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Advanced Placement Program (AP)

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The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is a cooperative educational endeavor between highschools and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the Program has provided motivated high school students with the opportunity to take university-level courses in a high school setting. Participants not only gain university-level skills, but in many cases they also earn earn university credit while still in high school. AP courses are taught by dedicated and enthusiastic high school teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board. The College Board is a non-profit association whose mission is to prepare, inspire, and connect students to university and opportunity.

The Program's success is rooted in the collaborative efforts of motivated students, dedicated teachers, and committed schools. By participating in the Program, secondary schools and students commit to an internationally standardized curriculum and exam.
 
There are currently more than 110 000 teachers leading AP courses in high schools worldwide. AP teachers are some of the world's finest. The Program is strengthened by their participation in professional development workshops and Summer Institutes.

Advantages
“Research on the effects of taking AP courses has demonstrated that when AP students reach the post secondary level, they typically enroll in more courses than their peers, achieve higher grade point averages, graduate with double majors, and go on to graduate school at a rate double that of their non-AP peers.” ~ The College Board
 
  • The transition from high school to post secondary setting is facilitated.
  • Students are motivated to undertake more challenging work.
  • Students are given the opportunity to study their special interests areas in more depth with peers of similar interests and motivation.
  • By meeting the challenge of national and international standards, students are rewarded with a tremendous sense of accomplishment and international credibility of their academic abilities.
  • Students experience the demands of university work. “59% of AP students earn a GPA of at least a B during their freshman year compared to 37% of non AP students.” - The College Board
  • The experience provides direction in the selection of university programs.
  • Students demonstrating outstanding achievement in AP courses may compete for national and international awards.
  • Students receive college/university credits for courses taken in high school which is a financial saving and allows more time for additional courses at university.
 
How difficult are AP Courses?
Compared with regular high school courses, AP courses are usually more demanding. Critical reading, analyzing data sets, synthesizing evidence to develop new insights are some of the intellectual skills required. Advanced Placement courses are comparable to first-year university courses but they are not impossibly difficult.
 
AP Exams
For each subject area, students write a three-hour exam in May at their local school. Exams are sent to the Education Testing Service as contracted by the College Board. Test results can be sent directly to universities or colleges as directed by the students. Students can decide after receiving the grade in July if they want their grades forwarded.
 
Exams receive an overall grade on a five-point scale:
5 - Extremely well qualified
4 - Well qualified
3 - Qualified
2 - Possibly qualified
1 - No recommendation
Each college and university sets its own policies regarding the granting of credit or advanced placement. Students must check directly with the institution. Most institutions accept a grade of 3.
 
Examination fees are set at approximately $100 Canadian. Students have to pre-pay this amount at the commencement of the course as an indication of their commitment.
 
Contact
Sukhminder Bath – AP Calculus
Ashley Dyson - AP Chemistry
Lindsay Metruk - AP Biology
Michael De Groot - AP Physics
Kyleigh Bromley - AP English
Chris Cliplef- AP English
Kevin Doerksen - AP History
Trudy Zelmer - AP Psychology

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