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Comparison of the AP and IB Program in USC |
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A comparison of AP courses and IB Diploma and Certificate programs in Upper St. Clair High School.
While AP classes have been available at USCHS for many years, USC students wrote the first IB Diploma/Certificate exams in 2001/2002.
The number of IB candidates has been growing steadily every year since the program's inception. This year (2005-2006) 161 seniors and juniors are taking IB courses, some of which are two year classes.
Advanaced Placement |
International Baccalaureate | |
Courses at USCHS |
Courses at USCHS (2005-2006) |
- 14 AP Courses offered during 2005-2006 including AP Computer Science
- A.P. Calculus AB
- A.P. Calculus BC
- Advanced Placement (AP) English - 12
- Advanced Placement Biology
- Advanced Placement Chemistry
- Advanced Placement Economics (2 courses and 2 exams - Macroeconomics & Microeconomics)
- Advanced Placement European History
- Advanced Placement Govt. and Politics US
- Advanced Placement Physics
- Advanced Placement Psychology
- Advanced Placement Statistics
- Advanced Placement United States History
- AP Programming Languages (prepares for AP Computer Science A test)
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- IB Biology 2 (Higher Level-12) - this is the last year this class is being offered.
- IB Chemistry Standard Level
- IB Computer Science (Standard Level)
- IB Environmental Systems (Standard Level)
- IB French (2 year course)
- IB German (2 year course)
- IB History of the Americas (Higher Level - 2 year course)
- IB Language A1 (English - Higher Level - 2 year course)
- IB Mathematics (Standard Level - 2 year course)
- IB Mathematics HL(Higher Level - 2 year course)
- IB Music (Standard Level)
- IB Physics (Higher Level) 2 year course
- IB Psychology (Standard Level)
- IB Spanish (2 year course)
- IB Visual Arts (Standard Level - 1 year, Higher Level - 2 year)
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IB French, German and Spanish students can choose to write either the Higher Level or the Standard Level exam.
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IB Students also have to take a Theory of Knowledge Class (TOK), write a 4000 word extended essay and participate in 150 hours of Creativity, Action & Service (CAS). | |
AP - # of Exams & Scores |
IB - # of Exams & Scores |
- May 2005
- 180 students
- 341 Advanced Placement (AP) examinations
- 284 (83%) scores of three or higher.
- 21 different subject areas
- May 2006 (numbers not available)
- First AP exam in USC - many years ago!
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- May 2005
- 59 students
- 88 International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams
- 68 (or 77%) scores of four or higher
- May 2006 (expected numbers)
- 82 students
- 120 IB examinations
- First IB exam in USC in 2001/2002.
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The following table gives the general differences between AP & IB.
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Advanced Placement |
International Baccalaureate |
- National standard of excellence
- College level courses
- Encourages academically talented students
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- International standard of excellence
- Comprehensive curriculum of college level work
- Encourages academically talented and highly motivated students
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- Students generally take AP exams only in areas of personal strength.
- Students do not have to be enrolled in an authorized school.
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- Six exams in six areas are required for the IB diploma.
- Students must be enrolled in an authorized school.
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- AP courses and testing are content specific.
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- IB courses and testing are conceptual.
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- Exams are graded externally through a testing service in the US.
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- Scores include teacher assessment locally as well as external assessments constructed and graded by educators throughout the world, including the USA.
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- AP grades hinge on one 4 hour test.
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- IB requires and uses several different assessments to determine a student’s grades
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- Exams based on specific course content.
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- Exams based on broad general understanding of concepts and fundamental themes.
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- Emphasis on multiple choice.
- Oral exams in foreign languages.
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- Exam questions emphasize essay writing
- Oral assessments in English as well as foreign languages.
- Portfolios are assessed in many areas.
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- AP exams are scored based on how well all students taking the test do in comparison to each other.
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- The IB tests are criterion-referenced; thus, the IB student competes against herself.
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- Policies are determined by national educators.
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- Policies are determined by international educators including many from USA.
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The above information is taken from various web pages comparing IB & AP. Also see WQED's OnQ on IB for a comparison of IB Diploma & AP at Vincentian Academy. |
