ADVANCED PLACEMENT
The District is proud to offer one of the largest Advanced PlacementÌýPrograms in Canada to ensure our students are poised to succeed.
AP courses are designed to provide motivated high school students (grades 10-12) with the opportunity to take university level academic courses while still in secondary school. There are a variety of courses offered at all Burnaby Secondary Schools. Contact the schools directly for more information about courses offered.
AP Capstone Diploma ProgramÌý
The Advanced Placement program providesÌýan innovativeÌýdiplomaÌýoption for grade 11 & 12 studentsÌýcalledÌý. It is offered at Burnaby North and Burnaby South Secondary schools.Ìý Developed in response to feedback from higher education faculty and college admission officers, AP Capstone complements the in-depth, subject-specific rigor of AP courses and exams, allowing students to engage in the rigorous development of skills critical for success in college: inquiry, research, collaboration, and writing.
It includes a two-course sequence: AP® Seminar and AP Research.
The AP Seminar course, typically taken in grade 11, will equip students with the power to explore academic and real-world issues through an interdisciplinary lens and consider multiple points of view. Through a variety of materials ─ from articles and research studies to foundational and philosophical texts ─ students will be challenged to explore complex questions, understand and evaluate opposing viewpoints, interpret and synthesize information, and develop, communicate, and defend their own points of view. Teachers have the flexibility of choosing themes based on student interests, whether they are local and/or civic issues or international topics. Samples of themes that can be covered in the AP Seminar course include education, innovation, sustainability, and technology. Students are assessed through an individual and team project completed during the year and a year-end written exam.
The subsequent AP Research course, allows students to design, plan, and conduct a year long mentored investigation on a topic of their choosing. Students build on the skills learned in the AP Seminar course by using research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information to present and defend an argument.
Students who earn scores of 3 or higher on the AP Seminar and AP Research exams and scores of 3 or higher on four AP exams of their choosing will receive the AP Capstone Diplomaâ„¢. Students who earn qualifying scores on the two AP Capstone exams but do not take or earn qualifying scores on four additional AP exams will earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificateâ„¢.
The AP Capstone DiplomaÌýhelps students distinguish themselves during the university application process by demonstrating their commitment to challenging coursework and by allowing them to showcase their in-depth understanding, interest and passion for specific issues.
Grade 10 students who are interested in applying to the AP Capstone Program can find the application form here or at Burnaby North or Burnaby South Secondary Schools.
The completed application requires the following:
– a completed application form
– student written responses
– a parent questionnaire, and
– a teacher recommendation
The completed application package for the 2022-2023 school year is due on Monday, February 28, 2022Ìýat 4pm to the 49ͼ¿â Office at 4054 Norfolk Street, Burnaby, V5G 0C3ÌýOR the completed application package can be given to your Burnaby Secondary School’s AP Coordinator by 3:15pm on Monday, February 28, 2022.