Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program created by the American College Board (the same organization that creates the SATs) which offers university-level courses to high school students. Each course culminates in an examination that is externally evaluated by the College Board. Many Canadian and American universities grant advanced placement and course credit to students who achieve excellent standings on their exams.
At CDS, our approach to AP is focused less on benefits of exceleration (receiving university credits) than on the deep enrichment opportunity AP courses provide for some of our learners. The successful completion of an AP course can also be a great confidence booster, reinforcing a student’s belief that they can succeed at the university level. CDS offers AP courses that offer students an academic edge and comfort level, and prepare them for post-secondary success.
AP courses offered at CDS include:
AP courses offered at CDS include:
- Calculus AB
- Chemistry
- Comparative Government and Politics
- Computer Science
- English Literature and Composition
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- 2D Art and Design
AP Exam Assessment
AP Exams are marked on a 5-point scale. A student’s AP score shows how well they did on the AP Exam and can also be used as an indicator of potential achievement in a university-level AP course. Scores are a weighted combination of test scores on the multiple-choice section and on the free-response section.
5 = extremely well qualified
4 = well qualified
3 = qualified
2 = possibly qualified
1 = no recommendation
"Qualified" means a student has proven him/herself capable of doing the work of an introductory-level course in a particular university subject. Many colleges and universities grant credit and placement for scores of 3, 4 or 5; however, CDS recommends students interested in pursuing an AP Course or Exam do so purely for the academic challenge and to achieve a greater comfort level should they decide to take the course at university.
AP Exams are marked on a 5-point scale. A student’s AP score shows how well they did on the AP Exam and can also be used as an indicator of potential achievement in a university-level AP course. Scores are a weighted combination of test scores on the multiple-choice section and on the free-response section.
5 = extremely well qualified
4 = well qualified
3 = qualified
2 = possibly qualified
1 = no recommendation
"Qualified" means a student has proven him/herself capable of doing the work of an introductory-level course in a particular university subject. Many colleges and universities grant credit and placement for scores of 3, 4 or 5; however, CDS recommends students interested in pursuing an AP Course or Exam do so purely for the academic challenge and to achieve a greater comfort level should they decide to take the course at university.
Additional AP Exam Opportunities
There are more than 30 AP courses offered each year and anyone can write an AP exam without having taken the specific course. While CDS offers only seven AP courses, occasionally our students will pursue preparing for an AP exam on their own in Spanish or the Social Sciences. CDS faculty are available to support students taking a variety of AP Exams individually (Calculus BC, Physics, French, etc.) and help make these arrangements.
For more information on AP, visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/.
For more information on AP, visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/.
“One of the things I appreciated about CDS was the availability of Advanced Placement courses. I took advantage of this while I was at CDS, which gave me a cushion during the transitional period to university. I could feel the difference in the first year of university, where some of my peers were learning things for the first time, but I had already covered some of these concepts at CDS. This made the transition smoother, and I am still appreciative of it.”
- Jose Torrealba, attended the Ivey Business School at Western University and is now working as a software engineer at Goldman Sachs in NYC
- Jose Torrealba, attended the Ivey Business School at Western University and is now working as a software engineer at Goldman Sachs in NYC
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
