THE REAL-WORLD IMPACT OF AP AND IB EXAMS

4-minute read.

With the end of the year fast approaching, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams have many of our high school juniors and seniors filled with anticipation…and maybe even a bit of dread.

While we all know these exams are a big deal, there can be some confusion as to their real-world impact. If the final exam scores don’t count towards your student’s GPA, how important can they be?

We are here to answer this question for you, and any others you might have about these exams. Let’s dive in!

What Are AP/IB Exams?

AP and IB are college-level courses offered by most US high schools that provide high potential students the opportunity to challenge themselves academically.

AP courses are offered to students at any time during their high school careers, but most opt to take them in 11th or 12th grade. Subjects vary depending on your school and range from English Language and Composition to World History to Biology and beyond. At the end of the year, students will take their AP exams to demonstrate university-level proficiency in the subject matter. There are no requirements for which subjects to take, offering students more flexibility and creativity with what they choose to learn.

The IB program, on the other hand, is a bit more strict. Students working toward an IB diploma must take a set of six courses over their junior and senior years—Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and the Arts. On top of that, they will take a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, participate in extracurricular activities surrounding Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and write an Extended Essay. IB courses can be taken at the Standard Level (SL) or High Level (HL). To earn the IB diploma, at least three HL courses must be taken and students must successfully pass all of their exams.

How Do They Impact College Admissions?

Achieving high scores on either AP or IB exams is not easy, and university admissions officers take notice of students that do so. High scores indicate that a student is strong academically and more prepared for college coursework than an applicant who has taken no advanced courses.

Is One Program Favored More Highly?

While neither program is viewed as “better” than the other, each has its benefits.

The AP program allows students to show academic fortitude in any subject they find interesting. This could be especially useful to students who know what major they’d like to select early on.

The IB program provides students with a broad foundation in core subject matter. The added requirements of TOK and SAS show college admissions that these students can manage a heavy workload.

Choosing between the two really comes down to what is offered by your student’s school and what feels right for them. No matter which program they select, universities will be pleased to see that they have taken full advantage of the most challenging courses available to them.

Can High Scores Earn College Credit?

Ding, ding, ding! This is where the blood, sweat, and tears your student pours into their AP or IB coursework really pays off. While every school offers different rewards, students can actually bypass freshmen or introductory level courses if they achieve high scores on their AP and IB exams. This means your student is literally saving their future self money and time by doing well!

High scores for AP exams are typically a 4 or 5, although some colleges recognize a 3. For IB HL exams, a 6 or 7 is seen as a high score.

How Can My Student Prepare?

Due to their advanced nature, AP and IB courses are far more rigorous than the average high school class and the exams are no exception. Students who opt to sit for these exams should be prepared to study accordingly, which means more time, deeper focus, and stronger discipline. Check back in two weeks for Part 2 of our AP/IB exam series, in which we will offer some helpful tips for students to use when preparing for these important tests!

At Tutoring Club of McLean, we are not one-size-fits-all, classroom-style, white-board style prep. We believe strongly in individualized instruction designed to help with content mastery and to provide test-taking strategies that reduce anxiety and improve recall. Further, we are firm believers in targeting only those content areas in which students do not demonstrate mastery. Our AP and IB Exam Prep is designed for students who want to be active participants in improving their scores. Contact our center to learn more about how our Prep can offer your student the knowledge and confidence to achieve the high scores they’ve been aiming for!

Michelle Scott
Owner/Director
Tutoring Club of McLean
703.237.TUTOR (8886)
Email:McLeanVA@tutoringclub.com