University 10% +3%

What are advantages and disadvantages of IB?

  • Subject variation. With an IB you will study a wide range of subjects including languages, sciences, mathematics and the arts. …
  • Broaden your horizons. …
  • Gain well-rounded skills. …
  • Personal development. …
  • Workload. …
  • Reduced flexibility.

What is the benefit of IB program?

Through the IB, students are given a unique education that

helps them develop strong academic, social, and emotional characteristics

. They are also likely to perform well academically – often better than students in other programs and often more likely to be recruited by top universities worldwide.

Do universities prefer IB or AP?

In a nutshell,

IB is a whole curriculum

leading to the IB diploma and the AP program is individual exams leading to a score for each subject test you write. IB is perhaps better for European/International universities, whereas AP is probably favoured by American universities.

Can you fail an IB exam and still get the diploma?

FAILING CONDITIONS:

A student will NOT receive an IB Diploma

if one or more of the following occur: A grade E has been earned for the Theory of Knowledge oral exam and/or the Extended Essay. There is a grade 1 earned in any subject/level.

Carlos Perez
Author
Carlos Perez
Carlos Perez is an education expert and teacher with over 20 years of experience working with youth. He holds a degree in education and has taught in both public and private schools, as well as in community-based organizations. Carlos is passionate about empowering young people and helping them reach their full potential through education and mentorship.