Benefits of taking Advanced Placement courses

Students gain improved study habits, exam-writing experience, and time management skills. Many universities and colleges will use the HIGHER of either the AP exam score or course grade for admission.

After successful completion, students may receive Advanced Standing at either the University of Alberta or McEwan University by way of:

• Transfer credit

• Advanced Placement

• Credit by Special Assessment

• Post-secondary selection committees consider a student's AP experience when making decisions about BOTH admission and scholarships.

Advanced Placement Opportunities at Austin O’Brien

In-class courses include:

• AP English Literature and Composition

• AP Calculus

• AP Statistics

• AP Biology

• AP Psychology

• AP Physics 1 (Physics 20)

• AP Computing Science Principles

Revelation On-line AP courses include:

• AP European History

• AP Psychology

• AP Physics

• AP Environmental Science

• AP Art History

Challenge Exams

(students write the AP exam on their own without enrolling in a course):

• AP Chemistry

• AP Music Theory

• AP Language and culture exams including French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese

Awards

A scholarship of $500 will be given to AP Scholars (students who earn a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams throughout their high school career)

Addressing Misconceptions Surrounding Advanced Placement Courses

One of the most common misconceptions amongst students and their parents is that student marks will be lower because AP classes are harder; however, AP courses are structured so that the students are always at an advantage.

• For content-based courses like Math or Science, exam questions that are outside of the Alberta Program of Studies are kept separate and are not factored into the mark that will appear on the student’s transcript.

• For skill-based writing courses, such as English, students are graded according to the rubrics established by Alberta Education. Even though the literature studied is at an advanced level, the assessment is at grade level. If students do assignments specific to the content on the AP English Literature and Composition Exam, they are assessed and receive feedback, but the scores are not included as part of their English 30 course grade.

• Advanced Placement is not a program that is strictly for the “academic elite.” i.e. those with 80% and above averages. Determination for placement into the Advanced Placement program should be based on enthusiasm for learning and interest in the subject area.

Additional Information

For more information, please contact Austin O’Brien’s AP Coordinator, Bryn Jonzon, at: (780) 466-3161 or [email protected]

For further information about the AP program from the Edmonton universities’ stand-point, please visit:

• Alberta - AP/IB Program Information

• MacEwan University- MacEwan AP Program Info

• U of A - U of A - AP Program Info