AP or IB, Which is the Better Choice?

by BIS / 2022.03.04 Friday / Published in news & event

Many parents, students, and families debate about AP vs. IB and which curriculum is best for them. A simple search on Baidu or Google will illicit hundreds of responses about these topics. Additionally, many K-12 schools will weigh in with their ideas to discuss which is better. At BIS, we see the value in both programs which is why we are happy to announce seven (7) new AP courses for next year that students can take beginning in Grade 9.

“I am so excited to see an increase in AP courses at BIS next year,” said Mr. Matt Kirk, HS and DP Coordinator for BIS. “The increased offering will give even more students the chance to access college level courses in their final two years of MYP (G9 and G10), providing a fantastic opportunity for increased academic rigor and enhanced High School credits, in addition to taking College Board AP examinations. These AP courses will also provide a great foundation for studying IB Diploma subjects at Higher Level in G11 and 12 at BIS.”

AP courses are produced by CollegeBoard, the same educational institution that produces PSAT and SAT which are both tested at BIS. AP courses allow students to take higher level classes, sometimes at a college level, while still in high school.

Previously, BIS has offered AP Geography, AP Modern World History, and AP Calculus AB for students who are eligible for these courses. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, BIS will also be offering the following AP courses: AP Chinese Language, AP Statistics, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP English Language, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Calculus BC. There will also be a test-only option for AP German Language.

（Source: www.synergy-prep.com）

BIS plans to continue with the IB MYP framework in grades 6-10, so students will continue taking courses that align with IB while also fulfilling the rigorous demands of the Community Project (grade 8) and Personal Project (grade 10) to include service elements of the IB. As the only authorized MYP school in Wuxi, parents and students know that they are receiving top level academic content that will push their students onto future levels of success in college and beyond.

Ms. Laura Ward, MYP Coordinator for BIS, said, “Students who take AP courses in their final years of our MYP programme will be given the opportunity to delve far more deeply into a subject they feel passionate about. Providing this experience for our Boston students, where they can study a passion and possibly receive college credit while improving their independent study skills, is worth getting excited about.”

BIS will also continue offering the IB DP at grades 11-12 for students. Current grade 10 students will be meeting with Mr. Matt Kirk, HS Coordinator, in the coming days to review their choices and options for grade 11 DP classes. Last year, BIS achieved its best ever DP scores, and we believe that this year’s grade 12 class will continue to build upon previous successes. BIS is proud of being able to offer multiple options for science, math, English, foreign language, and individuals and societies (humanities).

BIS is very proud of its success and will continue to celebrate its accomplishments. Having recently received WASC accreditation through 2025 combined with the rigorous curriculums of AP and IB, we will continue to meet the high expectations of our community and continue to be the best choice for parents in the Wuxi international market of schools.

AP or IB, Which is the Better Choice?

AP or IB, Which is the Better Choice?

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