Separate from the Incentive Program and available to all Palmer students, Advanced Placement courses are first-year university/college level courses geared towards academically motivated high school students who intend to pursue post-secondary education. Administered by The College Board, the US-based organization that also administers the SAT exams, students may earn credit towards a university course by scoring high enough on the official AP exam, typically a 4 or 5 out 5.
The three major BC universities (UBC, SFU and UVIC) all accept students with AP credit, allowing students to reduce their course load in their first year of post-secondary or to continue on to second-year courses early.
Advanced Placement benefits students in a number of ways:
• Provides students with an opportunity for academic enrichment, to learn with other highly capable and motivated students, to experience university/college level courses, and to develop the study skills, habits, and discipline needed for university success
• Provides university courses for free, except for the College Board AP Exam fee (most first year courses cost between $350 – $500)
• Provides students with an opportunity to gain advance credit or placement – or course exemption – at many colleges and universities around the world
Typically the AP courses offered (and run in-class, on-timetable) at Palmer include AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and AP Psychology. In addition, opportunities for students to self-study an AP course is available via an IDS (Independent Directed Study) block with teacher support, direction, and mentorship. The large majority of Palmer students who go on to write the AP Exams each year tend to score 4 or 5 out of 5 on these exams, and are thus well-prepared for the rigours of university or college education.
For more detailed information about AP course credits and/or advanced placement consideration at various BC post-secondary institutions, visit BCTransferGuide.ca
For more detailed information about AP course credit/acceptance around the world, visit the AP Credit Policy Search site.
RC Palmer Incentive Program 