Advanced Placement

Program at KISMr. Brent Brayko, Associate Principal

and AP Coordinator

KIS has reason to be proud!

There is a tradition and legacy that we want to continue!

267 students took 544 exams last year. 463 received a passing score of 3+

349 of those received a 4 or 5!

KIS had a mean score of 3.79 compared to the global mean of 2.89.

Another way to look at it: 92.5% of our AP students had a 3 or better on an exam.

More AP Honors for KIS students than in any previous year...

AP Scholars, Scholars with Honor

and Scholars with Distinction

AP Scholar - Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams at KIS (36 last year!)

AP Scholar with Honor - Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken at KIS, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams (28 last year!)

AP Scholar with Distinction - Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken at KIS, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams (45 last year!)

Advanced PlacementInternational Diploma (APID)

The AP International Diploma (APID) is a globally recognized certificate for students with an international outlook. The APID is awarded to students who earn grades of 3 or higher on at least 5 AP exams. The 5 AP exams must include exams from all disciplines- Languages, Humanities, Mathematics and Science. College Board’s APID booklet is available at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_intl.html.

Some more basic information...

KIS offers 19 AP Courses!

Each teacher must submit a course syllabus to be audited by the College Board to be accepted

The program is run by the US-based College Board which develops curriculum and exams.

The AP Policies in place at KIS are consistent with international schools around the world AND they have been working. KIS is one of the top scoring schools in the world.

Some basic information...Fee this year is $119/exam (HUGE bargain!)

Exams are 1st 2 weeks of May - schedule is on apcentral.com (be aware that we do not have school the 1st 2 days of exams but the exams go on in Psychology, Spanish and Chemistry)

Students earn a .5 bump in their overall GPA for taking on the AP challenge. (this is reflected at the semester grade reports)

Could be removed from course at semester if falling below a C-.

Colleges/universities decide for themselves what scores are acceptable and credit that may be granted for a 3, 4 or 5. (can be found at www.collegeboard.org/ap/creditpolicy)

important to contact schools interested in and ask what about their specific policies.

2014 Exam Schedule - Week 1

2014 Exam Schedule - Week 2

Even more basics...

KIS procedure for deciding AP course load for students is to look at teacher recommendation based on interest level, work ethic, reading and writing abilities, previous grades and success in AP courses and, of course, student requests.

From College Entrance Officers...Makes more sense to take a few AP’s and do very well than to take too many and do a mediocre job. OR worse, overload yourself and end up with a lower GPA in other classes.

General load: 1 for sophomore year, 2-3 Junior and Senior Years. Rare to allow 4 unless in top decile for class. MORE IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER! 1 HOUR OF HOMEWORK TIME IS THE GENERAL RULE PER AP CLASS - THAT IS STRESSFUL. A student (and parents) need to be realistic about what they can handle.

Korea International School Advanced Placement Class Admission Policy

KIS students interested in Advanced Placement class enrollment should do the following:

Have a current cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher.

Complete a thorough self-assessment of your educational and career goals. Consult your counselor, teachers and/or parents

to determine the most appropriate course of study for the remainder of your high school years.

3. Reference the KIS Course Offering Booklet on the KIS website to determine AP class eligibility. Prerequisite classes must

be completed, or in progress, and stated competencies met.

4. Students interested in a particular AP class should attend the presentation for that class at the KIS AP Showcase.

5. If you are academically eligible and attended the Showcase, complete the AP Class Survey on Family Connection.

6. Grade 10 students may select one AP class (either Biology or World History), if they are academically eligible and have attended the AP Showcase.

7. Grade 11 students may select two AP classes, if they are academically eligible and have attended the AP Showcase.

8. Grade 12 students may select three AP classes, if they are academically eligible and have attended the AP Showcase.

Note: Grade 11 and 12 students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or better at the conclusion of the last completed semester may appeal for one additional AP class to their counselor which will then go to administration for a final decision.

Need to be careful about selection...

When course selections are made, the master schedule is built and staffing decisions are made.

Becomes very difficult when students want to drop an AP course once the new academic year begins.

Drops will only be considered if there is a significant academic issue. “Struggling” in the course alone is not a significant issue.

Why do the students HAVE to take the exam in May?

The whole purpose of an AP curriculum is to prepare a student for the same rigor to be expected at university and the exam is one of the measures used to determine whether or not they have mastered the material.

The .5 “bump” for GPA (4.5 Grade scale for C- and above) is designed to reward the intense work involved for the students as they prepare for the exam. This would go away if the exam was not taken.

Hopefully, the exam will result in credit for entry level courses at college, allowing higher status at registration and the savings of having to pay for the course or an elective.

Our message to Seniors...

KIS had a total of 28 1’s in 2013. Majority by seniors who simply “gave up” or felt that it was not worth it since they were accepted into college already.

1’s do not look good for you or the school.

For underclassmen, the number of AP’s you can take the following year (if any) can be affected.

The journey is what matters - the course is preparing you for college-level work; the exam is simply a way to demonstrate what you have learned.

If you have not taken the course at KIS can you take the test here?

No. This policy has been in place from the beginning and is consistent with other international schools. For courses we offer, ordering, administering, returning to College Board, and managing score reports of exams is a service only for the students of KIS who take them here with our teachers.

HOWEVER, if the AP Course is not currently offered and the student has prepared for it here independently with a KIS teacher, the student may take the exam with Coordinator approval. (e.g. Spanish Literature and Culture, Comparative Government)

Can KIS AP Courses/teachers provide summary and test prep in school so outside

courses are not needed?

They do. Our teachers are going above and beyond to insure that the work that happens during the course of the year is rigorous and relevant...the proof is in our scores. MANY students score 3’s, 4’s and 5’s without the need for any intensive, outside prep. Mock exams are given and analyzed, practice problems are given continuously throughout the year.

Each AP teacher uses College Board and AP exam resources throughout the year to insure success on the exam. Courses often have review going on beginning already in April to prepare for the May exams. CRAMMING at the end does not lead to anything but memorization - not real learning.

If further questions...

See handout with specific sites for AP information.

Email me: brentbrayko@kis.or.kr