Advanced Placement Program

The Advanced Placement Program consists of a set of first-year university/college level courses geared towards academically talented and 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.  Depending on the post-secondary institution, these may be a minimum score of 3 or 4 out of 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 both acceleration and enrichment

• Provides students the opportunity to learn with other highly capable and motivated students

• Provides students with opportunities to experience university/college-level courses while still in high school

• Allows students to develop the study skills, habits and discipline needed for university while still in high school

• 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

Palmer has historically offered one of the most comprehensive and successful AP programs in the Richmond School District. 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.

Typically the AP courses offered (and run in-class, on-timetable) at Palmer include AP Biology, AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, 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.

Students must request an AP course by submitting an application form (available here) that will be used by teachers and counsellors to determine the AP class list.

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.