The Advanced Placement program offers college-level and college-preparatory studies to motivated college-bound students who are in high school. An AP course will help students gain the skills they need to succeed in college. In addition to mastering content and improving their reading and writing skills, AP students learn to think on an analytical level, solve problems, and develop study skills essential to success in college.

AP credit is awarded for college work in 90% of the four year colleges in the United States, as well as in 60 countries around the world. Statistics show that whether or not students qualify for AP credit at the end of their high school year, they will be much more likely to succeed in the comparable college course on campus. AP students who do receive college credit while still in high school are more likely to finish college early and go on to graduate school.

AP Exam Scoring Guide

5- very well qualified in the subject (6-12 hours of college credit)
4- well qualified in the subject (3-6 hours of college credit)
3- qualified in the subject (3 hours of college credit)
2- possibly qualified, but no recommendation (no college credit)
1- no recommendation (no college credit)

For more information about Advanced Placement see http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html

NBCA currently offers five AP courses:

• AP English Literature and Composition
  test date: May 10, 2012
• AP English Language and Composition
  test date: May 16, 2012
• AP U.S. Government and Politics
  test date: May 15, 2012
• AP Calculus AB
  test date: May 9, 2012
• AP Chemistry
  test date: May 7, 2012

Recent AP Exam Results at NBCA

2010:
51 juniors and seniors made qualifying scores on 46 exams.

2011:
41 juniors and seniors made qualifying scores on 34 exams.

These scores result in college credit according to the policy of the school. For example, A&M website explains the university’s policy on Advanced Placement credit this way:

“Texas A&M University accepts scores on certain College Board Advanced Placement tests for credit in selected courses. Examinations offered by the AP program are administered during late spring by high schools. Interested high school students should contact their high school counselors for information on AP courses and AP testing. AP scores should be forwarded to Texas A&M University Office of Measurement and Research Services (MARS). The College Board code for Texas A&M is 6003. Scores reported from the spring AP test administration will not be received until late July.”

For complete listings of A&M AP credit policy by course titles, visit http://mars.tamu.edu/testingsite/PDFfiles/AP.pdf

**To find the AP credit policy for your intended college, go to http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp or contact the college directly.

Independent Study for Other AP Exams

In addition to the AP course offerings in English, government and, calculus, and chemistry, NBCA students may study for exams in other AP subjects. A student need not be enrolled in an AP class to take exams in May. Parents and students may contact an AP teacher or go to apcentral.collegeboard.com for the complete list of exams, study guides, and dates administered.

AP Award Levels

• AP Scholar: Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams


• AP Scholar with Honor: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams


• AP Scholar with Distinction: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams


• State AP Scholar: Granted to the one male and one female student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with scores of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP Exams, and then the highest average score (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken


• National AP Scholar: Granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams


• National AP Scholar (Canada): Granted to students in Canada who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams


• National AP Scholar (Bermuda): Granted to students in Bermuda who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams


• DoDEA AP Scholar: Granted to the one male and one female student attending Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools with the highest average score on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a score of 3 or higher on three exams.


• International AP Scholar: Granted to the one male and one female student attending a school outside the United States and Canada that is not a DoDEA school with the highest average score on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a score of 3 or higher on three exams.

For more information go to http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/scholarawards.html.