With my children having taken both IB and AP classes, I'll take IB every time. AP is still primarily a memorization of facts, dates, and curriculum. It is retention and recall of known knowns - known questions with known answers.
IB takes that as the starting point, but gets into the "how" and "why". How did we get from here to there and why did it go this way. There is exploration of ideas, understanding of what is behind the material, and discussion of various viewpoints. It also steps into the known unknowns - known questions with unknown answers - as part of both curriculum and the Extended Essay.
AP Research and AP Seminar are the College Board's answers to the superior IB methodology. These are the only two AP classes where independent thought is valued.
Perhaps more students score passing grades on IB tests because the courses are harder. Perhaps it is because the AP and IB tests measure different things. Perhaps it is because IB demands a stronger work ethic to be successful.
I would rather my children take the tough-memorization AP courses over the standard curriculum offered by schools, but the real gain for students will be when they encounter IB courses which require thought.
With my children having taken both IB and AP classes, I'll take IB every time. AP is still primarily a memorization of facts, dates, and curriculum. It is retention and recall of known knowns - known questions with known answers.
IB takes that as the starting point, but gets into the "how" and "why". How did we get from here to there and why did it go this way. There is exploration of ideas, understanding of what is behind the material, and discussion of various viewpoints. It also steps into the known unknowns - known questions with unknown answers - as part of both curriculum and the Extended Essay.
AP Research and AP Seminar are the College Board's answers to the superior IB methodology. These are the only two AP classes where independent thought is valued.
Perhaps more students score passing grades on IB tests because the courses are harder. Perhaps it is because the AP and IB tests measure different things. Perhaps it is because IB demands a stronger work ethic to be successful.
I would rather my children take the tough-memorization AP courses over the standard curriculum offered by schools, but the real gain for students will be when they encounter IB courses which require thought.