Advanced Placement American Community School Athens Athens, Greece February 5, 2013
What is AP? The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) offers 34 first-year university level courses, each culminating in a rigorous exam, which provide willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit and/or advanced placement.
AP is a collaborative effort among students, high schools, and the colleges and universities that contribute to the development of AP courses and exams and offer credit, placement and admission benefits based on students’ AP experiences.
Most recent key AP facts 18,000+ secondary schools worldwide are authorized to offer AP exams, including ~1,200 schools outside the U.S.
In 2012, more than 2 million students took ~3.7 million exams; among them over 100,000 exams in 115 countries outside the U.S.
5,000+ college faculty develop and scored the AP Exams ~4,000 colleges and universities receive AP Exam scores annually
Universities all over the world recognize AP A total of 511 universities worldwide recognize AP today
Europe & Eurasia 263 Middle East & North Africa
Americas
7
(outside U.S.)
222 Africa (SubSaharan)
1 Key Countries with at least 1 University that accepts AP
AP Country-wide recognition policies [Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Italy]
East Asia & the Pacific
18
Universities in Europe recognize AP‌ AP Country-wide recognition policies
Austria Denmark Germany Netherlands Norway Switzerland Italy Countries with at least 1 University that accepts AP Belgium Cyprus Czech Republic France Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Poland Spain United Kingdom
Universities in the UK accept AP in the admissions process
Example of UK university admissions policies SAT I: around 1950+ across the three elements
SAT subject tests: scores of 600+. 700+ should be attained in all prerequisite subjects
AP: Scores of 4 or 5. We use these for admissions purposes only - no credits/exemptions are awarded
Example of UK university admissions policies
King’s College London SAT score of 1800, or Three Subject tests of 650 each, or
Three AP exams of 5,5,4
Edinburgh SAT score of 1800 (600 minimum in Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing) plus two APs at Grade 4, or
SAT score of 1800 (600 minimum in Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing) plus two SAT Subject tests with 650 minimum, or
Three APs at Grade 4 minimum
The AP Advantage - Students Prepares for future success in college with academic enrichment and rigor Earn college credit or advanced placement • Possible tuition savings • Appropriate placement in college courses • Flexibility to pursue double major, combined B.A./M.A. programs, study abroad options Earn awards, scholarships, and recognition in local community • AP Scholar Awards • AP International Diploma (APID)
Enhance profile and stand out in college admissions
The goal: support schools in developing collegeready, global citizens P21 “ Four Cs”
Critical Thinking Creativity and Innovation
Communication Collaboration AP is seeking to foster greater emphasis in secondary school classrooms on: • Critical inquiry, synthesis and research skills
• Independent, creative, and interdisciplinary thought • The ability to work as part of a team • International, cross-cultural, and self awareness
AP Course & Exam Redesign is a significant response to developing enhanced critical thinking skills within the discipline
AP Course & Exam Redesign: Why and How As part of an ongoing effort to maintain alignment with current best practices in college-level learning, AP is redesigning courses and exams.
Starting with exams in history, science and world languages, AP is evolving to emphasize rigorous, research-based curriculum.
Principles of the redesigned courses and exams: • Emphasize deep understanding rather than comprehensive coverage; skills paired with content; create clear learning objectives • Reflect current understanding of learning in the discipline. • Reflect current research directions within the disciplines.
The new AP Biology curriculum, released to the public in February, 2011, provides teachers with:
Clarity of Focus Flexibility Reduced Breadth Detailed curriculum framework
Redesigned assessment: a Biology multiple choice question example Released 2008 AP Bio Question
Sample New AP Bio Question
Tests students’ ability to recall and identify
Tests students’ ability to infer and evaluate
Focuses instruction on memorization of the parts of the plant
The equation is provided, so focus is on having students use rather than remember factual information Requires that students understand application of the science in a complex real-world scenario
advancesinap.collegeboard.org
Currently in pilot phase with 15 schools participating
Keeping the modular, flexible aspects of AP while emphasizing global competencies
Key Higher Ed committees contributing development
The structure of the pilot program AP | Cambridge Capstone
Research Project
Year 2
• Take
Extended Report (20-pages)
10th to 12th
3 or More AP Exams AP
AP (Anchor)
AP
Seminar Course
Year 1 Team Project
Individual Presentation
To qualify for the Credential, students would need to:
Written Exam
3 (or more) AP exams and earn a score of 3 or higher on each. • Earn a cumulative qualifying score on the four (4) program assessments.
In the Seminar Course, students evaluate topics of global relevance through multiple thematic dimensions
Questions or comments? Review the latest AP® research studies www.collegeboard.org/apresearch
AP Course home pages are found at: http://apcentral.collegeboard.org For more information, please contact: College Board International international@collegeboard.org