As spring approaches, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) students are preparing for final tests. These tests can earn college credit and help to determine an overall score in the class. However, many students are deciding not to take the final tests for a variety of reasons.

“I know people in IB Theater often choose not to take the test because they’re not going into that career field,” senior Chase Raymond said. “I’m going into film, so the credit that I would get wouldn’t really aid my graduation. The money and possibility of not getting the actual credit, it’s just not worth it.”

The testing process for IB is multi-stage system. There are various assessments that must be taken in order to possibly receive college credit.

“IB is more focused on the process by which students learn,” Principal Mark Suchowski said. “They earn a final score on a scale of 1-7, but that’s not only a result of the big test that they take in May in the last year o

f the course. Several IB classes are more than one year. So students can extend themselves and take several assessments over the course of two years, and that all adds up to a final score on a scale of one to seven. There are more opportunities for students to do well in IB courses.”

While IB testing has multiple stages its counterpart, AP, is a one time only test.  

“I am coming from the AP side because I’m the AP coordinator,” Counselor Michelle Pietraszkiewicz said. “AP exams are one exam only, so you either pass it or you don’t. IB assesses four times, so you kind of have four tries, in a sense. They each contribute to your score, but it’s not one time to show your knowledge. I mean, what if you’re having a bad day? So it’s a little more comprehensive.”

Even if they do not take the final tests, students are encouraged to take the classes.

“They’re more rigorous, so it’s better preparation for college,” Pietraszkiewicz said. “This is your only free education, so you might as well challenge yourself as much as you can in high school, so that you can either pass the test and earn the college credit, or even if you don’t then you have that information when you go to college; it will be kind of like a review.”