Advanced
Placement Program
at KIS
Mr. 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 Placement
International 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/testin
g/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