The Advanced Placement Program is a program of challenge and enrichment that is available to students commencing at the Grade 10 level.

In 1988 the Advanced Placement (AP) Program was introduced to West Vancouver Schools at Sentinel.  The AP Program is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities.  It allows high school students to undertake college-level academic learning in AP courses and gives them the opportunity to show that they have mastered the advanced material by taking AP exams.  Students can receive credit, advanced placement, or both from thousands of colleges and universities throughout the world.

The AP Program has been administered since 1955 by the College Board.  AP procedures are determined by representatives of member institutions (public and independent schools, colleges, and universities).  AP’s operational services are provided by Educational Testing Service. In May 2022, in the United States, Canada, and overseas, 4,762,347 examinations were administered to 2,659,914 students in 22,977 participating high schools.  Upon completion of their AP courses at Sentinel Secondary School, 248 students from Grades 10, 11 and 12 wrote 688 AP examinations. They achieved an average score of 4.17 out of 5 on their AP exams.

Benefits of the AP Program for Students

• Provide college credits for courses and examinations successfully taken in high school.
• Exempt them from some introductory college courses, thus permitting them to move more quickly into advanced classes.
• Motivate them to attempt more challenging courses in both high school and college.
• Develop, in a high school environment, the study skills and habits they will need in college.
• Bolster their confidence that they can meet college requirements.
• Reduce college/university costs and time to obtain a degree.

AP Grades and Reports

Each May, to complete their Advanced Placement courses, students write the AP Examinations.  The multiple-choice portions of the exams are scored by computer and the free-response sections are scored by college and high school consultants at the AP Reading in June.  Grade reports are available online to students, schools, and colleges in July.

The AP grading scale used in the reports is as follows:

5 – Extremely well qualified

4 – Well qualified

3 – Qualified

2 – Possibly qualified

1 – No recommendation

 Advanced Placement Courses offered at Sentinel:

Grade 10

• Pre-AP English First Peoples Literary Studies and Writing 10
• Pre-AP Science 10
• Pre-AP Foundations and Pre-calculus Mathematics 10

Grade 11

Students going into Grade 11 who have completed the prerequisite courses and who wish to challenge themselves, may take the following courses which prepare them for the Grade 12 level ones.

• AP Art 11 (Art Studio 11)
• AP Life Sciences 11
• AP Capstone Seminar 11 (AP exam in May)                           
• AP Chemistry 11
• AP Literary Studies 11
• AP Pre-calculus 11
• AP Physics 1 Honours 11 (AP exam is written upon completion of AP Physics 12)

Grade 12

Students going into Grade 11 or 12 who have completed the prerequisites may take the following courses which prepare them to write the corresponding AP Examinations in May.

• AP 2-D Art and Design 12
• AP 3-D Art and Design 12
• AP Drawing 12
• AP Biology 12
• AP Calculus AB 12
• AP Calculus BC 12A
• AP Capstone Research 12
• AP Chemistry 12
• AP Chinese Language and Culture 12
• AP Computer Science 12A
• AP Computer Science Principles 12
• AP English Language and Composition 12
• AP English Literature and Composition 12
• AP French Language and Culture 12
• AP Human Geography 12
• AP Japanese Language and Culture 12
• AP Physics 2 Honours 12
• AP Psychology 12
• AP Statistics 12

Please note:  Only students who take the AP course at Sentinel can write the corresponding AP exam at the school.  Priority for enrollment in AP courses at the Grade 12 level is given to students who have not written the AP exam prior to taking the course.

AP Scholar Awards

The AP Program offers several Scholar Awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams.  In addition to receiving an award certificate, the students’ achievement is acknowledged on any grade report that they send to colleges the following fall.

• AP Scholar. Granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
• AP Scholar with Honor. Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
• AP Scholar with Distinction. Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
• AP National Scholar. Granted to students in Canada who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams.