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Are you planning on applying to college after your IB Program ends and are considering Harvard for higher studies? You may be wondering if completing the IB Program exempts you from having to take the SAT. This post is here to provide some more guidance regarding this common misconception, so read on for more details!
Does Harvard accept IB instead of SAT?
It is important to note that IB and SAT are two completely different things when it comes to college admissions. The IB Program is a high school program aimed at students aged 16-19 and covers subjects chosen from 6 different subject areas. It can be considered similar to taking AP or Honors courses in the American curriculum or A-levels in the British curriculum.
SATs, on the other hand, are NOT a high school program but rather a form of standardized testing that students take in addition to whatever high school curriculum they are enrolled in. Students may also have to take subject-specific SATs if their respective college or program requires them.
That being said, Harvard does not usually accept IB in place of the SAT and IB students are expected to take the SAT (or ACT) in most cases to be considered for admission to Harvard. However, in exceptional cases when students are not able to access the SAT in their region, Harvard may consider IB scores as replacements for the SAT.
Exceptional cases typically involve a student facing challenges in paying for or accessing a test site, or a student being unable to secure an available seat at a test site before the Regular Decision deadline. Applicants will have an opportunity to explain why they are unable to submit the SAT or ACT. For more details on what constitutes an exceptional case, see this website.
We hope this guide has helped you understand the differences between IB and SAT when applying to Harvard. Good luck with your college applications!
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