Advanced Placement

The standard of excellence in North American education

Established over 40 years ago by the College Board, the academically challenging Advanced Placement (AP) courses are designed to expose able and motivated High School students to college-level academic material.

The AP functions as a cooperative educational endeavour between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Secondary schools lay the foundation by offering their students AP courses taught by dedicated and committed teachers. High School students who successfully complete these courses, in turn, demonstrate to colleges and universities that they have mastered the subject material by taking AP Examinations. By assessing and evaluating the AP examination grades, colleges and universities award prospective students either credit or placement (e.g. sophomore standing) for the subject.

The AP is considered the standard for academic excellence in the US, where more than 50% of secondary schools currently participate. AP students demonstrate to universities and colleges that they have learned a subject in greater depth, are motivated to take challenging courses, and have acquired the type of study skills necessary for successful study in college. AP course completion can also lead to significant financial savings, since more than 1,400 US colleges and universities award up to a full year's credit to students presenting successful grades on AP exams.

AP courses at ACS Hillingdon

I Languages	II Sciences
English; Language and Composition English; Literature and Composition Spanish; Language and Composition*	Biology
III Mathematics	IV History & Social Sciences
Calculus AB Statistics	Microeconomics† Macroeconomics† US History Psychology Comparative Government

* Available upon request
† Available on alternative years

The school reserves the right to add or delete courses according to student demand and staff availability.

University recognition & college credit

The AP is fully recognised in the United States, where approximately 3,000 colleges and universities take part in the programme. The vast majority of universities that receive AP grades grant credit or advanced placement for successful examination results. Students can earn anywhere from one college credit hour to sophomore standing, depending on the number of AP exams they have taken and the grades earned on them. AP students who are applying to universities are advised to inquire directly at the university concerning its respective AP policy.

AP courses are important acceptance criteria for selective universities in North America who are looking for able, motivated students. By taking an AP course, students demonstrate to university admissions officers that they have developed the advanced study skills that are required in higher education.

The AP is increasingly recognised as a university entrance qualification in Europe and throughout the rest of the world. Students who have earned the Advanced Placement International Diploma or achieved successful results on at least three AP exams, fulfil university qualification requirements for numerous selective universities in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

AP examination grades, scholar awards, and Diplomas

The AP Examinations, developed each year by professional educational committees appointed by the College Board, are administered in May at ACS.

AP Examinations are designed to accurately test the material students have covered in their AP course. They are graded by experienced AP teachers and college professors on a scale of 1 (no recommendation) to 5 (extremely well qualified) and are a weighted combination of the student's score on the multiple-choice section and the free response or essay section. The results of the examinations are sent by the College Board to candidates, ACS, and any colleges or universities the student specifies.

AP Scholar Awards

Award	Requirements
AP Scholar	Grades of 3 or higher on three or more full-year AP exams
AP Scholar with Honour	Grades of 3 or higher on four or more full-year AP exams avg. exams grade of 3.25
AP Scholar with Distinction	Grades of 3 or higher on five or more full-year AP exams; avg. exam grade of 3.5
AP International Scholar	The one male and one female student in the world with the highest grades on the greatest number of full-year AP exams. Student must attend a school outside the US.

Each year the AP programme confers awards to High School students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement on their AP examinations. The criteria for scholar awards differ for each level of achievement.