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Choosing an academic program to pursue is one of the most crucial decisions a student can make during their last years of high school. Students wishing to gain admission to top colleges can choose from a variety of programs, such as the IB Diploma, A-level, and AP. While these study plans are appropriate for university applications, they each offer advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will go over the key aspects of each curriculum to ensure that you can figure out which one is ideal for you.
What is IB?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a two-year program that is offered in the final two years of high school. Since it is an international organization, it use international resources and content for the learning materials. IB credit is also transferable for all subjects that passed with grade 4 or higher, for the subject that are related to the courses. IB has variety range of college-level subjects offered, compelled in 6 groups. Besides of that, you will also have to fulfill the 3 DP Core, which consist of: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), and Extended Essay.
What is A-Level?
The A-Levels (Advanced Levels) are a UK national curriculum that has been taken by many students both in the UK and around the world. Studying for these A-levels takes two years between the ages of 16 and 18. A-Levels allows you to study college-level courses during your high school. However, unlike IB, you are limited to only picking 3-4 subjects to study. Therefore, It is best to know what do you want to study in the future, since the universities usually have specific requirements of A-levels for each degree.
What is AP?
The AP (Advanced Placement) program is an American-based high school curriculum designed by the College Board. It is a separate certificate from regular high school diplomas that allows students to pursue individual advance courses. They are intended to provide you with the experience of an introductory-level college course while you are still in high school. Just like two previous curriculums, you can also receive a credit at transfer it to your uni. You can begin taking AP classes as early as 9th or 10th grade, depending on your school's regulations. Numerous schools have various rules, and some may require a placement test before enrolling in an AP course.
Key Comparisons Between IB, A-Level, and AP
1. Curriculum Structure
a. IB
IB Diploma disciplines are divided into two levels: Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). You must select one subject from each subject group, with three to four subjects at Higher Level and the rest at Standard Level (SL). The subject groups are as follows:
- Studies in Language and Literature:
- Language A: Literature
- Language A: Language and Literature
- Literature and Performance
- Language Acquisition
- Classical Languages
- Language ab Initio
- Language B
- Individuals and Societies
- Business Management
- Economy
- Psychology
- etc
- Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- etc
- Mathematics
- Analysis and Approaches
- Applications and Interpretation
- Arts
- Visual Arts
- Film
- Music
- Etc
Aside from subjects, the IB has three core elements known as the DP Core, which are designed to widen students' educational experiences and test their application of knowledge and skills. The DP Core consists of the following:
The TOK explores the process of understanding as well as questions regarding knowledge. It does not convey new knowledge in the form of subject content during lessons. Instead, they encourage students to reflect on what they have learned over time. An oral presentation and a 1,600-word essay are used to test TOK.
- Creativity, Activity, and Service
CAS can take the form of an artistic, athletic, or social-service activity. For example, music, painting, or theater may be considered acceptable to fulfill the creativity need, whereas athletics may fulfill the activity requirement. Students can participate in volunteering or charitable work arranged by the school to meet the service requirement. They must complete 150 hours of CAS.
The Extended Essay is a "mini thesis" which is an independent research project supervised by a mentor or adviser that results in a university-level, 4,000-word paper. You may choose any topic from any subject, and these courses usually take months to complete.
b. A-levels
A-Levels are divided into two years of study: the first year (AS level) and the second year (A2). Before you may go to A2 and earn your full A-Level, you must first obtain an AS level in that subject. The A2 course expands on what was learned in the AS. You can select three to four subjects. You are also not required to complete any important piece of coursework outside of their regular courses, such as the IB Extended Essay, which allows you to devote your whole attention to the subjects you have selected.
Knowing what you want to study at university gives you an advantage when selecting your A-Levels. Check the entry requirements for your selected degree on university websites as your first step. Several degrees will require you to have studied certain subjects at A-Level.
c. AP
There are 38 distinct AP examinations available worldwide, including subjects such as psychology, art, humanities, science, math, history, and languages. Each course may take up to your entire school year to complete. The teaching style is primarily lecture-based, as it is at university, and students are encouraged to do a lot of reading and study on their own. Students can take one or more AP courses. Make sure to check your desired university admission requirements, as they usually specify the number of AP classes that the student must take.
2. Assessment Components
a. IB
The ultimate score you receive from the IB program is a combination of internal and external assessments. Internal assessment is frequently in the form of long-term projects such as papers, reports, and presentations, and it accounts for 15 to 25% of your overall IB score for that subject. The rest of the IB is evaluated externally, mostly through one cumulative exam at the end of your second year of study.
b. A-levels
A-Levels are 100% externally assessed by a series of tests at the end of your studies, with the exception of artistic courses such as drama, music, or photography. There are typically two exam dates per year, providing you with scheduling flexibility. Furthermore, this allows you to retake exams if you believe you underperformed.
c. AP
APs are totally externally assessed at the end of each academic year through a single standardized test. Your entire score will be based purely on your examination; whether or not you perform well over the school year will have no influence on these scores.
3. Grading
a. IB
Each subject is scored on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). A minimum score of 24 points is required to obtain the IB Diploma, as well as successful fulfillment of the DP Core requirements, which carry an additional 3 points. As a result, students can get 42 points from the subjects and 3 points from the core, for a maximum score of 45 points.
The TOK and EE grading systems are based on how well you perform in those two aspects, resulting in a score range of 0-3. While CAS is recorded internally, it is not assigned as a numerical grade like everything else in IB; instead, it is assigned just as a pass or fail.
b. A-levels
A* is the highest passing grade, followed by A, B, C, D, and E. The final exam accounts for the complete final grade that appears on the graduate's diploma. Their academic performance during the school year, whether good or bad, has no bearing on the grades on their academic transcript.
c. AP
Students are given a percentage that is converted to a letter grade with values from 1 to 5. Anything above 3 is considered passing, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. As with the A-level, these grades are purely dependent on the AP exam.
Which one is harder?
For some students, IB is challenging since you will study more subjects in greater depth. In addition to theories, you will participate in practical work such as presentations, essays, and CAS activities. However, this is dependent on one's capability. If you do not know yet which subject you excel more, you might struggle in A-level, since you are only able to choose 3-4 subjects and you will learn those in-depth. The same case with AP, however since students still need to take the high school diploma simultaneously, students with poor time management might struggle more. Furthermore, since both A-levels and AP scored entirely through the examination. You might find it difficult if you don’t choose the right study methods. To find out more about studying methods, make sure to check out this blog!
Which one is more suitable for me?
The IB Diploma is appropriate for students who want to maintain breadth in their topic selection, are ready to work hard in a disciplined environment, and tolerate dealing with areas of weakness. Specializing in only a few subjects may limit students' options later on; taking IB is your best option if you are an all-rounder or don't have a solid idea of what you want to pursue after school.
The A Levels and AP are an ideal choice for students who have a strong interest in a particular subject, desire to capitalize on their existing talents, and are self-disciplined enough to study in a less organized environment. If you already know what you want to study after high school, A-levels allow you to focus your efforts on achieving the highest possible grades in the three or four most crucial courses in which you excel, while excluding your weak spots. The same is true for AP, but you will have a wider range of subjects you can study.
Since final exams are such an important part of the A-levels and AP, students with exceptional study skills and test performance can really thrive. Furthermore, because there is no coursework (such as the Internal Assessment or Extended Essay in the IB Diploma), you can focus more on your sports activities and other extracurricular pursuits.
The program that is best for you should be one in which you feel most confident as a student. Taking IB, A-level, or AP curriculum will look great on your college applications since it demonstrates that you are challenging yourself with college-level courses. There is no actual advantage or disadvantage to doing one program over the other as long as you do well in your chosen courses. Ultimately, the choice between the IB Diploma, A Levels, and AP must be based on your goals, both academically and in life. Keep in mind to also put effort into your extracurricular activities, as they play a significant role in your college application as well.
