Criticism of IBDP from The Student Room

Criticism of the Diploma Programme often centers around the limitations of curriculum implementation in the schools. For example, although the IBO may offer many different courses of a particular area, a school may only offer a few, thereby defeating the original intent of the program.

Criticism also stems from the lack of interaction between IB students and other non-IB students in schools where programs besides the IB program are offered. This lack of interaction is sometimes referred to as the "IB crew."

Another negative aspect of the program is the unnecessary measures taken to keep control of CAS hours. This can be in the form of proposal forms or excessive logging forms.

Most American colleges will only give college credit to students for taking higher level courses, and require a score of 6 or 7, though sometimes 5 is accepted. While on the other hand, the same colleges give credit to students who get a 4 or higher on a AP exam. However, the AP exam is scored out of 5. Obtaining a 4 on an AP exam is roughly comparable to obtaining a 5 or 6 on an IB exam.

The Diploma Programme is also criticized for its lack of "fair judgment." Rather than the students having a completely anonymous grader as in the AP program most IB grades are given in a ratio of 70% anonymous and 30% teacher based.

The Diploma Programme is run by the school's IB coordinator. All information about the policies and practices is commonly granted exclusively through that coordinator. There is no external overseer of IB coordinators and typically the IB coordinator is the last say in decisions regarding the Diploma Programme. Commonly any student or parent who attempts to discover the IB organization's policies via the IB organization itself is deferred to the school's IB coordinator.

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/International_Baccalaureate#Criticism