Advanced Placement is designed to provide motivated high school students with post-secondary-level academic courses. This rigorous academic program offers students a head start in successfully navigating academic challenges they will encounter at post-secondary schools. Based on their performance on AP examinations, students can earn credit, advanced placement, or both for university and college courses. Students' achievements in AP courses are celebrated with course credit, College Board awards, and scholarships from most universities, including the University of Alberta.
About Advanced Placement
- A selection of academic courses at the post-secondary level taken in high school.
- A focused learning environment
- Academic skill development in writing, research, problem-solving, independent thinking, critical thinking and responsible scholarship
- Increased confidence and readiness for post-secondary studies
- Active, high-level learning that allows students to develop the skills, habits of mind, and concepts needed to succeed in post-secondary institutions
- The opportunity to take courses in specific areas of student interest and ability
- Credit for many university and college first-year courses
- The chance to challenge AP Language exams in a variety of languages to receive advanced placement or credit at university and college
AP Open House: Tuesday February 4th, 2025
AOB Library at 6:30PM
Click Here to RSVP to AP Info Night
For More information please contact Andrew.Kozitzky@ecsd.net
AOB Office: 780-466-3161
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 transfer credit at either the University of Alberta, MacEwan University, and many other Universities.
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 Computing Science Principles |
| AP Physics | AP Social Studies (Seminar) |
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.
The AP exam score cannot lower a student's grade; it can only raise a student's grade.
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 30-1 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
Contact (780) 466 – 3161
For further information about AP:
· Government of Alberta - AP/IB Program Information
· MacEwan University- MacEwan AP Program Info
. U of A - U of A - AP Program Info