What is the Advanced Placement Program®?

The Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) is a challenging academic program designed to provide motivated high school students with college-level academic courses. Established in 1955 by the College Board, the AP Program is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. High school students who complete AP courses demonstrate their mastery of subject material by earning qualifying grades on AP Examinations.

AP is considered a standard for academic excellence in the United States, where nearly 60 percent of secondary schools participate in the program. AP courses with qualifying exam grades are accepted for credit, advanced placement, or both by most American colleges and universities. In addition, AP courses and exam grades are used in the admissions process in more than 500 universities outside the United States.

Our 2007 AP Results show that we have a substantially higher success rate than the average.

Why do AP?

Extensive Recognition

AP is recognized by approximately 3,400 American colleges and universities, which grant credit, advanced placement, or both for AP courses and exam grades. More than 500 additional universities in more than 30 countries also recognize AP courses and exam grades in the admissions process. Colleges and universities recognize the value of AP for preparing students to succeed in rigorous university courses.

Affordability and Flexibility

AP is affordable, the only fee being the $82 per examination, $22 of which may be waived in cases of economic need. AP offers flexibility for schools, which can offer one or many AP courses, and different AP courses from year to year. AP also offers flexibility for teachers, who have latitude to determine their own curricula.

Access and Equity

AP promotes open access to students who may excel in only one or two academic disciplines. The AP Program is designed to give all students an opportunity to challenge themselves with a rigorous academic experience.

Exam Reliability and University Standards

AP emphasizes statistical exam reliability to ensure fairness in scoring, along with results that can be trusted by students, schools, and universities. Through regular surveys and comparability studies, the AP Program ensures that courses and examinations reflect actual university-level standards.

ASCIS Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

• Biology
• Calculus AB
• Chemistry
• English Literature
• French
• Physics
• Visual Arts