What is a international baccalaureate program?

Answer 1

The International Bacchalaureate Diploma is a high school level degree program monitored by the United Nations. The awarding of the diploma requires a number of advanced classes and additional requirements. The Diploma is recognized world wide as a standard of education that is consistant globally. Those students interested in going to college in other countries should seriously look at this education track. Students that complete the required courses take IB exams, often graded by educators in other countries. Many colleges will evaluate the results of the IB exams as AP type courses and waive classes or even grant credit. There are some students that earn enough credits through the IB to 'skip' their freshman year of college. In addition to the courses (including 4 years of a language) the students are required to participate in Enrichment activities, provide hours of service in the community and write an extended essay. Studies have shown a direct correlation between a student that prepares and takes the AP and IB exams and their success rate in college. The grade success is less important then the actual preparation and taking of the exam. U.S. News and World Reports annually ranks the best high schools in the US based on this criteria.

Answer 2

I am a student in the International Baccalaureate program and it is a rigorous, college-level series of classes. It is a lot like the Advance Placement program, though the testing is a little bit more difficult. Another difference between IB and AP is that IB has an added side called CAS, which stands for Creativity-Action-Service. A student in the IB program spends time inside or outside of school in these three fields. For example, in the Action category a student could join a school or community sports team, take a dance class, anything that gets you up and moving around. You can count the hours you spend doing this towards the CAS category ONLY AS LONG AS you do not get credit for it in an IB class. What this means is that you cannot count the time you spend in the IB Art class for CAS hours however, you CAN count the hours if it is a general-level art class offered at your school. CAS is basically the way that IB ensures that the students in the program DO have a social life outside of their IB classes. IB classes come in two levels; Standard and Higher. Students test after one year of study in the Standard level classes whereas students study for two years before testing in the Higher Level. A student must complete the Standard Level class before they enter the Higher Level class. If a student is going to carry on to the Higher Level of a certain class (art, chemistry, foreign language, etc) they DO NOT need to test at the end of their first year of study (SL). Another difference between AP and IB is that IB requires a student to take the one-year or two-year end tests. AP gives the student the option to not take the test at the end but remain in the class. With IB, you either stay in the class and take the test at the end or you drop the class. IB and AP both score their tests numerically (AP ranks from 1-5 and IB ranks from 1-7). Another class IB offers is Theory of Knowledge. This class is without a doubt the best class I have taken in my entire life, bar none. In my school's ToK class we learn the ways of knowing, methods of gaining information, and application of our knowledge to world issues. It sounds daunting at first, but it is really just learning how to form and support your own opinion on different events. ToK includes an Extended Essay. This essay is written by each student who wishes to complete the entire IB course and earn a diploma. The student chooses any topic that they are interested in, researches it, and writes a 4000-word-maximum essay. The students are allowed to discuss their essay with a mentor; a teacher who teaches in the field they want to write in. IB students have the option of completing the whole diploma program and earning the IB diploma or they can Certificate in the classes in which they have passed the end-of-year tests. The IB program is a lot of work, but I truly love being involved in it. It has helped me to broaden my perspective and become a more well-rounded person. Please let me know if you have any other questions!