Advanced Placement
The Advanced Placement (AP) program is an opportunity for students to pursue university level studies while still in high school. Students may be able to receive credit, advanced placement, or both from those universities that participate in the Advanced Placement program. The College Board establishes the curriculum for each AP course and sets and provides marking for the exams.
SJR’s AP Course Offerings:
- Biology (Grade 11 and 12)
- Calculus (Grade 12)
- Chemistry (Grade 11 and 12)
- English Language (Grade 12)
- English Literature (Grade 12)
- European History (Grade 12)
- French (Grade 12)
- Physics (Grade 11 and 12)
- Psychology (Grade 12)
- United States History (Grade 12)
Qualified students may choose to challenge AP examinations in the following subjects:
- Computer Science
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
Why Take AP Courses?
Students demonstrate scholarship on national and international academic levels. Taking an AP examination enables students to compare their knowledge and understanding of a university level subject with the high academic standards established by university faculty. The challenge of conquering these national and international standards gives students a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
Students study in greater depth. Students who take AP courses are able to learn a subject in depth, develop analytical reasoning skills, and form disciplined study habits that can contribute to continued success at the university level.
Students may improve their chances of being accepted by the university of their choice. Some university admissions personnel view AP experience as one indicator of future success at the university level. Successful performance in a university level AP course is, therefore, a great advantage to a student who wishes to attend selective universities in the U.S.
Students may be exempted from introductory courses at universities. Course exemption gives students time to broaden their university experience by exploring additional subject areas, participating in internships, and studying abroad, for example.
Students may be granted first year standing. Students who earn satisfactory grades on enough AP Exams may be granted a full year’s credit by their university.
Students are eligible to earn AP Scholar Awards. The AP Program offers several prestigious awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated university level achievement on specified numbers of AP Exams.
The Secondary School Guide to the Advanced Placement Program, published by The College Board, also indicates that research on the effects of taking Advanced Placement courses and examinations has demonstrated that when AP students reach college, they typically take additional courses in academic areas of the AP courses, enrol in more courses than their peers, achieve higher grade-point averages, graduate with double majors, and go on to graduate school at a rate double that of their non-AP peers.
For more information, view our Advanced Placement Brochure.