To date there is no definitive or substantive research that evaluates the IB programs or compares it to other programs. Indeed, except for exam results on DP tests and numbers documenting the growth of the program there is no data available. In addition, for the DP Program, there is no evidence of coordination of IB curriculum with University curriculum. And yet IB advocates still claim it is a superior, rigorous, advanced course of study. Why? The answer is marketing.
Take a look at the IB web site. Unlike the AP web site, noticeably lacking is any link to definitive research. 40 or more years after its inception, IB still has no information to prove its academic worth. What you will find on the IB website is marketing material. Any school that is interested in becoming a "world school" has access to Action (Marketing) kits, which include playbooks in case of opposition, sample letters for parents, brochures and templates, all designed to sell their product, to defend their product, to dupe parents into thinking IB is irreplaceable. And, according to the data they do provide--the growth of the program, they have been successful.
In contrast, the AP program has no such offering on their website. Instead, there are links to research papers, data going back at least 10 years, information for AP teachers from college professors teaching the same courses in the Universities, and links to curriculum sites open to the public. IB curriculum sites are proprietary. Why? Because it is what they sell. Only those who pay can access the site. AP only sells their tests and training materials. And their prices are much less expensive compared to IB.
We have gathered here information on all three IB programs, the diploma, middle years and primary years programs as well as information on Advanced Placement. Click on the links which come up under this title to see discussions on AP vs. IB, and MYP and PYP information. We invite you to do your own research and decide for yourself.