The best way to differentiate Advanced Placement (AP) and IB is to look at the origins of both programs. AP began as a set of courses designed by the College Board to bring the first-year college experience to able high school students. AP courses resemble introductory university-level classes in the various disciplines. The courses are standalone.

International Baccalaureate (IB) began as a high-school diploma program that would allow students in secondary school outside their home country to achieve a high school diploma that would stand in for their national diploma and allow them to return to their home country for university. Because so many countries had to agree to recognition of the IB diploma as an acceptable substitute for the home country diploma, the courses have become both content-rich and process-rich. Each IB course contains elements of how scholars in that discipline construct knowledge. For example, IB experimental science courses contain an important strand on experimental design. IB History looks closely at historical methodologies. IB courses also are interdisciplinary, weaving many of the same strands of knowledge and inquiry throughout. The experience of Theory of Knowledge – a course which examines how we know what we know – and the writing of an Extended Essay exist only in IB.

The IB Program

• Comprehensive program of study with unifying core
• A ‘photo album’: Multiple assessments (external, internal, essays, orals, projects, labs, etc).
• 2-year courses
• Quality of curriculum:
  • Student-centered & inquiry-based
  • Breadth & depth of knowledge
  • Critical thinking essential

AP Courses

• Individual coursework, no unifying core
• A ‘snapshot’: One exam
• 1-year courses
• Quality of curriculum:
  • Content-centered
  • Breadth of knowledge
  • Critical thinking important