English Inquiry Project Outline Topic: AP Credit for College Audience: 14-15 year-olds teenagers who enter high

school from middle school

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Introduction: College application season can be an anxious time for you, your family and just about everyone who cares about you. Youve worked hard and done your best, but how do you know youve got the academic experience that colleges are looking for? Stand Out in College Admissions: By making the decision to take an AP course, youre letting colleges and universities know that you have what it takes to succeed in an undergraduate environment. AP courses signal to admissions officers that youve undertaken the most rigorous classes your high school has to offer. They see that youve challenged yourself with college-level course work and expectations, and have refined your skills to meet these expectations. In the increasingly competitive admissions process, this knowledge can be very valuable. Importantly, AP courses offer admissions officers a consistent measure of course rigor across high schools, districts, states and countries because all AP teachers, no matter where theyre teaching, have to provide a curriculum that meets college standards. So when admissions officers see AP on your transcript, they have a good understanding of what you experienced in a particular class and how well it prepared you for the increased challenges of college. Earn College Credits: As college costs grow each year, the prospect of continuing education becomes less and less of a reality for many high school students. By making it through an AP course and scoring successfully on the related AP Exam, you can save on college expenses. Currently more than 90 percent of colleges and universities across the country offer college credit, advanced placement, or both, for qualifying AP Exam scores. These credits can potentially save students and their families thousands of dollars in college tuition, fees and

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textbook costs, which can transform what once seemed unaffordable into something within reach. Skip Introductory Classes: If you know what you want to major in at college, taking an AP course related to that major and earning a qualifying score on the AP exam can help you gain advanced placement out of introductory courses. This means that you can possibly place out of crowded required courses, and move directly into upper-level classes where you can focus on work that interests you most. Even if you take an AP exam unrelated to your major or if youre not sure what you want to major in AP courses can often help you place out of your colleges general education requirements. With this additional time on your class schedule, you can pursue a second major or minor, take exciting electives or follow additional interests in new ways. Build College Skills: By taking an AP course, you aren't just distinguishing yourself in high school and in the college admissions process; you are also building the skills you'll need throughout your college years. Since AP courses give you the opportunity to get your hands on real college-level work while still in high school, you'll get a great idea of what to expect when you move onto the next phase of your educational journey. The increased rigors of AP courses will not only give your mind a workout, they will help you polish up your time management and study skills, which, given the pressures of undergraduate life, will become an invaluable ally. In addition, getting a feel for how to tackle challenging issues and problems, with the support of your AP teachers, can help you grow your natural study habits and skills. In the end, you will get the most out of your AP courses now and your college courses in the future.

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With AP classes, you'll experience the thrill of overcoming difficult problems as well as the pride of seeing challenges through to the end. College can be challenging, and learning how to work intensely and overcome academic obstacles while in high school can enable you to experience the joy of making it over the hurdles that may confront you during college classes. Once you know this, you'll be rewarded with the confidence and understanding that with knowledge, hard work and determination, you can overcome just about anything that stands in your way. Exam Scores: After students are finished with the AP Exams in May, schools return all AP Exam materials to the AP Program.

The multiple-choice section is scored by computer. Each answer sheet is scanned and the total number of correct responses equals the multiple-choice score.

The free-response section is scored at the annual AP Reading held during the first two weeks in June. College professors and experienced AP teachers from across the country come together to read and score your free-response answers.

The total scores from the free-response section and the multiple-choice section are combined to form a composite score.

From Compositing Scores to AP Scores: AP scores are determined after we establish score boundariesthe difference between a 2 on the exam and a 3, for example. We do this by defining how many composite score points equal each different AP score. This process is known as score setting and it takes place immediately after the reading. AP Exam scores are reported on a 5-point scale as follows:

English Inquiry Project Outline 5 Extremely well qualified* 4 Well qualified* 3 Qualified* 2 Possibly qualified** 1 No recommendation** AP and Your Futures: Discover the excitement of tomorrow by diving into the present. There are a million paths you can take between now and your future. By giving you the

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opportunity to explore what interests you the most, AP courses help you find your unique direction. There are 34 AP courses, and each one can help you get working toward a wide variety of college majors and careers. The connections are there if you just take a moment to think them through. For example, if you are planning to go into law enforcement, did you know that it may help to take AP Psychology? Or if you want a career as a sociologist, that AP Statistics could be a good first step? Excited? Use the tool above to see what AP courses could start you getting ready for these future possibilities right now. AP courses also help you transform what you love right now into a valuable and satisfying future. For example, did you know that if you love studying languages, taking one in AP could help you in everything from a college major or career in Anthropology to Ethnic Studies to Fashion Design? Surprised? Use the tool above to see where an AP course subject that interests today could take you tomorrow. The world awaits, dictated by your interests. Start exploring now.

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AP Scholar Awards: The AP Program recognizes high school students who have demonstrated superior college-level achievement through AP courses and exams with the AP Scholar Awards. Although there is no monetary award, each award-winning student receives an award certificate, and this achievement is acknowledged on any AP score report that is sent to colleges the following fall. AP Scholar Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. AP Scholar with Honor Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. AP Scholar with Distinction Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. State AP Scholar Granted to the one male and one female student in each state in the U.S. and the District of Columbia with scores of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP Exams, and then the highest average score (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken. National AP Scholar Granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

English Inquiry Project Outline National AP Scholar (Canada)

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Granted to students in Canada who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams. National AP Scholar (Bermuda) Granted to students in Bermuda who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams. DoDEA AP Scholar Granted to the one male and one female student attending Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools with the highest average score on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a score of 3 or higher on three exams. International AP Scholar Granted to the one male and one female student attending a school outside the United States and Canada that is not a DoDEA school with the highest average score on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a score of 3 or higher on three exams. AP International Diploma The Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID) is a globally recognized certificate for students with an international outlook. The APID challenges a student to display exceptional achievement on AP Exams across several disciplines. Universities worldwide utilize the APID in admissions. Whats an AP class like? With AP, you don't have to wait for college to start contributing, because AP is college in a high school setting. Your school can choose from up to 34 AP courses in subjects that directly

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connect you to what you want to do now and with your future. They not only give you the knowledge and skills to help you at your college or university, but scoring well on the AP Exam can get you credit and placement there too. In AP's immersive courses, you don't just read about things, you get to learn how things really work. You won't just be memorizing facts and figures that you'll forget moments after the test. In AP you'll tackle concepts and do things that will stick with you long after the class is through. AP teachers' hands-on approach to learning takes you out of the typical classroom and into an experience that will prepare you for college and beyond. In AP classes, just like in college, you not only learn by doing, but by sharing and speaking out. You'll be asked to add your unique perspective because the dialog and debate contributes to the knowledge that's shared by everyone. You'll help drive the class and sharpen your skills by learning to express yourself before you get to college. With AP, you'll explore new ideas side-by-side with your classmates and AP teachers. When you get to college, you'll be asked to manage your own time and study habits, while tackling challenging problems and subject areas. This is what you get when you take an AP class, with the added benefit of your AP teacher helping you throughout the journey. AP courses let you to see and feel what college work is like, while receiving the support to help you get there. In AP classes, you can set bigger goals for yourself, and find yourself doing things you never thought possible By doing college-level work in high school, AP students can test themselves and take risks in a familiar setting, gaining confidence and a rewarding experience in addition to college credit and placement.

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https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap/the-ap-experience https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap/the-rewards https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap/the-rewards/building-college-skills https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap/the-rewards/scholar-awards http://www.highereducation.org/reports/Policy_Practice/DallasAP.pdf