Advanced Placement HANDBOOK
www.westislandcollege.ab.ca
7410 Blackfoot Trail SE Calgary, AB
Tel: 403.255.5300
2019 - 2020
WHAT IS AN ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM? An Advanced Placement (AP) program provides opportunities for motivated and academically-focused students to experience college-level courses while in a supportive high school environment. Beginning in 1955, The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program is now recognized in over 120 countries and by over 4,000 universities and colleges around the world.
WHY SHOULD STUDENTS TAKE ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES AT WIC? Advanced Placement coursework and exams help students prepare for postsecondary education. Students are able to enter university or college with a clearer understanding of post high school educational expectations. Special interests can be pursued at a deeper level than what is usually possible through the regular Alberta Program of Studies. AP courses focus on critical inquiry, synthesis and research skills. Independent, creative and interdisciplinary thought are encouraged, as are teamwork and cross-cultural thinking. Former WIC students tell us that their AP courses were of great advantage to them when they started their post-secondary education.
WHAT ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES DOES WIC OFFER? AP allows high school students to take courses that are challenging, rigorous and in-depth — exactly the kinds of courses they will experience in postsecondary. WIC is proud to present many AP offerings for students.
Our offerings include: • • • • • • • • • • •
Biology Calculus Chemistry Comparative Government and Politics English Literature European History French Language Macro-Economics Micro-Economics Psychology Physics
Well qualified students may apply to the Head of Senior School to challenge an AP exam not offered by WIC, via independent study.
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HOW ARE ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES EVALUATED? AP coursework is evaluated by WIC’s highly qualified AP teachers. Marks are standardized in order to ensure that students are not disadvantaged by taking more rigorous coursework than non-AP students. AP exams are developed and administered through The College Board. The exams are written at WIC in early May and are scored outside of the school. The final score is reported on a five-point scale as follows:
5 = extremely well qualified 4 = well qualified 3 = qualified 2 = possibly qualified 1 = no recommendation
The score that is achieved is used by colleges and universities to determine if they will grant credit for material that has already been learned, or allow a student to be excused from the equivalent post-secondary-level course. Many students choose not to take advantage of the opportunity for advanced placement in post-secondary courses, but rather choose to use the knowledge they have gained in AP courses to put them on a firm foundation for their beginning studies. They choose to take the introductory-level course with confidence and use the opportunity to boost their grade point average knowing they will likely excel in the class.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Contact WIC’s AP Coordinator at 403.255.5300 Review the AP Canada Website at: https://apcanada.collegeboard.org/
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