ADVANCED
PLACEMENT-AP COURSES
Students may self-study on their own
in their attempt to earn college credit. About 50% of the nation's
21,265 high schools offer AP
course work. In 1999, more than 704,000 students in over
12,000 schools took over one million tests. One in three students
takes at least one AP course prior to graduation from an American
high school. Each test costs $82
($52 per test if student is qualified for fee reductions) to take
and is administered in early May; the tests are designed by the
Educational Testing Service
(ETS). AP
Facts
Course descriptions and
outlines are available at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/subjects.html
or http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/courses/descriptions?course=all&posted=1
The exams are scored on a 1 to 5 scale (5=Extremely Well-Qualified,
4=Well Qualified, 3=Qualified, 2=Possibly Qualified and 1=No Recommendation);
most colleges/universities will grant credit for a 3 or above;
Ivy League schools and other prestigious school like Stanford
may require a 4 or above for credit. Each
college/university has their own policies. There are 34 assorted
advanced placement tests in 19 subject areas. There is also an
Advanced
Placement International Diploma (APID). Here are the subjects
and tests:
ENGLISH
AP English/English
Language/English
Literature/International
English Language-2 sections: Section
I-55 questions (1 hour)-45%; Section II-3 essays (2 hours)-55%.
International English Language has 2 sections: Section I-80 questions
(85 minutes)-50%; Section II-Writing (80 minutes) and Speaking
(15 minutes)-50%.
SCIENCE
Biology-2 Sections:
Section I-120 questions (90 minutes)-60%; Section II-4 mandatory
essays (90 minutes)-40%.
Chemistry-2 Sections:
Section I-75 questions (90 minutes)-45% (no calculators); Section
II-Part A-2 problems (1 required/40 minutes), Part B-5 of 8 options
in one required question/1 other required question/2 of 4 other
questions-(50 minutes)-55%.
Physics B: Physics
C: Mechanics/Electricity & Magnetism-2
Sections: Section I-35 questions (45 minutes)-no calculators-50%;
Section II-3 questions (45 minutes) with calculators-50%.
Environmental Science-2
Sections: Section I-100 questions (90 minutes)-60%; Section II-4
mandatory questions (90 minutes)-40%.
MATHEMATICS
Calculus AB-2 Sections:
Section I-Part A-no calculator-28 questions (55 minutes); Part
B-Graphing Calculator required-17 questions (50 minutes)-50%;
Section II-6 problems (90 minutes)-Graphic Calculator required-50%/Calculus
BC-same format as above.
Statistics-2 Sections:
Section I-35 multiple-choice questions (90 minutes)-50%; Section
II-6 free-response questions (90 minutes)-50%.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Economics-Microeconomics/Macroeconomics-2 Sections: Section I-60 questions (70 minutes)-66.66%;
Section II-3 required essays with a 10 minute reading period(120
minutes)-33.33%.
European History-2 Sections:
Section I-80 questions (55 minutes)-50%; Section II-2 essays (115
minutes inlcudes a 15 minute reading period)-50%.
Comparative Government & Politics/U.S.
Government & Politics-2 Sections:
Section I-60 questions (45 minutes)-50%; Section II-4 mandatory
essays (100 minutes)-50%.
Psychology-2 sections:
Section I-100 questions (70 minutes)-66.66%; Section II-2 essays
(50 minutes)-33.33%.
U.S. History-2 Sections:
Section I-80 questions (55 minutes)-50%; Section II-2 essays after
15 minute reading period (115 minutes)-50%.
Human Geography-3 questions-60
minutes
World History-70 multiple
choice questions in 55 minutes-3 essay questions-50, 40 and 40
minutes
COMPUTER
Computer Science A/Computer
Science AB (C++)-2 Sections: Section
I-40 questions (75 minutes)-50%; Section II-4 questions (105 minutes)-50%.
(Large Integer Case Study)
LANGUAGES
Chinese-New for 2006-2007
AP French/French
Language/French
Literature-2 Sections: Section
I-82 questions (84 minutes)-50%; Section II-Writing (60 minutes)
and Speaking (15 minutes)-50% for Language portion. Literature
portion-2 sections: Section I-68 questions (80 minutes)-40%; Section
II-Directed Textual Analysis/1 essay (100 minutes)-60%.
German Language-2 sections:
Section I-65 questions (80 minutes); Section II-Writing (50 minutes)
and Speaking (20 minutes).
Italian-New for 2005-2006
Japanese-New for
2006-2007
Latin-Vergil/Literature-2 Sections: Section I-45 questions (50 minutes)-40%;
Section II-15 minute reading period-4 Vergil questions or 3 of
9 Catullus questions (105 questions)-60%.
Russian-New for 2005-2006
Spanish/Spanish
Language/Spanish
Literature-2 Sections: Section
I-90 questions (90 minutes)-50%; Section II-Writing (60 minutes)
and Speaking (20 minutes)-50% for Language portion. Literature
portion has 65 questions in Section I (80 minutes)-45% and Section
II-3 essays (100 minutes).
ART/MUSIC
Art/History
of Art/Studio
Art-2 Sections: Section I-Part
A: 4 sets of questions based upon slides (16 minutes), Part B:
86 questions (44 minutes)-40%; Section II-Part A: 4 short essays
based upon slides (60 minutes), Part B: 2 essays-30 minutes each
(60 minutes)-60% for history portion. For Studio
Art portfolio, computer-generated art may be submitted for
the general portfolio, but not the drawing portfolio. Maximum
number of slides is 16 for both portfolios.
Music Theory-3 Sections:
Section I-81 questions (90 minutes)-45%; Section II-6 exercises
(60 minutes)-45% and Section III-2 sight-singing exercises (8
minutes per candidate)-10%.
Mr. Taylor has discovered several
websites that may assist self-motivated students to succeed on
these exams. They are:
AP Biology http://apbio.biosci.uga.edu/whatsnew/index.html
and http://www.users.nac.net/challoran/apbio.htm
and http://www.sc2000.net/~czaremba/
and http://www.c4.net/dyhsci/clapbio.htm
and http://www.guilford.k12.ct.us/~faitschb/
http://www.winterwren.com/apbio/home/links.html
and http://biology.about.com/od/apbiology/
and http://www.sirinet.net/~jgjohnso/
and http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Los_Angeles_HS/Faculty/Langton/Biology.htm
and http://www.accessexcellence.org/TC/AP/
and http://www.jdenuno.com/APBiology/APBIO.htm
andhttp://k12.albemarle.org/Instruction/apbiology/
AP Chemistry www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/8130
and http://www.shs.nebo.edu/Faculty/Haderlie/apchem/apchem.html
and http://www.apchemistry.com/
and http://www.tvgreen.com/apchem/apchem.htm
and http://members.tripod.com/~EppE/
and http://www.sciencegeek.net/APchemistry/index.shtml
and http://www.chemmybear.com/
and http://www.chemistrycoach.com/home.htm
AP Physics http://www.frontiernet.net/~jlkeefer/aphysics.htm
and http://apphysicsb.homestead.com/
and http://www.iguanasuite.net/physics/
and http://home.hockaday.org/HockadayNet/academic/physics/apphysics/taylorsclass.html
and http://members.aol.com/swayne/Blueskies.html
and http://dgende.homestead.com/tutorial.html
and http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/gstimson/APphysics.htm
and http://www.lewport.wnyric.org/mgagnon/apmain.html
and http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/vnhs/physics/_apphysics.html
and http://www.la.mvla.k12.ca.us/Curric/Science/APPhysics/
AP Environmental Science http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/cvisco/apenviro.htm
and http://www.longwood.k12.ny.us/lhs/science/apes/
and http://www.geocities.com/aidnas02/
and http://www.villagegreen.net/vg/teachers/sikes/apenv/
and http://www.unckless.com/envsci/
and http://www.pacificap.org/bapes.htm
and http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/science/core/AP/APpage.html
AP Calculus http://mathforum.org/sum95/mike/calc_AP.html
and http://www.batesville.k12.in.us/physics/calcnet/
and http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/6432/
and http://homepages.seresc.net/~sray/alvirne.html
and http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/2619/
and http://www.calculus-help.com/index.html
and http://users.adelphia.net/~sismondo/
and http://mrsroberts.com/MrsRoberts/Calculus/calculus.htm
and http://www.mecca.org/~halfacre/MATH/calc.htmand
http://mathforum.org/epigone/ap-calcand
http://peggymullins.tripod.com/apcalculus.htmand
http://www.alohaschool.net/apcalc/and
http://www.hsd.k12.or.us/schools/ghs/staff/abel/homework/hwresource.htmland
http://math.rice.edu/~lanius/misc/calcu.html
Calculus www.calculus.net Math
Tutorials
AP Statistics www.bbns.org/us/math/ap_stats
and http://www.newbedford.k12.ma.us/srhigh/apstats/apstats.htm
and http://www.lhs.logan.k12.ut.us/~jsmart/stats.html
and http://mathforum.org/epigone/apstat-l
and http://www.marymount.k12.ny.us/marynet/StudentResources/technology/ClIXEbiz98/ahvm/html/apstat.htm
and http://a-s.clayton.edu/apstatfaq/
and http://www.woodward.edu/faculty/us/math/apstat/
and http://www.webb.org/math/starnes/ap_statistics.htm
and http://mysite.verizon.net/ploe/id17.html
and http://www.deeannef.com/apstat.htm
and http://www.keypress.com/fathom/fathom1/AP_Statistics.html
and http://www.ccds.charlotte.nc.us/mcgrail/apsres.htm
AP Computer Science http://www.programcpp.com/APCS/and
http://www.cs.duke.edu/~ola/ap.html
and http://www.lhps.org/scarbeau/aplink.htm
and http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~mjs/apcs.html
and http://www.gahronline.org/Teachers/APCS%20Website/APCS%20Java%20Main.htm
and http://www.niles-hs.k12.il.us/davrut/apcs/
and http://www.intuitor.com/student/AP_CompSci_I_Syl.htm
and http://cs.colgate.edu/APCS/
and http://www.geocities.com/academyofit/cs.html
and http://www.cs.duke.edu/~ola/ap.html
AP Comparative Government
http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/high/acad/SS/APCompGov/CompGP.html
and http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/APGOV_Class_Page.htm
and http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/online/usonline/AP%20Government/AP%20Government%20Lessons.htm
and http://mrwally2.tripod.com/
and http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/North_Hollywood_HS/programs/cschiller/gov.html
and http://www.quia.com/pages/apgovreview.html
and http://ssweb.hewlett-woodmere.net/ap_government.htm
and http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/pages/high/Acad/SS/tchrs.html
AP Economics http://pittsford.monroe.edu/staffweb/apecon/
and http://www.ih.k12.oh.us/hsslonim/ap_economics/APEconhome.htm
and http://www.harvardwestlake.com/academics/usmath/econ/links.html
and http://plunkonomics.com/ap_economics.htm
and http://koak.org/nelson/apecon/index.htm
and http://teacherweb.ftl.pinecrest.edu/crawfor/
and http://members.aol.com/capstone88/apeconomicsreview.htm
AP Psychology
http://www.appsychology.net/
and http://library.campbellhall.org/secondary%20pages/Cheat%20Sheets/2003-2004%20Cheat%20Sheets/ap_psychology.htm
and http://www.apa.org/ed/hscontents.html
and http://academics.tjhsst.edu/psych/
and http://myschoolonline.com/folder/0%2C1872%2C999-126152-1-45389%2C00.html
AP United States History http://www.valley.net/~MrDz/us-links2.htmand
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/9910/
and http://www.mury.k12.ut.us/mhs/apus/
and http://www.historyteacher.net/AHAP/AHAPCourseMainPage.htm
and http://www.apstudent.com/ushistory/links.php
and http://www.orange.k12.oh.us/teachers/ohs/TJordan/Pages/APSyllabus.html
and http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/1715/worksheet.html
and http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/History/U_S__History
and http://www.polytechnic.org/faculty/gfeldmeth/USHistory.html
and http://members.aol.com/MrDonnHistory/American.html
and http://home.att.net/~betsynewmark/APUSH.html
and http://www.hanoverhigh.org/departments/socialstudies/pampage4.html
and http://www.academicinfo.net/histusteach.html
AP European History http://www.vanguard.org/faculty/barber/ap1.htm
and http://www.historymentor.com/
and http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/schools/s090/lloyd/european_history_index.htm
and http://www.historyteacher.net/APEuroCourse/APEuro_Main_Weblinks_Page.htm
and http://members.cox.net/jpharmon/euro.html
and http://ap_history_online.tripod.com/
and http://www.homestead.com/chaffeyaphistory/european.html
and http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/gstimson/APEurolinks.htm
and http://www.apeuropeanlahs.org/
AP Human Geography http://geography.about.com/cs/advancedplacement/
and http://teacherweb.ftl.pinecrest.edu/snyderd/APHG/
and http://teacher.cgs.k12.va.us/epowell/ap_human_geography.htm
and http://users.mlc.net/chs/geo/
AP World History http://members.cox.net/jpharmon/world.html
and http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/pvteye/.www/AP_world.html
and http://mrtavernia.com/apclassroom/AP%20Contract.pdf
and http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/Staff/Hermansenjoel/Homepage/wh.htm
and http://www.historyteacher.net/
and http://www.geocities.com/cindie70/AP_World_History.html
AP Latin http://www.txclassics.org/aplatin.htm
and http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/aplinks.html
and http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/aplatinexam/
and http://www.quia.com/pages/pvilatin4.html
and http://www.hoocher.com/vergil.htm
and http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/DIS/OHSICS/forlang/latin.htm
AP English Composition and Literature
http://home.cfl.rr.com/eghsap/
and http://members.tripod.com/~Karlyncoleman/
and http://staffweb.brownsburg.k12.in.us/~cneukam/ap_english.html
and http://www.teachnlearn.org/APLangMain.htm
AP French http://www.ascdirect-usa.com/frenchlinks.htm
and http://www.yale.edu/aatfct/ap.html
and http://www2.ignatius.edu/faculty/turner/apfrlit.htm
and http://globegate.utm.edu/french/globegate_mirror/frlesson.html
and http://www.marincatholic.org/French/frenchquatre.html
AP German http://www.uni.edu/becker/German2.html
and http://sps.k12.mo.us/khs/german/germany/teacher/apfragen.htm
and http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/DIS/OHSICS/forlang/esp_stud/germstud.htm
AP Italian http://italian.about.com/
and http://www.italian.emory.edu/links/Italy_Today/Teaching_Italian/
and http://home.earthlink.net/~dgaetani/id37.html
and http://eleaston.com/ and
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/languages/1-6-4-4.html
AP Japanese http://www.sabotenweb.com/bookmarks/language.html
and http://www.mala.bc.ca/~furutak/resource.htm
and http://www.jflalc.org/teaching/
and http://www.lib.duke.edu/ias/eac/japanesestudies.html
and http://www.indiana.edu/~japan/
and http://www.sabotenweb.com/bookmarks/teachers.html
AP Russian http://learningrussian.com/
and http://eleaston.com/russian.html
and http://www.ruslan.co.uk/
AP Spanish http://www.learnalanguage.org/apspanish/
and http://www.quia.com/pages/saintjosephap.html
and http://www.geocities.com/apspanishlit/
and http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/teachers/dmarques/AP%20Spanish%20Literature/AP%20Spanish%20Literature.htm
and http://www.espanole.org/lang
and http://fcweb.pickens.k12.sc.us/~boganrs/AP%20Spanish
and http://sandersonhs.wcpss.net/ap_spanish.htm
and http://home.pacbell.net/gpeterma/apspanlit.html
and and and
AP Studio Art http://www.fmhs.cnyric.org/clay/artists/AP/AP.html
and http://www.odf.org/Arts%20PresentationBook.PDF
and http://www.westboylstonschools.k12.ma.us/advanced_placement_studio_art.htm
and http://gwhs.kana.k12.wv.us/art/apstudioart.html
and http://www.pacificap.org/bart.htm
and http://www.zimmerworks.com/ap.htm
and
AP Art History http://www.ursuline.org/faculty/lefler/
and http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/North_Hollywood_HS/programs/cschiller/art.html
and http://mywebpages.comcast.net/llefler/ch7review.htm
and http://mail.holynames-sea.org/DKarp/Art%20History%20Web/
and http://www.mungu.org/art/
and http://www.jminette.com/ap%20art%20history.htm
AP Music Theory http://www.lincoln.leon.k12.fl.us/classes/band/APMusicTheoryCourseDescription.html
and http://eserver.org/music/theory.html
and http://smr_arts.tripod.com/SMR_Band/id3.html
and http://www.lhsmusic.com/APTheory/aptheory_homepage.htm
General:
http://www.geometry.net/Test_Prep_Central/AP.htm
http://www.tutor.com/search/select_subject.asp?SubjectID=4384
http://www.pahomeschoolers.com/courses/
Apex offers several (14)
Advanced Placement courses online: http://www.apexlearning.com/SUBJECTS/ap_subs.htm
800-453-1454
Discussing AP Testing: A "no-no," but not
policed
Finding Best High Schools: Rationing AP
PLAN Test
and success in an AP-Advanced Placement course: The American College Testing program did a study correlating
the results of the PLAN
test and success in an AP course (i.e. achieving a 3 or better
on the exam). Here are the results!
This is my summary:
|
PLAN Composite |
AP English Literature |
AP U.S. History |
AP Calculus |
|
32 |
100% |
98% |
95% |
|
31 |
99% |
97% |
94% |
|
30 |
99% |
96% |
92% |
|
29 |
98% |
94% |
90% |
|
28 |
97% |
91% |
87% |
|
27 |
96% |
87% |
84% |
|
26 |
93% |
82% |
80% |
|
25 |
89% |
76% |
76% |
|
24 |
83% |
68% |
70% |
|
23 |
75% |
60% |
64% |
|
22 |
64% |
50% |
58% |
|
21 |
51% |
41% |
51% |
|
20 |
39% |
32% |
44% |
|
19 |
27% |
24% |
38% |
|
18 |
19% |
18% |
32% |
|
17 |
12% |
13% |
26% |
|
16 |
8% |
9% |
21% |
|
15 |
5% |
6% |
17% |
|
14 |
3% |
4% |
14% |
|
13 |
2% |
3% |
11% |
|
12 |
1% |
2% |
8% |
|
11 |
1% |
1% |
7% |
|
10 |
0% |
1% |
5% |
Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID)
For the 2004-2005 school year, a student
must achieve a 3 or higher in four AP exams within
three content areas: two exams in
English/Foreign Language content, one in mathematics/science
content and one in social studies, arts, etc. For
the 2005-2006 school year, the qualification will change to add
the global perspective requirement with one additional exam
in Comparative Government and Politics or World Human
Geography. Students must indicate AP International Recognition
on their AP answer sheets.
An example of a student who would qualify
would be someone who scored a 3 or higher on AP English Literature,
AP Spanish, AP Calculus AB and AP European History for the 2004-2005
school year. In order to achieve the AIPD with Honors, a student
would need to average 3.5 on all five exams, and submit
an acceptable essay of 1000-1500 words on an aspect of
world global awareness or intercultural understanding.
The AIPD is similar, but different
from the International
Baccalaureate. Here is a list
of IB schools. There are no high schools in Michigan offering
the IB program at present.