Let's CompareAP, IB, AND AICE CURRICULUM
DEEP DIVE: AP
Courses with end of year tests distributed by College Board.
These classes are more rigorous than their non-AP analogs.
These classes are more rigorous than their non-AP analogs.
DEEP DIVE: AP
Courses with end of year tests distributed by College Board. These classes are more rigorous than their non-AP analogs.
- Overview
- What is Capstone?™
- AP Distinctions
- Unlike other programs, AP has no required set or number of classes which a student has to take. A student can sign up to take any AP exam.
- Students usually take exams after taking courses offered at their high school, but can also self-study and sign up for exams on their own.
- A score of 3 or above is generally considered “passing”, but every college determines on its own what scores on exams look best, and whether or not they will award course credit for that score.
- Regardless of credit, these classes will prepare you at a high level for college and show course rigor on your transcript.
- Students usually take exams after taking courses offered at their high school, but can also self-study and sign up for exams on their own.
- A score of 3 or above is generally considered “passing”, but every college determines on its own what scores on exams look best, and whether or not they will award course credit for that score.
- Regardless of credit, these classes will prepare you at a high level for college and show course rigor on your transcript.
AP Capstone™ has three principal parts:
AP Seminar is taken first, and teaches students to analyze, think critically, and use outside sources without plagiarism.
AP Research is taken second, and is built around using the skills from Seminar to complete a year-long research project.
A student who earns a score of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and Research will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™, and students who also earn a 3 or higher on four more AP exams will receive the AP Capstone Diploma™.
- AP Seminar
- AP Research
- AP classes and tests
AP Seminar is taken first, and teaches students to analyze, think critically, and use outside sources without plagiarism.
AP Research is taken second, and is built around using the skills from Seminar to complete a year-long research project.
A student who earns a score of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and Research will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™, and students who also earn a 3 or higher on four more AP exams will receive the AP Capstone Diploma™.
College Board also awards the following distinctions for achievement on AP Exams:
AP Scholar: Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
AP Scholar with Honor: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
AP Scholar with Distinction: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
State AP Scholar: Granted to the one male and one female student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with scores of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP Exams, and then the highest average score (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.
National AP Scholar: Granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.
AP Scholar: Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
AP Scholar with Honor: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
AP Scholar with Distinction: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
State AP Scholar: Granted to the one male and one female student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with scores of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP Exams, and then the highest average score (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.
National AP Scholar: Granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.
DEEP DIVE: IB
A two-year diploma framework that consists of
six different courses, an extended essay, and a project.
six different courses, an extended essay, and a project.
DEEP DIVE: IB
A two-year diploma framework that consists of six different courses, an extended essay, and a project.
DEEP DIVE: AICE
A diploma framework derived from the University of Cambridge
in which courses end with Advanced Subsidiary (AS) or Advanced (A) Level exams.
in which courses end with Advanced Subsidiary (AS) or Advanced (A) Level exams.
DEEP DIVE: AICE
A diploma framework derived from the University of Cambridge in which courses end with Advanced Subsidiary (AS) or Advanced (A) Level exams.
The University of Cambridge AICE program, while known internationally, is the newest of these programs in the United States. The program is similar to IB, as the curriculum is designed to emphasize a global perspective. It consists of 6 courses, with at least one from each of the following categories:
Mathematics and Sciences
Languages
Arts and Humanities
Mathematics and Sciences
Languages
Arts and Humanities
- When students complete an AICE course, they take either A or AS-Level exams.
- AS Level exams count for one credit, the equivalent of the first year of the two-year AICE curriculum.
- A Level exams count for two credits, the equivalent of two years of AICE curriculum.
- Students must pass six credits worth of exams to earn the AICE Diploma.
What are the key differences?
- AP offers the most flexibility, while IB provides the most structure and complete curriculum, with AICE falling in the middle.
- While many have opinions on the relative difficulty of these programs, it ultimately depends on the student: which AP exams you take, whether you take SL or HL classes, A or AS-Level exams, etc.
- AP exams are largely multiple-choice, while IB exams are nearly exclusively essay-based.
What are the key differences?
- AP offers the most flexibility, while IB provides the most structure and complete curriculum, with AICE falling in the middle.
- While many have opinions on the relative difficulty of these programs, it ultimately depends on the student: which AP exams you take, whether you take SL or HL classes, A or AS-Level exams, etc.
- AP exams are largely multiple-choice, while IB exams are nearly exclusively essay-based.
So, Which Should I Take?
- Every college will have its own perspective on how these courses are weighed. Some schools, like Stanford, consider IB coursework to be more rigorous than AP, while others, like Johns Hopkins, view them equally.
- Every school offers credit differently for AP and IB exams, so research the
policy at the schools you’re interested in. - AICE, AP, and IB curriculum all translate to college credit at all public universities and
community colleges in Florida. - Remember that more schools, especially elite institutions, now look at
these classes as signs of course rigour rather than to confer college credit, and all three are considered rigorous by colleges. - Even though the Common Application does not have a place on the application to mark AICE classes, that doesn’t mean they aren’t recognized! AICE programs have been instituted internationally for longer than in the US, so all schools are familiar with the rigor they provide, regardless of whether or not they have a policy to confer credit.