What is Advanced Placement (AP)?

AP (Advanced Placement) is a program in the United States and Canada that offers college-level courses and exams to high school students.

Introduced in 1955 by the College Board, Advanced Placement predates the International Baccalaureate (IB). Both AP and IB offer advanced, challenging coursework. However, while IB is an international program that focuses on critical thinking and global awareness, the AP program offers courses that allow students to earn college credit in high school, meeting the education requirements early.

The Advanced Placement (AP) program offers high school students college-level academic exposure through a variety of AP courses such as AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP US History. These courses not only enrich students’ transcripts but also enhance their college applications, highlighting their readiness for higher education.

How is Advanced Placement important in secondary school?

By offering AP courses, your school of choice can proactively prepare your child for success beyond high school.

Top colleges and universities around the world grant advanced credit or placement to students who perform well on AP exams. If your child is after the prestige of a Harvard education, great news: Harvard loves AP students.

Other elite colleges and universities that grant advanced credit or placement include:

• Stanford
• University of Toronto
• Oxford
• Cambridge
• University of Edinburgh

AP students can enter college with credits already earned, which can save both time and money in pursuing their degree. Additionally, having AP courses on a transcript demonstrates to colleges that a student has taken challenging coursework and is prepared for the challenges of higher education.

Advanced Placement also offers extensive subjects for students to explore based on their interests and strengths. From mathematics and sciences to humanities and social sciences, the AP program has something for every student and every passion. Furthermore, taking multiple AP courses throughout high school shows dedication, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity – qualities highly valued by colleges when reviewing applications.

For example, if a student is considering majoring in Art History or Statistics in college, taking corresponding AP courses like AP Art History or AP Statistics can showcase their dedication and commitment to these subjects.

Postsecondary education is complex to navigate. When your teenager is dead set on a university or college education, you should consider preparing them early to get the best outcome. An AP curriculum can get them over the finish line faster.

At FutureBright Canada, we help local and international students find the best fit school in Canada — a country of natural beauty, and rich in educational opportunities.

In Canada, AP courses are at the grade 12 level. Several public schools we work with offer Advanced Placement courses. However, we find that private schools excel at offering an AP education for the ambitious.

It can be tough to decide: “public school, or private school?” Different schools have different lifestyles, resources and strengths. With the help of an educational consultant, you’ll have made a decision you and your child can take pride in. Ultimately, through the challenging AP classes and exams, your child in high school gains valuable knowledge and skills necessary for success at university level studies.

In addition to the well-known AP courses, students can also benefit from specialized offerings like AP Seminar and AP Capstone, which encourage critical thinking and original research. With the high standards set by the College Board, taking AP classes provides a competitive edge in today’s educational landscape.

How AP and AP Classes Benefit High School Students

High school students who participate in the Advanced Placement (AP) Program can earn college or university credit through AP examinations. This way, they could skip introductory courses in college and start at a more advanced level. For example, a student who scores well on the AP Calculus exam may be able to bypass entry-level math classes and enroll directly in higher-level courses.

AP classes challenge students to think analytically, solve complex problems, and communicate effectively – all in demand by colleges and universities. Whether it’s analyzing primary sources in AP World History or applying principles of physics in an AP Physics class, these challenging exams provide valuable preparation for future college studies.

AP extends beyond just academic preparation. Students who perform well on AP exams can also gain advanced standing when applying to colleges. Many colleges and universities consider this a great strength in the admissions process. Not only does this demonstrate a student’s ability at college-level coursework, it also shows dedication and commitment to their education.

High school students can choose from a variety of AP classes, such as AP Human Geography and AP Calculus, to strengthen their college applications.

College Credit Opportunities through Advanced Placement

By earning college credits early, AP students can get a head start on their college education while in Grade 12. Many colleges and universities recognize AP exam scores as equivalent to passing grades in first-year university courses. Students who perform well on their AP exams could skip introductory-level college classes and dive head-first into more advanced coursework.

Students must enroll in AP courses offered by the local school board, or the private school (day school or boarding) they go to, whichever one we help you select. These courses are designed to prepare students for success on the corresponding AP exams. The exam descriptions outline the topics on each test, giving students a clear understanding of what they need to study and prepare for.

AP exams come with a fee. How much this fee is depends on factors such as location and whether or not a student qualifies for financial assistance. You and your child should budget accordingly when considering participation in these exams. We can work with your child even if they don’t qualify for financial assistance.

Additionally, while many universities in the United States and Canada accept AP credits, each postsecondary school sets its own policies on which scores qualify for credit and what minimum grade is required.

The Role of Advanced Placement in High School and College Applications

Advanced Placement (AP) courses demonstrate your child’s academic potential when applying to college. Admissions officers recognize AP courses.

Good AP scores will tell them that your child demonstrates a college-level understanding and interest in their subject matter. They can also qualify your child for college credit. Many colleges accept scores of 3 or above as equivalent credit for introductory level classes. Over 2,900 colleges worldwide grant credit or placement based on successful performance on AP exams.

Elite universities like Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, and Lakehead University in Canada also accept qualifying scores on certain AP exams.

Advanced Placement courses signal a student’s academic strength and discipline to admissions committees. Your child will stand out in the application process and giving them college readiness.

If you’re curious about how AP works with your child’s curriculum planning process, consider guidance from educational consultants, school counsellors or teachers familiar with each school’s expectations for course selection. The College Board suggests students take at least five AP courses.

Advanced Placement Exams: Benefits, Exam Preparation, and College Readiness

Advanced Placement (AP) exams can significantly impact a student’s acceptance into and performance in college. Here’s roughly how it works: After completing an AP exam, your child can self-report their test scores on their college application. This is optional. It depends how selective the school they’re applying to is.

Please note: While high scores on AP exams may earn your child college credit, each college has its own criteria for determining how much credit will be awarded.

To access AP exam results and send them to colleges, students need to create a College Board Account. This account serves as a central hub for all things related to AP exams – from registering for tests and accessing previous exams, to viewing scores and sending them off electronically. The College Board Account also provides valuable resources such as practice tests and study guides that can help prepare students for success on exam day.

AP exams will also challenge your child academically. This college-level education demands critical thinking, analyzing complex concepts, and real-world application of knowledge; skills critical to practice for college preparedness.

Available Subjects in Advanced Placement

AP students can enjoy college-level knowledge across various skills. From History exams to Math and Science, there’s almost nothing AP won’t let your child study or do.

Some popular History exams include:

• AP United States History (Exam name/Number: APUSH)
• AP World History (Exam name/Number: WHAP)
• AP European History (Exam name/Number: Euro)

These exams cover different time periods and regions. Maybe your child wants to learn something about their background. Maybe history is important to their future. Maybe being a world leader is in their cards…who knows?

In addition to traditional subject areas, the AP program also includes Art & Design (AP Studio Art) and Computer Science Principles.

How Advanced Placement Prepares Students for College-Level Courses

One way in which Advanced Placement (AP) courses prepare students for college-level courses is by familiarizing them with the types of questions they will encounter. They tend to include questions and challenges like:

1. interpretation questions (critical analysis)
2. multiple-choice questions
3. 40-minute writing periods (ex. in English Literature, Composition and History)

The variety of test conditions requires students to think quickly and articulate their ideas effectively within a limited timeframe. This experience can help them adapt to similar expectations they may encounter when completing assignments or exams in their future college classes.

One of the key components of AP is the Examination Administration. This consists of a combined 120-minute writing period for each exam.

Maximizing Academic Potential and Preparing for Exams with Advanced Placement

Many AP students also choose to complete additional projects or assignments in their coursework. For example, some students may choose to write an honours thesis or conduct a critical examination on a specific topic within their chosen subject area. Additional coursework can be a competitive advantage when applying to a college.

Preparing for the Advanced Placement Program in Canada

In summary, the Advanced Placement (AP) program bridges your child from high school to college faster and smarter. It’s full of different subjects that can really get your little one thinking and even help them skip some of the easier classes once you get to college.

Having said that, knowing which AP classes to pick and how to get ready for those big exams can be tricky. That’s where talking to an educational consultant comes in handy. They’re like guides who know everything about Advanced Placement and can help you make choices that fit just right with what your child is good at and what they like. They can also give tips on how to study better and do better on exams.

If your child’s getting ready to jump into the challenge and excitement of college-level education, reaching out to an educational consultant is a smart move. Our Educational Consultant, Filiz, is ready to team up with you and make sure you’re on the path to doing amazing things in high school and beyond. Let’s have a conversation and see how we can make AP classes a big win for you!