Advanced PlacementInformation for Parents and Students

AP Facts:

Comparable to college level courses The AP Exam is mandatory and paid for by

Berwick Area School District.› Earn college credit or placement. More info at

www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy› Scored on a 5 point scale

5=extremely well qualified (traditional A) 4=well qualified (traditional A-, B+, B) 3=qualified (traditional B-, C+, C) 2=possibly qualified 1=no recommendation

AP Facts Cont…

Score reports are sent to colleges upon request

AP looks EXCELLENT on your transcript Weighted at 1.08 (highest grade weight

possible at BHS) If you do not take the exam, your

APcourse will not be weighted For general information about AP courses

and Exams visit www.collegeboard.com/apstudents

Biology

Prerequisites: Biology I, Chemistry I

Content: › Covers all 55 chapters in a college

textbook in fulfillment of the advanced placement curriculum for biology.

› Following the exam, students will dissect the fetal pig to finish out the year.

Calculus AB ( aka: Calc 1)

Prerequisites: Advanced Math

Content: This course emphasizes a multi-representational approach to calculus with concepts, results, and problems being expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. Themes of derivatives, integrals, limits, approximation, applications, slope fields, and modeling are covered.

Calculus BC (aka: Calc 2)

Prerequisite: Calculus AB

Content: › This course requires a knowledge of topics

covered in Calc AB.› Additional topics of parametric, polar and

vector functions, analysis of the graphs, velocity and acceleration, differential equations using Euler’s method and polynomial approximations.

Chemistry

Prerequisite: Chemistry I and Algebra II

Content: › Gases, equations, stoichiometry, organic,

nuclear, kinetics, thermodynamics, and coordination chemistry

AP Computer Science (Java)

Prerequisite: Computer Programming II

Content: › Emphasizes object oriented programming

methodology. › Concentration on problem solving and

algorithm development. › Includes the study of data structures,

design, and abstraction

English Language and Composition

Junior Year Course

Content: › Lengthy expository, analytical, and

argumentative essays. › Required summer readings.

English Literature and Composition

Senior Year Course

Content: › Intensive writing as a response to the

extensive reading of all literary genres from a variety of time periods.

› Required summer readings › Demonstrate critical and analytical thought › Participate in frequent discussions to refine

the writing process.

Latin: Vergil

Prerequisite: Latin III

Content: › Students will translate, scan, analyze, and

interpret 1800 lines from Vergil’s epic poem The Aeneid.

› Latin meter, vocabulary (6000 new words), grammar studies, historical figures, Augustan age history, and language mastery skills.

› Worth 1 credit and meets 1 period per day

Physics C: Mechanics

Prerequisite: Advanced Math, Physics I

Content: › Lab oriented program designed to

supplement physics. › Topics discussed are electricity and

magnetism, modern physics and nuclear science.

› For students planning to major in math, physics or engineering.

Spanish Language

Content: › Advanced level (5th or 6th semester) › Intended for those students who took

Spanish 1 in 8th grade, however, to “test out” of Spanish 4, see Mrs. Isenberg ASAP.

› Emphasizing the use of Spanish for active communication, oral skills, reading comprehension, grammar, and composition.

› Demonstrate understanding of authentic Spanish language source material.

US Government and Politics

Content: › Analytical perspective on government and

politics in the US. › General concepts used to interpret US

government with specific examples. › Becoming familiar with various institutions,

groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute US government and politics.

Questions?

April ZluchowskiAP Coordinator759-6400 ext. 3106azluchowski@berwicksd.org