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Frequently Asked Questions

Is IB Hard?

Yes and no.  EXPAND

How much homework do you get?

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What is the difference between AP and IB?
With AP, there's a greater variety of classes offered on campus. On the other hand, IB has a more specified curriculum where students are required to take Theory of Knowledge, 3 higher-level classes, and 3 standard level classes. There's also a greater focus on depth and breadth, writing, and critical thinking. Another difference is the average acceptance rate, which for an IB student, is generally much greater (refer below). Finally, IB has an extended essay and CAS requirement which is creativity, activity, and service, pushing students to be stay healthy and make a difference in their communities.
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Information from Crimson Education
Is IB hard?
Yes and no. The teachers definitely provide students with a rigorous experience to prepare for IB tests and college-level courses. However, major assignments such as IAs and the EE are worked on over a long period of time so the work is manageable as long as the student stays focused and determined. Additionally, if potential IB sophomores are hesitant about the difficulty level of classes, we do offer shadowing in February/March for them to get an experience of what it would be like in each class.
How much homework do you get each night?
It really depends person to person. Everyone's schedule differs but only focusing on the homework aspect on average would be around 4-5 hours. However, it can take more or less based on your work habits so try to stay focused and avoid distractions.
What is the grading scale?

Each course is graded on a scale of 1-7. A 4 is considered passing. The total amount of points a full diploma student can receive is 45. Therefore, if the student obtains 7's on all 6 courses, they receive 42 points. The remaining 3 points come from the TOK prescribed title and their EE. The grading scale is shown below.

How is IB credit given?
IB credit is given similarly to AP credit. At least a 5 on HL tests is needed at UC schools and at least a 6 is needed at most private universities (out of 7). Additionally, by obtaining an IB diploma with at least 30 points (out of 45), some schools will offer additional college credit, allowing you to bypass your freshman year of college. For more school-specific information, check out Getting IB Credit at University. Some schools also offer scholarships to those who receive a certain amount of marks on their diploma.
What colleges and universities do Sunny Hills IB students attend?
Our students have received acceptances from all across the US. Below are the college banners for the class of 2019 and 2020.
What is IB Council?

IB Council is a group of juniors and seniors who work together to manage the program under the guidance of our IB Coordinator. It is a year-long commitment and they plan events, pair the mentors and mentees, provide support and aid to current students, and more. Currently, there are 13 members on council (check the Contact Us page for more information). Applications are released around mid-March.​​

If it possible for me to switch classes while I'm in IB?
Classes such as History of the Americas, Theory of Knowledge, IB English, and IB Mathematics are required classes with no alternatives so they cannot be switched. However, it is possible, for example, for students to switch from IB Economics their junior year to IB Visual Arts their senior year. The sciences and language B groups do have variations as well.
Is IB only for students who want to study abroad?
No. IB is recognized in colleges across the US too and helps students obtain admission at top schools (refer to the left for the statistics). However, an IB diploma is preferred by some schools in other countries and can help their chances for admission. Reference IB College Recognition Policy in the US for more information.
Can I be involved in another program alongside IB?
Yes! A lot of our students are and have been involved in COFA and IB or AVID and IB. Additionally, some of the requirements for COFA can actually be done for COFA credit and IB credit. For example, you can be enrolled in IB Art HL which will count towards IB and COFA. The same goes with EPIC and IB where you can take the Design Tech test for IB and be enrolled in an EPIC simultaneously.
What do the different acronyms and terminology mean?

  • Diploma candidate

    • Students who have completed the required classes (3 of standard level and 3 of higher level), their CAS requirements, TOK, and their extended essays.

  • Course

    • Course students earn certificates and college credit for completing and passing IB exams for individual subjects rather than the 6 required subjects and core components that Full Diploma candidates complete.

  • EE: extended essay

    • Every diploma candidate has to complete an EE. It's a research paper with a maximum of 4,000 words written by the candidate that is worked on during their second semester of junior year till the end of first semester of their senior year. Students get to choose their own topics and work with an advisor who guides them. 

  • TOK: theory of knowledge

    • Every diploma candidate must take this class. Theory of Knowledge at Sunny Hills is taken during the student's junior year during second semester with Mr.Rosenkranz. The course covers how knowledge relates to the subjects covered in school and the world around us. Students also have time to work on their extended essay during class. 

  • Prescribed title

    • The prescribed title is an essay done for TOK that is 1,200-1,600 words long.​ There are multiple questions given that are changed year to year, and the student must answer one of them. It is done in the student's senior year. 

  • CAS: creativity, activity, service

    • CAS is a 150 hour requirement for all diploma candidates. Students log hours and experiences from outside the classroom and reflect on what they learned or how they grew. There are 7 areas of growth a student can choose from to set goals for and reflect.

  • SL: standard level

    • Standard level classes are not as in-depth as higher level classes. The tests do not typically count towards college credit at US universities but they do count towards the student's total IB score. Most colleges give credit based on total points earned for the Diploma for example the UC system will give sophomore status for those earning 30 or more points. 

  • HL: higher level

    • Higher level classes have an increased depth of information covered. They typically have extra requirements for their IA's. At Sunny Hills, these classes include History of the Americas, English, Visual Arts, Economics.

  • IA: internal assessments

    • IA's are completed during the school year and students work with their teachers to complete them. Students create the work that gets assessed by the teacher and then submitted in a final draft. During normal years, these count for 20% to 40% of your final grade from IBO. For the 2020 year, these were a more significant portion of your grade because external assessments were canceled.

  • EA: external assessments

    • External assessments are taken at the end of the year during May. These tests typically have hand-written papers that are administered over a couple of days. These can include writing prompts and multiple-choice in science subjects. The tests count for 60-80% of your final grade from IBO during normal years. For the 2020 year, these were not administered.

  • Group subjects

    • Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature, Group 2: Language Acquisition, Group 3: Individuals and Societies, Group 4: Experimental Sciences, Group 5: Mathematics, Group 6: The Arts. Students have to complete 1 course from each group subject with the exception of The Arts which can be replaced by another subject in groups 2-4.

  • Predicted grades

    • Predicted grades are calculated by teachers and are given to IBO. They are calculated for individual subjects and TOK too. They are occasionally used for initial acceptance into some universities.

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