At Taipei American School
What are IB and AP? Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate are two different programs that provide high school students with rigorous coursework. While both are seen as offering similar levels of rigor, they are not strictly speaking, comparable to one another, as each program focuses on its own curriculum. Nonetheless, the two programs are often viewed as equivalent to one another when viewed as measures of college readiness.
Myths and Facts y Myths : The IB is only for student who are going to college y y y
y y
outside the USA Fact: US Colleges recognize the value of the IB diploma as an indicator of student success and give credit usually equal to AP courses. Myth: The AP is only for students going to the US and you must take IB if you are going international. Fact: The AP is recognized around the world as a rigorous curriculum and although some countries (GB, Aus.) may give preference to the IB diploma , students may still get into those universities using AP courses, SAT scores, and their TAS Diploma Myth: I can only take IB or AP courses I can not mix them Fact: TAS offers both types of classes so you can mix in match as you wish
More Myths and Facts y Myth: The AP is all about memorization and regurgitation of y
y y y y
facts. Fact: Although all AP exams have a multiple choice section, they also have free response questions that require analysis and critical thinking Myth: US Colleges prefer AP course Fact: Both IB and AP courses are viewed as equally valuable as evidence of success in rigorous courses Myth: IB Language Ab Initio (beginning languages) can not be taken as part of the IB diploma Fact: Ab Initio was created specifically to allow students to complete the diploma. Ab Initio is equal to an SL level of a language on the diploma.
A Little History y AP y Founded in the USA in 1955 y Create as a way for college
y y y y
prep students to take core level college courses in High School Largest Testing program in the World Over 1 million tests each year Same company that gives the SATs Offered at TAS since 1975
y IB y Incorporated in 1968 y Created as a replacement of
y y y y
national exams for expatriate student Fastest growing testing program in the world 2,200 Schools USA has the most IB schools of any country in the World Offered at TAS since 1980
Similarities y Rigorous fast paced courses y External Exam (given in May) y External exam grades are released in mid July y TAS exam registration is in September and October y Many US colleges give advanced credit for IB and AP
courses y Recognized around the world y At TAS any student who chooses to take an IB or AP class must also take the corresponding external exam
Advanced Placement y One year courses y Exams on a subject‐by‐subject basis y Exams grade on a scale of 5, with a 3 considered
passing y Exams are a mix of free response and multiple choice y Exam grades are based solely on external exams
AP Courses at TAS English Language English Literature Spanish French Chinese Japanese US History European History Economics (Macro and Micro Government (US and Comparative) AP World History (New) AP Psychology (New)
Chemistry Biology Physics (B, C and Mech.) Environmental Science AB Calculus BC Calculus Statistics Music Theory Art History Art (3D, 2D, Drawing)
AP World History y New for 2011‐2012 y Pilot Class for 30 incoming 9th graders y Rigorous selection process y Final decision made by Upper School Social Studies
Department Chair y Students will need to be y In Honors English y Strong analytical writers y Strong readers y Be willing to do summer reading y Strong critical thinkers y Be able to work independently and collaborate with others y Willing to put in the time and effort in a rigorous course
The International Baccalaureate
y Mission
y IB Learners Profile
y The International Baccalaureate aims to
IB learners strive to be: y inquirers y knowledgeable y thinkers y communicators y principled y open‐minded y caring y risk‐takers y balanced y reflective.
develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
y To this end the organization works with
schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
y These programmes encourage students
across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
The International Baccalaureate y Diploma Program
y Certificate Program
5 Mandatory Subject Areas 1 Optional Subject Area (arts) y Higher Level and Standard level courses y Extended Essay y Theory of Knowledge y Creativity Action and Service requirement (CAS)
Individual classes Student may take as few or as many as they choose Similar to an AP course
The International Baccalaureate y Higher Level (HL) two year courses. Standard
Level (SL) may be either one or two year courses y Students may enroll in the Diploma program OR Students may choose to enroll in individual IB courses (certificates) y Exams are graded on a scale of 7 with 4 considered passing y Exam grades are based on external exams and internal (graded by TAS teachers) subject appropriate assessments (IAs)
IB Diploma Score y The 6 courses are grade on
y Maximum Diploma
a scale of 1‐7 (max total 42 points) y TOK and the Extended Essay combine for 3 “bonus” points y CAS must be completed Student’s access CAS forms on the OLC and submit them to the IB coordinator during 11th and 12th grade
Score—45pts y Minimum passing score 24pts y Students who complete a second language (Chinese at TAS) in Language in Literature receive a bilingual diploma
IB Diploma
y Candidates must take 6
courses and complete the “Core” (TOK, EE, CAS) y Candidates must take a minimum of 3 Higher Level Courses, but may choose to take a 4th Higher Level Course there other courses have to be Standard Level y Candidates must take 1 course in Groups 1‐5, they may choose their 6th course from Group 6 or they may double up in groups 2,3 or 4
TOK and the Extended Essay y Required interdisciplinary y y y y
y
course Challenges students to question the basis of knowledge Transcends and unifies the academic subjects Promotes personal modes of thought Examples y “How do a historian and a biologist look at evidence?” y “How does individual perception impact understanding of truth?” Evaluation based on essay and oral presentation.
y A 4,000 word research
essay on a topic of the students choice. y Students work with a faculty advisor y Students begin process in March of 11th grade and complete the final draft in November of 12th grade y If you fail the Extended essay you fail the diploma
Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) y Creativity: Anything that makes you think (MUN, y y y
y
Arts, planning, Music, Classes) Action: Actual physical activities (Sports, hikes) Service: Giving back to the community These need to be organized events and preferable with collaboration with others. Candidates must have activities in both 11th and 12th grade for a minimum of 50 hrs each. Candidate may not just do one thing in the summer between 11th and 12th grade to cover all of CAS.
Sample Schedules AP Student Interested in Social Studies English
Social studies
Science
Math
World Languag e
Arts
Elective
9th Grade
Honors
Asian Studies
Physics
Geo w/ Proof
Spanish 3
Vis Art I
PE/healt h
10th Grade
Honors
AP Euro
Chem
Alg. II
Spanish 4
Year book
PE
11th Grade
AP Eng. Lang.
AP US History
Bio
Pre‐Cal
Spanish 5
AP Governm ent
12th grade
AP Eng. Lit
AP Economi cs
APEs
AP AB Calc.
AP Spanish
AP Psycholo gy
Electiv e
Sample 2 AP with interest in Math and Science English
Social Studies
Science
Math
World Languag e
Arts
Elective
9th
English
Asia
Honors Physics
Alg. II
Chinese Band Heritage track 3 (takes AP Chinese Exam)
PE/Healt h
10th
English
West. Studies
Honors Chem
Honors Pre‐ Cal
Chinese Heritage track 4
Band
PE
11th
America n Novel
US History
Honors Bio
AP Cacl. BC
Chinese Heritage track 5
Jazz Band
AP Chem
12th
AP English Lit
IBSL History
AP Bio
Advance Math
Chinese Heritage track 6
Jazz Band
APEs
Elective
Sample IB student (Social Studies) English
Social Studies
Science
Math
World Languag e
Arts
Elective
9th
English
Asia
Physics
Geo w/Proof
Chinese Heritage track 4
Dance
PE/Healt h
10th
English
AP Euro
Chem
Alg. II
Chinese Heritage track 5
Theatre
PE
11th
IB SL Eng.
IBSL History
Bio
Pre‐Calc.
IB Chinese Lang. and Lit HL
IBSL Psycholo gy
12th
IB SL Eng.
IBHL History of the Americas
IB SL Bio
SL Math
IB Chinese Lang. and Lit. HL
IBHL Psycholo gy
TOK
Elective
Sample IB Student (Science) English
Social Studies
Science
Math
World Languag e
9th
Honors
Asia
Honors Physics
Geo w/proof
Chinese Dance Heritage track 3 (takes AP Chinese Exam)
10th
Honors
West. Studies
Honors Chem
Alg. II
Spanish 1
11th
HL English
US History
IBHL Bio
Pre‐Cal
Spanish 2
12th
HL English
IB SL History
IBHL Bio
IBSL Math
Spanish 3 (Take IB Ab Initio Exam )
Arts
Elective
Elective
PE/Healt h
AP Music PE Theory IBHL Chem TOK
IBHL Chem
IB and AP at TAS 2000-2010 AP and IB Examinations 1000
AP Students
AP Exams Taken
IB Students
IB Exams Taken
800 600 400 200 0 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
AP Students
AP Exams
IB students
IB Exams
2006
269
608
267
533
2007
306
651
304
635
2008
302
646
298
594
2009
301
679
293
597
2010
392
857
301
612
For more information y TAS IB/AP Coordinator
Brandon Maguire
[email protected] Ext. 306 Appointments may be made through Ms. Joanna Han in the counseling office at Ext. 224
y IB Website: www.ibo.org y AP website:
www.collegeboard.com