“Could you tell me more about BAIS’s curriculum, specifically AP classes?” 

This was a question that I recently received from a prospective family interested in BAIS. I know that there is a lot of misinformation out there about the Advance Placement (AP) program and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, so I hope to explain some of the differences, but also show how they are actually more similar than they may first appear. 

First of all, one system is not better than the other. If this were true, then schools around the world would adopt one over the other. In fact, many larger international schools, such as Jakarta Intercultural School, run both programs at their school. Why would they do this? Because each system of learning approaches education differently. 

The main difference is that the IB system is based on a European model and approach to learning that looks to provide students with an opportunity to be more specialized in a field of study, whereas the AP program follows a more generalist, liberal arts approach where students can explore many different subjects. For example, IB students can choose 3-4 high level (HL) courses during each year of the two year program. If a student chooses to take HL Math and Science for both years, they are left with few options for their third choice. Additionally, students must make these decisions in the middle of their Grade 10 school year. These choices then determine the classes they must take for the coming two years and they are unable to change once they begin their Grade 11 year.

 For AP, there is no limit to the number of high level courses a student can participate in. In fact, students can take any number of the 38 subject exams. This flexibility allows students to either specialize based on their passions and strengths or take a more generalist approach and challenge themselves in a subject that they may not have considered taking when they were Grade 10 students. In the end, students who earn a 3 or higher on at least 5 AP exams across four different content areas, including English, world languages, global perspectives, and math/sciences receive the AP International Diploma.

But there are also similarities between these two programs. For example, the IB program offers a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course. According to their website this course “asks students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, and on how we know what we claim to know.” But just because the IB program has a specific course to explore this topic does not mean the AP courses (or other courses at BAIS) are not exploring questions of how we know what we know. In fact, Truth is one of the core values at BAIS – we are committed to discovering and discerning what is true. An example of this can be seen in Bible class where we explore the question of “what is true?” In our AP History courses, we ask ourselves, “how do we know what is true or what happened in the past?” In AP Language and Composition, students explore the ways that authors use logos, pathos, and ethos to make their case. 

Another example is that in the IB Program, students write an extended essay. In this class students participate in “an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.” At BAIS, our students are required to go through a rigorous research program and write a thesis paper in their Grade 12 Bible class. The AP Program also has recently introduced a Capstone course that provides students with the opportunity to do original research and write a paper. 

So for all of the differences between these programs there are similarities. So why has BAIS chosen to follow the Advanced Placement path? First of all, we like the flexibility that the AP program offers our students. We believe that students should have choice and be able to explore the many different subjects that are out there. Secondly, AP Exam scores are widely accepted in the U.S. and Canada, so our program aligns well with those universities. Moreover, AP is also recognized globally. For example, the admissions process at the University of Sydney says, “SAT scores required can be lower for applicants presenting Advanced Placement tests (APs) with a score of 3 or better.” Thirdly, we believe that the perceived differences in the two programs are actually quite minor. Just because the IB has classes devoted to the theory of knowledge and the writing of an extended essay does not mean non-IB schools are not just as challenging and focused on helping students gain these skills. So rest assured that the AP program at BAIS is just as effective as the IB program in helping us accomplish our mission to provide every child with a challenging, biblically based, and transformative education, equipping them for a successful future. 

Bibliography

IB Organization. (n.d.). Extended essay. International Baccalaureate®. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum/extended-essay/ 

IB Organization. (n.d.). Theory of knowledge. International Baccalaureate®. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum/theory-of-knowledge/ 

University of Sydney. (n.d.). 2023 Admissions Guide FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS.