Advanced Placement

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NOTE:  Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, Earl of March AP exams are open only to students enrolled in Earl of March AP courses.  Please see our Frequently Asked Questions below for more details.

What is Advanced Placement?

Advanced Placement is an international program administered by the College Board, the same organization that is in charge of SAT testing. An Advanced Placement examination credit is an internationally-recognized first-year university credit.  

AP offers the unique opportunity for motivated students to tailor their academic choices to their interests and strengths. Advanced Placement courses allow students to explore more deeply specifically in the subject areas that interest them, without tying them to doing so in all subjects. The AP Program, which was founded in 1955, gives students the opportunity to study university-level content within the secondary school setting, and is recognized by universities worldwide. 

Students who score well on the May examinations are granted credit by most universities in North America. Examinations are graded in the United States on a five-point scale.

To visit the College Board AP Student Community and learn more about being an Advanced Placement student, visit ExploreAP at apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap.

Why Take Advanced Placement Courses?

Would you like your motivated and capable child to accumulate one, two, or even more university credits while in high school?

student with white lab coat and safety googles holding beaker with chemicals in it


Earl of March offers nine AP courses - more than any other school in eastern Ontario. In addition, over many years, our experienced AP teachers have developed successful teaching strategies and winning evaluation methods that prepare students for the AP examinations. Our Specialist AP teachers also provide extensive additional AP exam preparation in the period leading up to the external AP exams in May.

What are the advantages?

green checkmark in a circleEnrichment
  • AP provides the opportunity to enhance academic skills and the satisfaction gained from handling challenging material.

  • AP provides the opportunity to investigate favourite subjects in greater depth.

green checkmark in a circleChallenge
  • AP provides students the opportunity to realize their full potential and thus master university-level material while in high school.

  • Exams are graded in the United States by university professors and experienced AP teachers.

green checkmark in a circleFinancial Rewards
  • Each university credit can be obtained at a minimal cost in comparison to the cost of a university course.

green checkmark in a circleUniversity Preparation
  • Having handled difficult material in high school, students feel more comfortable and have greater confidence in the university setting.

  • The College Board, in partnership with the University of British Columbia and the University of Alberta, recently conducted a six-year study of the results of over 12,000 AP and non-AP students and found that students who earned a 3 or higher on AP Exams averaged:
    • Higher first-year grades in post-secondary,

    • Greater retention to their second year, and

    • Increased likelihood to graduate from post-secondary in six years or less, when compared to students who do not take any AP Exams.

green checkmark in a circleUniversity Acceleration
  • Most Canadian and American universities, as well as international universities, grant academic credit ("advanced standing") for first year courses.

  • Academic credit or exemption is granted, by increasing numbers of Canadian and American universities, for first year courses thus providing greater university program flexibility.

  • This head start facilitates a greater level of academic concentration, double majors, or earlier graduation.

  • To research a specific university's policy for applying AP credit, see the College Board AP Credit Policy search tool, or go to the university's website and search "advanced standing."

green checkmark in a circleInternational Recognition
  • In a competitive environment, AP courses demonstrate to universities throughout the world that a student is able to achieve academic success.

  • The AP experience is seen as a reliable indicator of future academic success.

  • Most North American universities accept AP grades.

  • The AP Program, sponsored by the American College Board, is taught in over 22,000 schools around the globe.

  • Nearly 3 million students write AP exams each year.

 Former Earl of March AP Students Say:
 

"The AP courses at Earl of March offer students unparalleled preparation for post-secondary education. The advanced placement classes that I took at Earl enriched my studies and exposed me to subjects and ideas that other students never covered. The study habits and writing skills that I developed in the AP stream made my transition from high school to university far less daunting than it was for many of my peers."

— Benet Gladwin, class of 2012

 

"My three AP credits have allowed me to limit my schedule to four classes for the final three semesters of my degree, which lets me focus on fewer courses while having more time for extra-curricular activities."

— Benet Gladwin, class of 2012


  

Earl of March is a Leading AP School

Two students sitting at a round tableProviding students with the opportunity for academic enrichment, Advanced Placement (AP) continues the tradition of excellence at Earl of March Secondary School.

In 1997, the teachers at EOM embraced AP as a great fit with the school's strong academic tradition, and we have been reaching new milestones ever since. EOM offers one of the most extensive selections of AP courses in Ontario.

Further Information

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