the advanced placement program ® and pre-ap™. prepare, inspire, connect it’s not just an...

The Advanced Placement Program®

and Pre-AP™

Prepare,Inspire,Connect

It’s not just an Examination.

It’s not just a Course.

It’s an International Program.

It’s not only Honors.

It’s not only for College credit.

It’s a College Class!

What is the Advanced Placement

Program®?


Advanced Placement Program®

• College-level classes • Taught in high school• To rigorous national collegiate

standards• Potentially earning college credit• Taught by qualified prepared faculty• School and programs audited nationally• 34 courses offered in 19 subject areas

• In 2002, more than 900,000 students took 1.5 million AP® Examinations


Advanced Placement Program®

• AP® teachers use college-level materials and course descriptions developed by a committee of college faculty and AP teachers.

• AP Course Descriptions reflect courses taught in colleges and universities throughout the country.

• New yearly AP Audit of schools and courses will accredit program


AP® Examinations

• Administered in May

• Approximately three hours long

• Composed of multiple-choice and free-response questions

• Free-response questions graded by college professors and AP teachers in June

• AP Examination grades range from 1 to 5


Students in the Advanced Placement

Program®

All students who are willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum should be considered for admission to AP® courses.

The College Board encourages the elimination of barriers that restrict access to AP courses for students from ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in the AP Program. Schools should make every effort to ensure that their AP classes reflect the diversity of their student populations.


AP® ExaminationsInterpretation of Grades

5 — Extremely Well Qualified

4 — Well Qualified

3 — Qualified

2 — Possibly Qualified

1 — No Recommendation


Who Receives AP® Exam Grades?

• AP Grade Reports are sent in July to students, high schools, and colleges designated by individual students.

• High school principals receive a special AP Grade Report in August for all classes in which five or more students completed the AP Examination.


Benefits of the AP® Program

for Students• Most U.S. and international

colleges and universities have an AP policy granting incoming students credit, placement, or both, for qualifying AP Examination grades (usually 3s to 5s).

• Students gain college-level analytical and study skills.

• Students gain academic confidence.


Factors Influencing College Admission Decisions

16.3

10.8

8.2

6.4

1.2 3.

2

9.8

35.9

40.6

34.6

32.6

44.2

42.6

26.5

36.8

37.8

6.6

80.4

51.7

44.8

30.5

20.3

17.4

11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90P

ER

CE

NT

AG

E

Considerable Importance

Moderate Importance

NACAC Bulletin – November 2001


According to a College Professor…

“Students who have taken AP French are consistently the best students in my classes. Whatever grade the students may receive on the examination, they have received excellent preparation for advanced, college-level study.”

John LambethAssociate Professor of FrenchWashington and Lee University, Lexington, VA


Benefits of the AP® Program – The Effect on

Students

• Better prepared academically.• More likely to choose challenging majors.• Likely to complete more college-level work.• Likely to perform significantly better than

students who did not take AP courses.• More likely to exercise leadership.• More likely to graduate with a double

major.• Twice as likely to go into advanced study.

Willingham & Morris, 1986; UT Study 1988

Students who complete AP courses are


FACTORS IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS (Percent of Institutions reporting

“considerable importance in assigned factor)

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

Grades, College Prep Classes

82 83 80 78 81 79 84 78 80 76 78

Class Rank 42 40 39 36 34 32 32 34 31 35 33

Admissions Tests (SAT I, ACT)

46 43 47 48 50 51 54 58 52 57 61

Grades/All Courses 39 37 41 38 41 44 42 43 45 50 54

Counselor Recommendation 22 20 19 17 20 16 18 16 17 16 17

Teacher Recommendation 21 19 18 19 19 16 14 14 16 14 18

Entrance Essay 14 17 21 20 18 19 19 20 20 19 23

Admissions Interview 12 12 15 13 11 11 9 11 11 10 9

Work/Extracurriculars 6 6 7 6 6 4 5 7 6 7 7

Ability to Pay NA NA 3 2 1 2 2 1 3 3 2

State Exit Exams NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6 7

Subject Exams (SAT II) NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6 7

Residency NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 2 2

Race/Ethnicity NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 3

Demonstrated Interest NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 7

Sources: National Association of College Admissions Counselors Admission Trend Surveys, 1993-2003As reported by National Association of Secondary School Principals


According to an AP Student…

Students who participate in AP are ultimately given the responsibility to reason, analyze, and understand for themselves. Such intellectual training inevitably helps them succeed in college, where these skills are essential.

“AP has given me skills I need to succeed in college.”Dana BatistaAP Calculus, AP Physics, AP SpanishThe University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas


One AP Story!• In mid-1990s, South Garland HS senior

Chris McClung enters Rice University with 52 credits from AP classes and enrolls as a junior. He save his parents more than $65,000 for the cost of 15 exams.

• In 2006, tuition for one year at University of Notre Dame is $41,500. One three hour class costs around $1,200.

• In 2011, the test costs $82.00 and can earn up to 12 hours depending on the subject.


College Search for AP® Policies

From the collegeboard.com home page

• Under “College Quickfinder” enter the name of college or university

• Click “Go”• Select your college or university• Click on “Tests”


Responsibilities of AP® Students

• A willingness to actively engage with sophisticated concepts

• A willingness to be judged by rigorous, college-level standards

• A willingness to complete longer and more complex nightly assignments

• A willingness to do summer reading

• A willingness to complete the AP Examination in May


Benefits of the AP® Program

• Provides a challenging academic program for motivated students

• Provides a rewarding professional development opportunity for teachers

• Demonstrates a school’s strong commitment to high academic standards

• Enhances a school’s overall academic reputation

• Rewards students with accelerated grade points for participation


According to an AP® Teacher

and Administrator… “AP pushes me to discover new ways to

improve as a teacher.”Michael Hicks

AP U.S. History TeacherAbraham Lincoln High School, San Jose, California

“AP is by far the best college preparatory program available. As the principal of a small school [of about 225 students], I especially value the teacher training, curricular materials, and data analysis AP offers. These systems of support ensure schools have the capacity to build successful AP programs.”Mike Brown

PrincipalProsper High School, Prosper, TX


For Additional Information About the AP® Program

Visit

www.collegeboard.com/ap/students

• Understanding how AP works

• Benefits gained through involvement in AP

• Expanding student access to AP

• AP Preparation

• FAQs

• Speak with teachers and counselors

the advanced placement program ® and pre-ap™. prepare, inspire, connect it’s not just an...

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