AP/IB Information Night

AP AND IB INFORMATION NIGHTNOVEMBER 14, 2012

Kent Merdes – AP CoordinatorCarol Jordan -- IB CoordinatorDavid Bene & Cynthia Nordmeyer - Counselors

TONIGHT’S MEETING

• Provide general information about the AP and IB programs.

• Start discussions about which program might be the best fit.

• Specific course selection questions will be addressed later on an individual basis.

• Course selection process begins February 2012.

IB = International Baccalaureate

AP = Advanced Placement

Both programs:• Valued in college and university

admissions• Offer College/university credit and/or

placement for successful results• Give students the opportunity to be better

prepared and therefore more successful at university.

• Provide a rigorous academic profile

Our IB & AP results exceed global averages

WHAT TYPE OF STUDENT SHOULD TAKE AP AND/OR IB?

• Students who are ready for university-level rigor

• Students with a high level of interest, motivation and commitment

• Students who want to challenge themselves

What are the requirements?

IB and AP:

• Open to all students

Departmental pre-requisites for some subjects like Chemistry, Physics, Math, and Languages

Recommendations are required from teachers, counselors, and coordinators

Why take AP & IB Classes?

In the US

Currently one in five college students arrive at college with credits amounting to a semester or more of college-level work from their IB and AP classes.

By entering college with credits, you'll may have the time to move into upper level courses, pursue a double-major, win scholarships, study abroad or graduate early.

Why do colleges prefer IB & AP graduates?• Accept challenges

• Strong academic preparation

• Externally validated performance

• Internationally-minded

• Excellent research and writing skills

• Critical thinking skills

• Awareness of holistic nature of learning

• Good time management & study habit skills

• Can work independently

• Mature and responsible

• Oral presentation skills

All IB and AP classes have at their core the SAS Eagles Empowered – to be lifelong learner Adaptable – independent thinking Globally minded – ability to make

connections Literate – strong content area

knowledge & writing skills Ethical - academic integrity and

honesty Skilled Inquirers – problem solvers

International Baccalaureate

IB PROGRAM• Students can take IB Diploma Program or One

or more individual IB Courses

• Two year courses, taken in grades 11 and 12

• External exams in May of Senior year

• Internal assessment over both years

• Independent and group projects, research papers, oral presentations, experimental work, performances, exhibitions, field work, commentaries

Why the IB Diploma

International focus & global perspectives

International standards, applied equally to all students in all schools.

Holistic education – academic, extra curricular, attitudes and values

Aligns with SAS MISSON, and CORE VALUES.

Opportunity for students with more than on mother tongue to gain a bilingual diploma.

Why do G10 students choose the Diploma?

Team work and support given for learning Make close friends Study subjects in depth over two years Become more independent and self confident Desire to learn balance and self discipline Desire for challenge and to achieve academic

excellence Become well rounded CAS and TOK Preparedness for University – research and

writing skills Program values creativity. Having own ideas is

valued

Diploma students see themselves as

Willing to accept challenge and risk Motivated Willing to work hard Having a strong desire to be successful

academically Leader and wanting to make a difference

In a nutshell IB promotes the education of the whole person -

intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth. • development a strong sense of identity and

culture • ability to communicate with and understand

people from other countries and cultures

Prepares students for university and encourages them to:Ask challenging questions • Learn how to learn• Writing skills

DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTSCombines breadth with depth

1 course from: • Group 1: Literature & Language• Group 2: Second Language• Group 3: Societies• Group 4: Science• Group 5: Mathematics • Group 6: The Arts

• 3 at Higher Level (HL)• 3 at Standard Level (SL)• Group 6 can be replaced by a

course from Groups 1-4

Group 1 Language A:

English and Chinese Language & Literature and Literature,

Self Taught literature

Group 2 Second Language:

Mandarin, Spanish & French

Group 3 Societies:Psychology, History,

Economics. Environmental Systems & Societies★

Group 4 Science:Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Environmental Systems &

Societies★

Group 5 Mathematics:Mathematics higher-level, standard-level & studies

Group 6 The Arts:Visual Arts, Theatre, Music

IB Courses 13-14

CORE ELEMENTS OF IB DIPLOMA?

• Learner Profile

• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

• Extended Essay (EE)

• Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)

The learner profile is developed through the curriculum and empowers students to be . . . • globally minded

• risk takers• life long learners• reflective• open-minded• ethical• caring and principled• knowledgeable• ethical

. . . and to make a difference in the world

TOK gives students an opportunity to step back, reflect and focus not on what they know but they how it!

How knowledge is producedHow important is the opinion of

experts?” To what extent can claims be

trusted.“How important is evidence in

supporting our claims” Interdisciplinary understanding.

How do scientific and historical explanations compare?”

The Extended Essay is a . . .

• 4000 word research investigation on a subject and topic of the student’s choice.

• Student’s learn how to:

• frame a question and explore it

• select and use academic sources effectively

• think innovatively

• write a college-level research paper

“Aim not only for success but to be of value to your fellowmen” Confucius

• Philanthropy & learning by doing are

fostered through CAS• Education beyond the classroom in areas

of

• Creativity• Action (Sport)

• Service

Under the guidance of a mentor

CAS is about making a difference, by learning how to

Give back to the communityTake on leadership rolesWork in a teamDeal with conflictCreate new initiativesManage and sustain projectsMake meaningful contributions

IB Certificates

Individual 2-year courses mixed with one year AP and / or elective courses

Flexibility in course selection, however harder to schedule. Students may not get the exact courses they want.

Advanced Placement®

SAT vs. AP Classes SAT

globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge.

SAT Subject TestsHour-long, content-based tests that allow you

to showcase achievement in specific subject areas where you excel

AP CoursesNOT required for college admissionsyou can earn college credit and advanced

placement, stand out in the admission process

The AP Program Enables students to pursue college-level

studies while still in high school and credit

Flexibility and choiceOne year courses

Open enrollment with guidanceMore diverse opportunities to reach all

students

External exams in May

The AP Program@SAS:

• Grade 10: AP US History & World History

• AP Calculus available to qualified students in any grade.

• AP Chinese exam is taken by students enrolled in the AP Chinese class

○ Other qualified students can apply to write the exam independently. Eligibility is subject to resource constraints

• All AP courses are available to students in Grades 11 & 12. Some prerequisites apply.

The AP Program@SAS:

The AP Program @SAS:• Allows students to explore a variety of

coursework• Students can choose from 16 different classes• Students have the ability to mix and match classes,

especially in their 11th and 12th grade years

• Provides students with the opportunity to “try-out” a subject before they get to college

• Gives students the opportunity to find subjects they are passionate about prior to college

English:Language & Composition, Literature & Composition

Social Studies:Comparative Government, Economics, Psychology, US

History, World History

Foreign Language:Chinese Language & Culture

Math:Calculus AB & BC, Computer

Science, Statistics

Science:Biology, Chemistry,

Physics, Environmental Science

AP Classes 2013-2014

What are AP Classes like?

Typically demand more than regular courses.

Classes tend to be fast-paced and cover more material than typical high school classes.

Demand more time, inside and outside of the classroom, is required to complete lessons, reading, assignments and homework.

Discussions are intense, probing, and demanding

Why take AP Classes?

AP courses and exams are designed by teams of college professors and expert secondary school teachersthis gives students a real taste for the rigor of

college coursework

College faculty participate in the scoring of the AP Exams, using their expectations of college students as a guidepost in the scoring of our studentsstudent performance can therefore serve as an

indicator of how students will perform in collegeIn general, the AP exam scores are set so that the

lowest composite score for an AP score of 5 is equivalent to the average score for college students earning scores of A

How many AP Classes?

The amount of AP courses taken needs to be based on the individual students’ abilities and study habits

There is no magic number in terms of how many APs

a student should take. Students should challenge themselves appropriate to their own academic interests and abilities.

In America:28% of high school seniors have taken at least

1 AP class in high school

At SAS Pudong:61% of high school seniors at SAS took at

least 1 AP class while at SAS

AP and IB University & College Recognition

IB/AP MYTHS…

“I’ve heard that IB is better for Europe, but AP is better for the

US.”Actually …

“We all know the value of both programs.”

William Fitzsimmons, Director of Admissions, Harvard, quoted in “Diploma for the Top of the Top,” New York Times, 21 June 2003In fact, admissions officers say they view both programs equally, since both

offer rigorous course work. (From same article)

IB vs. AP What do College reps say?

Northwestern: We look at both as choices of rigor.

Duke: Personal choice. Don’t have a preference for one or the other.

Georgetown: Comfortable with the rigor of both. Washington U: No preference. We want to see

rigor regardless of the system or combination. Brown: IB Diploma is attractive, but you can

create the same thing with the AP. With all things equal, we like a whole curriculum.

Macalester: Neither is better. IB Diploma has advantages with EE, TOK. We look at each applicant’s program to make sure they have stepped out of their comfort zone.

IB COLLEGE RECOGNITION

• Strongly recommended for Europe, Australia/New Zealand, some Asian countries

• Strong results reflect favorably in US and offer

•Placement•Advance standing•Awarding of Scholarships

May 2011 SAS IB Diploma College / University Destinations

Global distributions: USA = 55.1%, Canada = 18.7%, UK = 8.6%, Australia = 3.4%, Other = <1%

AP College Recognition

Credit and/or advanced placement in 90% of the Colleges and Universities in the US

Institutions in more than 60 other countries grant students credit placement or both for qualifying AP Exam grades.

AP Global Recognition

University/College Admissions Policies

Policies vary widely:• Discussions with counselors• Check individual school websites

For universities outside of US that recognize AP and the credit policy for US Colleges and Universities http://bigfuture.collegeboard.com/college-search

For universities that recognize the IB http://www.ibo.org/recognition/university

What are my choices?

• Full IB Diploma Program =6 IB courses + TOK + CAS + EE

• AP courses and general HS courses

• Mix of AP courses, IB courses, and general HS courses

• General HS courses

What’s next?• IB/AP info sessions in February: students

should attend one of these lunchtime meetings to hear from current IB/AP students.

• February: grade-level course selection meetings, updated course catelog

• For more information about specific AP and IB classes talk to the program coordinator, your child's counselor and teachers.

• Potential IB Diploma candidates will meet with Ms. Jordan starting NOW

IB AND AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE TRIP TO DONGTAN WETLAND