An Introduction to the Advanced Placement Program® Moe Shrewsbury High School Susie Eriole, AP Coordinator Maureen Monopoli, Assistant Principal for Curriculum

What We'll Cover What are Advanced Placement® Courses? The Benefits AP® Exams What Is It Like to Take AP? Next Steps: Help Your Child Make the Best Choices Q & A Moe

What Are Advanced Placement® Courses? Moe

Advanced Placement ®: The Basics AP® courses are college-level courses offered in high school Courses = Introductory college courses Students take AP Exams at the end of the course => It is expected that all students take the exam A score of 3 or higher (Placement, College Credit) Moe AP® courses are college-level courses offered in high school Courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses Students take AP Exams at the end of the course, measuring their mastery of college-level work. It is expected that all students take the exam A score of 3 or higher on an AP exam can typically earn students college credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college

Our AP® Courses Arts: Music Theory, Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio English: English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition History and Social Sciences: Human Geography, Psychology, United States History Mathematics: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics Technology: Computer Science A Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics 1 World languages: French Language and Culture, Latin, Spanish Language, Chinese VHS offerings: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Government and Politics Moe-classes we have offered, or will offer

AP Requirements Most courses require prerequisites Summer work is required and due the first day of school. Students are expected to remain in the course all year. More time in and out of the classroom required to complete assignments and projects High expectations for critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evidence, multiple perspectives, and clear written and verbal communications Moe

AP® at Shrewsbury High School # of Students # of Exams # of tests 3+ % of tests 3+ 2018 383 775 713 93% 2017 357 668 610 92% 2016 289 546 505 94% 2015 350 670 605 Moe This year is 893 exams and 423 students—a jump of 115 more exams and 71 more students

AP®: The Benefits Susie

AP®: The Benefits Students learn rigorous college-level content and study skills; Opportunities to explore topics in depth Builds critical thinking, confidence, essential time management skills AP courses are interesting and rewarding academic experiences Opportunity to earn valuable credit and placement in college Susie When students earn college credit through AP Exams, their options and opportunities expand: Move to upper-level college courses sooner Pursue a double major Gain time to study and travel abroad

AP® Exams Susie

AP® Exams AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates in the first two weeks of May each year. Exams are approximately 3 hours and include: Multiple-choice questions Free-response items such as essays, problem solving, document-based questions and oral response Susie

AP® Exam Fees The exam fee for 2019-2020 is $115 per exam. BIG CHANGE! Exams will be ordered by October 1, 2019 Assistance is available for eligible students with financial need on Free/Reduced Lunch (Please speak with Ms. Eriole for more details) Potential to save on college costs (A 3 credit-hour course at a state university => $1107) Susie The College Board, creators of Advanced Placement, recently announced significant changes to the AP exam ordering process, deadlines, late fees and cancellation fees that will be mandated for all schools and all students in the 2019-2020 school year.  -Typically, AP Exams are ordered in January or February of each school year. Next year, the timeline will change. All students will order their exams by October 1, 2019. -All students who want to take an AP exam and who register after Nov 15, 2019, will be assessed $40.00/exam late fee. -In addition, a $40.00/exam cancellation fee will be assessed for any exam order canceled after Nov 15, 2019. -Requests for exams made after November 15 cannot be guaranteed.

What is it like to take AP®? Susie

Students…In Their Own Words “Just don’t take it for college, GPA, or prestige. Take them because you enjoy the subject. These are tough classes. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself asking, “Why??!!.” “If you want to dedicate yourself to reading the text and taking your own notes, AP will be difficult for you. We are tested on things not reviewed or taught in class.” “The workload does get easier to manage as the year goes on. Don’t expect A’s and B’s right away – the grades will come when you figure out how the class works and how you will need to prepare.” Susie

Students…In Their Own Words cont. “The true challenge is the speed at which you are expected to process the information.” “Think of it this way: If I take AP, I’m going to lose an hour of sleep a night. 2 AP’s, two hours. Unless you already go to bed at 3am, you’re all set” “This has been the best academic experience I ever had.” Susie

Parents: What Can You Do? Be realistic about grading, workload, and demand in schedule Take into consideration teacher recommendation Encourage your student to pursue AP courses that interest them Support and encourage your student throughout the year

How will you spend your time? AP Course Time Commitment Calculator AP Course Approximate amount of homework per week*   Science Biology 3-4 hours Chemistry 4-6 hours Physics 4-5 hours Environmental Science 2-3 hours English English Language English Literature 4+ hours Math Calculus AB Calculus BC Statistics Foreign Language Chinese French Language Latin Spanish Language Social Sciences Economics (VHS only) Gov’t & Politics (VHS only) Human Geography US History Psychology Art Studio Art: Drawing/Painting 3 hours Instructional Technology Computer Science A Total: 24 hours in a day -8 hours for sleep -7 hours in school ------------------------ 9 hours in a day 9 hours x 5 school days = 45 hours 45 hours in which to do other homework, participate in extra curriculars, hold a job, be a good human, play a sport, spend time with family, socialize, relax, and gaze out the window. How will you spend your time? *Times might double if a student is absent and making up work *Missed classes can reduce a student’s ability to master the complex material contained in these classes *This does not factor in other classes, activities, a job, family commitments, sports, socializing, and SLEEP!   Susie -At first, this didn’t seem so bad to me -If you’re a student that puts off work till the weekend, potentially doing 4-5 hours of homework on one subject -If you are a busy student who gets home at 9pm from activities, looking at one hour a night on top of work for 6 other classes

Next Steps: Help Your Student Make the Best Choices

AP®: Start the Conversation Here are some questions to engage your student to think about: What AP course is right for me? Which courses do you enjoy most in school? In which subjects do you excel? How do you look to balance your academic and co-curricular schedule? What steps do I need to take? Speak with a student who has taken an AP course. Become familiar with resources (Study group, discussion with teacher) Check College Board website for specific course information Talk with Counselor about balancing schedule Susie Encourage families to talk openly and realistically with students about the time commitment, challenges, etc., without exaggerating the difficulties. Many students take multiple AP courses and thrive. Others find better success with one or two AP courses, depending on their other school, work and home commitments. What can I do next to help me prepare for AP? Think about consistency in work throughout the year Setting goals Talk with current AP teacher, review text book College board website has course overview and sample multiple choice and free response question.

Questions and Answers