AP Course and Exam Redesign
AP Higher Education Website
www.collegeboard.org/aphighered
Arts
Art History
Music Theory
Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio
Studio Art: 2-D Design Portfolio
Studio Art: 3-D Design Portfolio
English
English Language & Composition
English Literature & Composition
History & Social Science
Comparative Government & Politics
European History
Human Geography
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Psychology
US Government & Politics
US History
World History
Mathematics & Computer Science
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Computer Science A
Statistics
Natural Sciences
Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Physics B
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
Physics C: Mechanics
World Languages
Chinese Language & Culture
French Language & Culture
German Language & Culture
Italian Language & Culture
Japanese Language & Culture
Latin
Spanish Language & Culture
Spanish Literature
Most popular AP exams in AZ
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Advances in AP
Redesigning High Stakes Assessments to Measure 21st Century Knowledge and Skill
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What’s Changing in Each Subject?
Key Components of the Revised AP Courses
and Exams
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http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/
AP Course Launch Schedule
Fall 2011
Fall 2012
Fall 2013
Fall 2014
• French
Language
& Culture
• German
Language
& Culture
• Biology
• Latin
• Spanish
Literature
& Culture
• Chemistry
• Spanish
Language
and
Culture
• Physics 1:
AlgebraBased
• Physics 2:
AlgebraBased
• United
States
History
Fall 2015
Tentative
• Art History
• European
History
• Calculus
(update)
World Language Curriculum Revisions: Goals
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New Courses and Exams Emphasize RealWorld Application
AP World Language Before Redesign
AP World Language After Redesign
Emphasized learning about the language
(memorized)
Students learn to use the language
Focused on isolated language skills
Instruction focuses on integrating skills in the modes of
communication
The textbook was the curriculum
Teachers use thematic units and authentic materials
Students learned cultural facts in isolation
Students explore relationships between cultural
practices, products, and perspectives
Students respond to artificial situations from
the textbook
Students are given personalized, real-world tasks
Assessment was about finding out what
students know
Assessment is to find out what students can do with
their language skills
Historical Thinking Skills
Redesigned history courses focus on four key historical
thinking skills central to 21st century history studies.
Crafting Historical
Arguments from
Historical Evidence
Chronological
Reasoning
Comparison and
Contextualization
Historical
Interpretation and
Synthesis
 Historical argumentation
 Appropriate use of relevant historical evidence
 Historical causation
 Patterns of continuity and change over time
 Periodization
 Comparison
 Contextualization
 Interpretation
 Synthesis
Science Curriculum Revisions: Goals
Developed in response to recommendations made by the
National Research Council and the National Science
Foundation
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What’s Changing for Physics B in 2014?
Why Are We Redesigning Physics B?
Recommendations of a 2002 National Research Council/
National Science Foundation Report:
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Current Course
Current course includes a wide breadth of
topics to be covered in a single year.
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kinematics;
Newton’s laws of motion;
torque;
gravitation and circular motion; work,
energy, and power;
linear momentum;
oscillations,
mechanical waves and sound;
fluid statics and dynamics;
thermodynamics with kinetic theory,
PV diagrams;
electrostatics;
electrical circuits;
magnetic fields;
electromagnetism;
physical and geometric optics;
topics in modern physics
Redesigned Courses
New courses decrease breadth of content
each year to allow time to promote
conceptual reasoning and understanding.
AP Physics 1:
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kinematics
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Newton’s laws of motion;
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torque;
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rotational motion and angular momentum;
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gravitation and circular motion;
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work, energy, and power;
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linear momentum;
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oscillations, mechanical waves and sound;
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introduction to electric circuits
AP Physics 2:
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fluid statics and dynamics;
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thermodynamics with kinetic theory, PV
diagrams and probability;
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electrostatics;
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electrical circuits;
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magnetic fields;
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electromagnetism;
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physical and geometric optics;
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topics in modern physics
Current Exam
Redesigned Exam
Emphasis is often placed on questions that
require only mathematical routines used
for solution.
Students will continue to solve problems
mathematically but the use of proportional
and symbolic reasoning and ability to
translate between multiple
representations will be emphasized.
Physics 1 and 2 Exams | 90 minutes
50-55 multiple choice questions
70 Multiple-choice questions | 90 minutes
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Discrete items and items in sets
5 answer choices for each question
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Discrete items and items in sets
4 answer choices for each question
Multiple-correct items
6-7 Free-response questions | 90 minutes
Physics 1 | 90 minutes
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1 laboratory-related item
5 free-response questions
Questions of varying length
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1 experimental design question
1 qualitative/quantitative translation
3 short-answer questions
Physics 2 | 90 minutes
4 free-response questions:
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1 experimental design question
1 qualitative/quantitative translation
2 short-answer questions
Recommending Course CreditWhat do AP Exam Scores of 3+ mean?
Curriculum Framework Development
Curriculum studies, research,
and recommendations are
collected
A curriculum framework is
drafted
4-year colleges
& universities
Academic
organizations
Panels of subjectmatter experts
The curriculum framework is
reviewed and verified
50+ college
department
chairs
Committee
of college faculty
& AP teachers
50+
AP teachers
Exam Development
Achievement expectations
are defined by the specific
knowledge and skills required
to earn each exam score.
Committees of teachers &
college faculty who teach
comparable college/AP
courses
Two studies are conducted to establish
standards and inform cut scores for the
relevant AP Exam.
Standard setting
College comparability
Exam questions are
reviewed against
achievement expectations
to set raw scores for the
overall exam.
Portions of an AP Exam are
administered to students in the
related college course; student
AP scores are correlated to
their final course grades.
A panel of 15
college faculty &
AP teachers
College faculty
from the panel and
their students
Sample of colleges participating in
comparability studies
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How do we determine exam scores and grade
correlates?
Knowledge and skills required to earn scores of 1-5 on an AP Exam
are derived from standard settings and college comparability
studies.
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What do AP scores mean?
AP scores are correlated to grades in the corresponding
introductory college course.
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No
recommend
-action
Possibly
Qualified
Qualified
Well Qualified
Extremely
Well Qualified
Equivalent to
grades of B-, C+,
and C in the
corresponding
college course
Equivalent to
grades of A-, B+,
and B in the
corresponding
college course
Equivalent to
grades of A and
A+ in the
corresponding
college course
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AP RESEARCH
http://aphighered.collegeboard.org/research-reports
AP Fosters Persistence and College Success
AP Students Succeed in Subsequent Courses
AP students exempting from introductory course perform as well, or
better than, non-AP students in the sequent course, and earned higher
overall GPAs.
AP Students Persist and Complete Degrees
Students with AP Exam scores of 3 and higher were more likely to
graduate from college, and to graduate within 4 or 5 years, than nonAP students.
AP Contributes to Students’ Disciplinary Focus
AP students generally took more courses in the discipline and were
more likely to major in a closely related discipline.
AP Students Tend to Major in Disciplines
Related to the AP Exam
The correlation between AP Exam and major is particularly
strong for STEM subjects.
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
Computer and Information Science
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and
Linguistics
Humanities & Liberal Arts
Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering,
& Physical Sciences
Social Sciences
0.0%
Total Group
Adapted from Mattern, Shaw, & Ewing, 2011
10.0%
20.0%
AP Students
30.0%
40.0%
Morgan & Klaric: Findings
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3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
US History US Gov &
Politics
Spanish Psychology English
Chemistry Calculus AB
Language
Language &
Comp
Intro Course (Non-AP)
AP - 3
AP - 4
AP - 5
Biology
Patterson, Packman, & Kobrin: Findings
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mathematics computer science, engineering, natural
science, social science, history, English, world language, art and
music.
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 a 3 outperformed non-AP Exam takers by about 0.11;
 a 4 outperformed non-AP Exam takers by about 0.16 ; and
 a 5 outperformed non-AP Exam takers by about 0.25.
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Using evidence to inform college credit and
placement policy
Institutions who establish evidenced based AP credit policies,
examine content and curriculum alignment, AP student placement
validity to inform AP policy review.
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www.collegeboard.org/aces
aces@info.collegeboard.org
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Introducing AP
Launching Fall 2014
™
Capstone
Introducing - AP Capstone™
is an innovative program that allows students to
engage in rigorous college-level study of the critical skills
necessary for success in college. The Program of study includes a
two-course sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research
Emphasizes Critical Skills
 Considering multiple perspectives
 Careful evaluation of information
 Writing evidence-based
arguments
Complements the in-depth
subject-matter study in AP
 Identifying and Solving Problems
 Oral communication and
defending an argument
 Collaboration & teamwork
Developed with higher education support and a successful pilot
supported by 100+ colleges in the U.S. and Canada
AP Capstone Promotes the Skills Identified by
Leading Educational Organizations
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The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
College Learning for the New Global Century, Essential Learning Outcomes
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College Board - Advanced Placement Program
Skills and Practices identified in AP Courses
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The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21),
A Framework for 21st Century Learning
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Common Core State Standards Initiative,
Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects 6-1
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Council of Writing Program Administrators,
Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing
Building on the hallmarks of the AP Course & Exam Redesign, AP
Capstone emphasizes critical thinking, inquiry, reasoning and
communication
AP Capstone Program Model
A flexible two-course sequence that teaches students rigorous college-level
curricula while promoting the critical inquiry skills needed for success in
college and beyond.
AP Capstone
Diploma™
Students who earn scores of 3
or higher on the AP Seminar
and AP Research Exams and on
four additional AP Exams of
their choosing will receive the
AP Capstone Diploma™.
AP Research &
Seminar
Certificate™
Students who earn scores of 3
or higher on the AP Seminar
and AP Research Exams only
will receive the AP Seminar
and Research Certificate™
AP Seminar
Students learn to:
Exams Scored:
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Example Topics
Democracy
Education
Revolution
Freedom
Protest
Technology
Sustainability
1. Team Project &
Presentation
• 25%
2. Individual Essay &
Presentation
• 35%
3. Written Exam
• 40%
Teachers & Students typically select 2-4 topics for the course.
AP Research
Students Learn to:
Exams Scored:
 Design, plan, and conduct a
year-long mentored, researchbased investigation
1. Research Process
• 15%
 Apply research methods and
practices to address a realworld topic selected by the
student
2. Academic Thesis Paper
(~5,000 words)
• 70%
 Write a college-level research
paper, present and orally
defend the findings and
research methodology
3. Public Presentation and
Oral Defense
• 15%
AP Seminar is a prerequisite to AP Research.
AP Capstone: The Benefits for Students
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Distinction – Stand out in the college admission process and have the
opportunity to earn valuable college credit or placement
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Critical Skills – Students acquire rigorous college-level analysis, writing, and
research skills that that are increasingly valued by colleges.
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Choice – Students choose individual research topics and study topics of
relevance and interest.
What Colleges are saying about AP Capstone
“At the University of Washington, we would be very interested in enrolling students who have
distinguished themselves through the AP Capstone program.”
Phillip Ballinger, Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment and Undergraduate Admissions, University of
Washington
“AP Seminar and AP Research are terrific classes that prepare students to think in nonformulaic ways.”
Stuart Schmill, Dean of Admissions, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“[Through this program] you get students turned on to higher education in a way they are not
currently and they enter university with a different kind of attitude.”
Susan Roth, Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies, Duke University, AP Capstone Curriculum Advisory
Committee
Additional Information about AP Capstone
The AP Capstone Brochure
AP Capstone online:
www.collegeboard.org/apcapstone
Email questions to:
apcapstone@collegeboard.org
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Practical Considerations……
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Resources available…..
• AP Seminar Curriculum
Description
• AP Research CD
coming soon
• AP Seminar 2 pager
• AP Research 2
pager
AP Capstone™: Statement of Support
www.collegeboard.org/aphighered
QUESTIONS?
• Pam Kerouac
• Higher Ed Policy
• pkerouac@collegeboard.org
• Bard Keeler
• AP Capstone Schools
• bkeeler@collegeboard.org