1. at Fargo South High School
The AP® Program
at Fargo South High School

2. AP Basics
Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses
At the end of course, students take AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course work.
Students who do well on AP Exams can earn credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college.

3. AP Courses Offered by Our School:
Biology
Chemistry
Physics 1
Calculus AB
English Lang and Comp
English Lit and Comp
Psychology
Human Geography
European History
US Govt and Politics
US History
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
Art: 2D Design
Art: 3D Design
Art: Drawing
Computer Science A

4. Dual Credit Basics
Dual credit courses are college level courses offered in high school. Dual credit courses also reflect what is taught in top introductory courses.
Students are enrolled as students of NDSCS.
The grade that a person earns in this class is put on both the high school and the college transcript.

5. Dual Credit Courses Offered by Our School
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Anatomy & Physiology
Psychology
US History
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
IT Essentials 1
IT Essentials 2
CISCO (Networking) 1
CISCO (Networking) 2
CNA
Medical Terminology
Government

6. What Are AP/Dual Credit Courses Like?
AP and Dual Credit courses typically demand more of students than regular or honors courses.
Classes tend to be fast-paced and cover more material than typical high school classes.
More time, inside and outside of the classroom, is required to complete lessons, assignments and homework.
AP and Dual Credit teachers expect their students to think critically, analyze and synthesize facts and data, weigh competing perspectives, and write clearly and persuasively.
Discussion topic: How can parents help support their children?
Encourage time management
Remind them to prioritize
Recommend they form study groups
Designate specific areas for homework and studying

7. Differences Between AP and Dual Credit
Similarities
Differences
Both have the possibility of earning college credit
Both are accepted by most colleges
Both are rigorous in nature
AP credit is based on an end of year test score and gives a “pass” – no letter grade associated
Dual credit is based on the grade earned over the semester of the class – a letter grade is earned and starts the college GPA

8. AP Exams
AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates each May.
Exams usually last around three hours.
Each AP Exam contains:
Multiple-choice questions
Free-response questions (essay, problem-solving, oral response)

9. AP Exam and Dual Credit Fees
AP Exam fee for 2018 is $94 per exam.
For students with financial need, the College Board provides a small fee reduction.
Dual Credit is offered at more than half off the regular rate of tuition at NDSCS ($71.84/credit or $ for a 4 credit course).
For students with financial need, there is a scholarship/fee waiver available through the Bank of ND.
If your school is located outside of the United States, Canada, and U.S. Territories and Commonwealths, and is not a U.S. Department of Defense Dependents School, the 2013 exam fee is $117 (same as last year). Fees vary at some private College Board-authorized testing centers outside of the United States.
Information about AP fee reductions can be found at:
Information about additional state and federal funding for AP Exam fees can be found at:

10. Other Incentives National Math + Science Initiative (NMSI)
Focused Study Sessions
Exam Fee Subsidies
Awards
ND Department of Public Instruction

11. Why Take AP Exams or Dual Credit Courses?
Most two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States offer credit or advanced placement for qualifying AP Exam scores or transfer credits from NDSCS for dual credit classes.
Credit: Students earn credit toward their college degrees.
Advanced placement: Students can skip introductory courses and move directly into higher-level classes, and/or fulfill general education requirements.

12. AP and College Success
A recent study* showed that students who earned a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Exam had higher first-year college grade point averages and were more likely to return for the second year of college than non-AP students of similar ability.
“One of the best standard predictors of academic success at Harvard is performance on Advanced Placement Examinations.”
—William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Harvard University
*Krista Mattern, Emily Shaw, and Xinhui Xiong, “The Relationship Between AP Exam Performance and College Outcomes” (2009), The College Board.

13. Learn More
See Vanessa Boehm, coordinator or any of our AP teachers for more information about the AP program at South High School
For more information about AP courses and exams visit:
To find out what is accepted by colleges, visit that school’s website.