Academic Excellence for a Global Society
Q & A
Find out More
WHERE IS WALLED LAKE'S IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME OFFERED?
Walled Lake's IB Diploma Programme is offered at Western High School. ALL Walled Lake students have the opportunity to participate in the IB programme provided they meet the academic requirements. IB Diploma Candidates must attend Western High School for 11th and 12th grades.
- Student Transfers (current Walled Lake families not in the Western HS attendance area)
- Schools of Choice (out of district families)
DO COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES RECOGNIZE THE IB DIPLOMA?
Yes! Colleges and universities look favorably upon the IB Diploma during the admission process. Many also have generous IB Credit Policies allowing students to earn college credits depending on their test scores. Also many scholarships are available to IB students! To learn more about these credit policies and/scholarships, please see the 'College and University Information' section of our website.
CAN STUDENTS JUST TAKE ONE OR TWO IB COURSES OR DO THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE FULL DIPLOMA PROGRAMME?
Yes! Students can take one or more IB courses without completing the full IB Diploma. Several students take IB courses in isolation and/or alongside Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “STANDARD LEVEL” AND “HIGHER LEVEL”?
Standard Level courses are typically considered the same level as Advanced Placement with a few exceptions (ie: Math Studies SL). For example, Standard Level Biology and Advanced Placement Biology cover the same material. However, the approaches to laboratory work and final assessments are different. Standard Level courses may be one or two years long.
Higher Level courses explore additional content and are always two year courses.
WILL STUDENTS EARN WEIGHTED GRADES FOR THE IB CLASSES?
Yes. Most IB courses in the same manner as AP courses with the following exceptions: SL courses that are two years long are only weighted the second year. Math Studies SL and Theory of Knowledge are not weighted. See the District weighted scale for more details.
IS COLLEGE CREDIT OFFERED FOR IB COURSES?
Yes. Similar to AP, the criteria at individual colleges and universities vary, but because the IB HL courses are all two years long, IB students typically earn more IB credit per course than their AP counterparts. Most universities and colleges will accept HL courses for credit depending on the IB score earned by students taking independent courses. IB Diploma Candidates are more likely to be awarded credit for their SL courses even though this is not advertised. To learn more about these credit policies and/scholarships, please see the 'College and University Information' section of our website.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AP AND IB?
While both offer rigorous course options, with credit earning potential, their assessments are quite different. In addition to multiple choice tests, IB students are asked to demonstrate their understanding via portfolios, oral commentaries, historical investigations, student-designed laboratory investigations, analytical essays, projects, and debates. The IB Diploma Programme curriculum is designed to delve deeply into subject matter and explore that content from varying perspectives and build trans-disciplinary skills.
IS THERE A FEE FOR IB?
There is no fee to take any of the IB courses. If students want to take IB exams, there is a fee involved. The exam fee is $119 for each exam. This fee is set by IB and is a fraction of the cost of taking these courses in college. Students eligible for free and reduced lunch have reduced exam fees. Contact Dr. Friedman for additional information as the amount changes each year depending on the State of Michigan's AP and IB reduced test fee policy.
Can't find the answer to your question on our website? Submit your questions here: