AP Classes |
IB Diploma Programme |
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AP consists of 21 independent courses offered at MHS. |
IB is a two-year program of study that includes 13 courses, an extended essay, and creativity, action and service requirements. |
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Open to all students willing to challenge themselves with college level coursework; some AP classes have prerequisites and performance standards in lower level classes. |
Open to all students willing to challenge themselves with college level coursework and willing to complete additional creativity, action, and service hours.
Students must have completed Higher Algebra 2 and Level 2 of a World Language before their junior year in order to enroll in the Diploma Programme. |
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AP promotes open access to students who may excel in only one or two academic disciplines. |
IB promotes open access to students who are motivated to pursue a well-rounded education and a high level of performance in all six disciplines:
- Studies in language and literature
- Language acquisition
- Individuals and societies
- Experimental sciences
- Mathematics
- The arts
IB diploma candidates also take Theory of Knowledge, write an Extended Essay of up to 4,000 words, and must demonstrate creativity, action and service (150 hours). |
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AP scores are based solely on the AP exam. |
IB scores are based on classroom work done over time and on IB exams. |
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Any student may take an AP exam; specific courses are taught but are not a prerequisite for the exams; IB students may take AP exams. |
Only IB students enrolled in the IB program may take IB exams or receive IB credit. |
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AP exams are developed by a national development committee in conjunction with experts from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Exams are administered locally and shipped to ETS for scoring. |
IB exams are developed and scored by an international panel of examiners. Exams are administered locally and shipped for scoring to these examiners who live and teach in IB schools all around the world. |
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AP teachers work independently or within their discipline to support students. |
IB teachers work as a team to support students and to connect the curriculum across disciplines. |
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AP classes move at a rapid pace, surveying a broad spectrum of a particular discipline, similar to college entry-level survey classes. |
IB courses move at a different pace, some over a two-year period, to allow time for in-depth research, inquiry, reflection and analysis. |
| Many AP classes require a significant amount of reading and higher level thinking skills. |
All IB courses require significant writing skills that develop over the two year period, in addition to reading and higher level thinking skills. Students write papers in all subjects, including math, science and the arts. |
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AP students may form peer groups within individual classes or disciplines, but this is not a goal of the program. |
IB seeks to create a cohort or peer group around academics. |
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AP recognizes high achievement on AP exams through the AP Scholars program. |
Successful IB candidates receive an IB Diploma. |