AP (ADVANCED PLACEMENT)
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Advanced Placement, or often simply referred to as AP, began in 1955 by the College Board, a U.S. nonprofit educational institution. The AP program offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. Students can take AP courses of a variety of subjects, if offered by their school, and get tested once a year, in May, to receive their AP score. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations. As a result, the AP courses that students take, as well as the AP score, are one of the components that American colleges take into account during the college admissions process.
THE PURPOSE OF THE AP PROGRAM
To provide high-achieving high school students a better academic opportunity
THE BENEFITS OF TAKING THE AP
Experience intellectual fulfillment, Earn college credits in advance, Stand out in college admissions
TEST STRUCTURE
AP exams show a slight variance in the number of questions and types of questions with each subject.
1) Test time is around 2.5~3 hours for each subject. , 2) Most AP subject exams consist of two sections, in which section I is multiple choice and section II is free response. (ex. ) For example, for the AP English Literature and Composition exam, section I consists of 55 questions (1 hour) and section II consists of three essay questions (2 hours).)The AP Biology exam consists of 120 questions for section I (1.5 hours) and 4 questions for section II (1.5 hours)
EXAM SCHEDULE
If you attend a school that offers AP courses, contact your school’s AP coordinator. He or she will help you with the application procedure.
- If you attend a non-AP school or home school, you must contact AP Services no later than March 1, and obtain the name of an AP coordinator who can help you in your area. Then, contact the designated AP coordinator before March 15th. The coordinator will tell you which school you can take the test in. Make sure that you clearly communicate (1) the fact that your school code is different from that of the test center, and (2) the subject you wish to take.
- Contact AP services through one of the following methods:(1)Mail: PO Box 6671Princeton, NJ, 08541, (2)Phone : 1-609-771-7300 or 1-888-225-5427, (3)Online: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/contact.html
In Korea, you can register an exam through the Korean American Educational Commission, by accessing their website in March.
Here is the link to the Korean American Educational Commission: http://www.fulbright.or.kr/xe/ap
SCORE INTERPRETATION
Because AP subjects are designed to be more difficult than the subjects you take in high school, AP scores cannot be directly compared with your GPA. As a result, admissions officers often use a weighted AP scale. To calculate your GPA with AP or honors classes (sometimes called a weighted GPA) simply add a 1.0 to the grade point of the advanced courses you took (EX: a B, or 3.0, would be a 4.0 in an AP class, or the equivalent of an A in a regular class).
The AP scores are reported on a 5-point scale as follows:
5 - You can receive an A when you take the same course in college.
4 - You can receive a B when you take the same course in college.
3 - You can receive a C when you take the same course in college.
2 - You can receive a D when you take the same course in college.
1 - Meaningless.
According to statistics, 2/3 of the students who take the AP exam attain a score of 3 or over.
AP AWARDS
Every September, Collegeboard recognizes high school students who have demonstrated exemplary college-level achievement on AP exams. Although there is no monetary reward, the awards are reflected on all score reports sent to the recipients’’ colleges after the awards are conferred, and it is considered to be a huge honor.
The following are the different awards that one can receive from College Board.
AP Scholar: For students who receive three points or more for three or more AP exams.
AP Scholar with Honor: For students who earn three or more points on each of four or more AP exams and those who have received an average of 3.25 on all AP exams.
AP Scholar with Distinction: For students who earn three or more points on each of the five AP exams and those who have received an average of 3.5 on all AP exams.
AP State Scholar: For each state in the United States, it is awarded to each boy and girl who has the highest number of subjects with three or more points and those who have the highest average score on all AP tests.
National AP Scholar: For students in the United States who receive an average of at least 4 points on all AP exams taken and have received at least 4 points or more each in 8 or more exams.
National AP Scholar (Canada): For students in Canada who receive an average of at least 4 points on all AP exams taken and have scored 4 or more points for 5 or more exams.
Department of Defense for Education Activity (DoDEA) Scholar: Among DoDEA students who receive three or more points in three or more subjects, a male student and a female student with the highest average score and with the most number of AP exams will receive this award.
AP International Scholar: Among students from American International Schools outside of DoDEA who have earned three or more points for three or more subjects, a male student and a female student the highest average score and the most number of AP exams will receive this award.
Keeping pace with the rapidly changing educational trend, Steven academy offers a variety of classes preparing not just for the high schools and universities in the United States and other parts of the world, but also for the domestic international schools and universities admissions. The classes are offered in various levels so that the students not only can prepare for the admission tests which include recognition evaluation, English in-depth interview, and essay, but also can keep up with the intensive classes for SAT, AP, IBT, and other school subjects.