Colleges and the IB Diploma                                                       Booker T. Washington High School

How are diploma points awarded?

Students will earn their IB diploma when they accrue 24-45 points.  This includes a total of 12 points in HL subjects.  If a student scores a 2 in an HL, the student must then total 28 points in order to receive the diploma.  IB exams (papers) are marked on a scale of 1-7.  Students take 6 exams.  In addition, students may earn up to 3 points for combined work on the Extended Essay and in TOK.   

Some universities offer differing levels of recognition depending upon the number of diploma points earned.  For instance, the University of Tulsa will award 30 hours of credit to students that earn the IB Diploma with a score of 28 or higher.  The University of Texas will award a minimum of 24 hours credit to any student that earns a “4” or better on all exams attempted.  At the University of Oklahoma, credit may be awarded to students who earn a “4” or higher on an HL exams; such credit is awarded on a course-by-course basis as recommended by the University of Oklahoma faculty.  The University of California system grants 20 semester credits to an IB Diploma score of 30 or above.  

How do colleges award credit?

Many colleges award credit for HL exams with a score of 5 or higher.  Some colleges are beginning to award credit, or in some cases, advanced standing for SL courses as well.  Ultimately, different colleges have different policies.  The best way to get current information is to go to www.ibo.org and click on “Information for Universities” and then “Universities that recognize the diploma”.  You may search by country and university name.     

How do colleges consider IB in the admissions process?

Colleges report that they are interested in students who take the most challenging and rigorous curriculum available.  Students presenting a transcript with IB courses cannot count on getting in to the school of their dreams; but they can be assured that their application will be given serious consideration. 

The latest survey of a North American IB class (2002) indicated that with respect to almost every selective college, IB students had a higher rate of acceptance than the general applicant pool.  The University of Pennsylvania, for example, accepted 22% of the general population of applicants, whereas 58% of IB Diploma candidate applicants were accepted. 

How is IB Diploma different from AP (Advanced Placement)?

While both IB and AP offer a rigorous curriculum for highly motivated students, the IB Diploma program represents a comprehensive international standard of excellence while the AP represents the US national standard.  AP exams have no external evaluation feedback loop, and students choose to take individual classes.  Currently there is not a comprehensive AP program.  IB exams are scored 1-7; IB scores are based in part on graded class work (internal assessments) performed during the year.  AP exams are scored 1-5.  Overall, IB is a holistic program, and although students receive college credit/advanced standing, the goals of the program are larger.