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Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Advanced Placement Vs. International Baccalaureate
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So the top colleges want to see one of these two signals of a tough curriculum on a student’s transcript. Which one is better?
Advanced Placement courses are for students who want to tackle college-level work. Teachers have latitude on curriculum and teaching methods, but students are held accountable for the material through standardized tests they must do well on to be eligible for college credit.
AP courses are great for students who excel in a specific subject, such as math, science, foreign language or literature. Critics have accused AP courses of being dry and overly focused on the standardized test.
International Baccalaureate, in high schools, is an intensive two-year curriculum that gives students a well-rounded education with an international focus. Critics of IB say it’s too expensive for some schools to adopt. Though IB is generally less familiar to Georgians, its popularity is growing. The IB program is widely respected by top colleges.
What do students and parents think about these programs?
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