The College Board has created a document comparing the Advanced Placement Program and The International Baccalaureate Program.
Comparison of AP and IB Exams
English Literature Exams
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AP
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IB at Standard Level (SL)
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IB at Higher Level (HL)
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A written task of 1000-1500 words graded externally
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A written task and reflection on one work studied 2000 words
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60 minutes, 55 multiple choice questions based on literary text excerpts
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90 minutes, 1 essay from choice of two text excerpts
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Same as SL with same criteria but 120 minutes
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120 minutes, 3 essays, 2 on text excerpts, one from a general prompt
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90 minutes, 1 essay chosen from sixteen general prompts.
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Same as SL with same criteria but 120 minutes.
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30 minute oral commentary based on texts studied and 1 oral presentation based on texts studied
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Same task as SL
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History Exams
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AP
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IB at Standard Level (SL)
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IB at Higher Level
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55 minutes; 55 multiple choice question
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60 minutes, 4 short-answer/structured document based question
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Same task as SL
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50 minutes; 4 Short answer questions
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90 minutes; 2 essays from choice of 24 general prompts (2 prompts from 12 different subjects)
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Same task as SL1
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40 minutes (+15 for reading), 1 document based question
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N/A
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150 minutes; 3 essays from choice of twenty-four general prompts.
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35 minutes; 1 essay
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Historical Investigation; 1500-2000 words. Estimated time for Investigation: 20 hours.
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Same as SL
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Chemistry Exams
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AP
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IB at Standard Level (SL)
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IB at Higher Level (HL)
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90 minutes; 60 multiple choice questions.
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45 minutes; 30 multiple choice questions;
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60 minutes; 40 multiple choice questions.
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105 minutes; 3 long and 4 short answer questions.
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75 minutes; Short answer and extended response questions
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135 minutes; Short answer and extended response questions.
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60 minutes; Data- and practical-based questions, plus short answer and extended response questions
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75 minutes; Data- and practical-based questions, plus short answer and extended response questions
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Individual investigation of 6-12 pages
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Same as SL
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Mathematics Exams
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AP
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IB at Standard Level (SL)
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IB at Higher Level (HL)
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105 minutes; 45 questions
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90 minutes; short response and extended response questions
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120 minutes; short and extended responses
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90 minutes; 6 questions
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90 minutes; short and extended response questions
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120 minutes; short and extended responses
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N/A
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60 minutes; Extended response options based on chosen area of concentration
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20 hours; Exploration involving an investigation into an area of mathematics.
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30 hours; Exploration of an area of mathematical investigation and an area of mathematical modeling.
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