Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement. The program is a curriculum in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations. The program has expanded globally, with exams administered in over 125 countries, and is a significant factor in the college admissions process at institutions like Harvard University and Stanford University.

Program overview

The program is administered by the College Board, a non-profit organization also responsible for assessments like the SAT. Its primary goal is to allow motivated high school students to pursue rigorous academic study and earn potential credit or advanced standing at post-secondary institutions. Participation is widespread across North America, with a growing presence in international schools from Shanghai to Geneva. Key operational partners include the Educational Testing Service, which assists in test development and scoring. The annual AP Coordinator's Manual provides detailed guidelines for schools, and oversight involves committees of college faculty from institutions like the University of California system.

Courses and exams

The program offers over 30 distinct subjects spanning disciplines from STEM fields to the arts and humanities. Core offerings include AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, AP United States History, and AP English Literature and Composition. More specialized courses, such as AP Art History, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Comparative Government and Politics, have been developed in response to curricular demands. Each course culminates in a standardized exam typically containing multiple-choice sections and free-response questions, such as essays, document-based queries, or problem-solving tasks. Exam development is led by committees that include high school teachers and professors from universities like Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Scoring and credit

Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5 by readers at centralized scoring events, often held in locations like Tampa, Florida and Salt Lake City, Utah. A score of 3 is generally considered qualified, with 4 well qualified and 5 extremely well qualified. Credit and placement policies are determined individually by each college or university; for example, Cornell University may grant credit for a score of 5 on AP Chemistry, while University of Michigan might require a 4. These policies are compiled in resources like the College Board's official credit policy search. The program's alignment with college curricula is periodically validated through studies like the AP Curriculum Study conducted in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

History and development

The program originated from a pilot project in the 1950s, funded by the Ford Foundation and led by educators including John W. Gardner and James Bryant Conant, who were concerned with bridging the gap between high school and college. The first official exams were administered in 1956 in subjects like AP Mathematics and AP Physics. Significant expansion occurred following the 2002 report "A Nation at Risk," which emphasized academic rigor. Landmark developments include the 2011 launch of the AP Capstone Diploma program and major course revisions, such as the 2016 redesign of AP European History. Key figures in its growth have included Gaston Caperton, former president of the College Board.

Impact and reception

The program has significantly influenced secondary education, promoting standardization of rigorous curricula and affecting teaching methodologies. It is frequently cited in debates about educational equity, as participation and success rates vary by demographic and school district, with studies from organizations like the Education Trust highlighting gaps. Internationally, the program is often compared to other advanced curricula like the International Baccalaureate. Critics, including some faculty at Dartmouth College and University of Pennsylvania, have questioned the depth of coverage compared to actual college courses. Supporters argue it provides critical preparation for the academic demands of institutions like the University of Chicago and United States Military Academy.

Category:College Board programs Category:Educational assessment and evaluation Category:Standardized tests in the United States