AP Course Expectations
Advanced Placement (AP) Course Expectations
This chart is intended to provide you with an approximation of the workload and demands of Advanced Placement courses offered at LBSS.
AP Course
Pages of reading per week
Weekly Outside Hours
Tests/essays/ Papers per quarter
Major projects and other info.
Art
Studio Art
AP2D Design,
AP2D Drawing, and AP3D
(Gr. 11-12)
2 Skill videos for AP classroom assignments.
Research Artists for artworks.
Plan, Experiment and research artworks
5 hours per week
Total 1st-4th Quarter requirements:
Create and maintain a Digital Portfolio documenting Sustained Investigation-
INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS for the course: the ability to
(1) conduct a sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision, guided by questions;
(2) skillfully synthesize materials, processes, and ideas; and (3) articulate, in writing, information about one’s work.
In the end, students need to submit 15 composite slides and/or images in their ‘Sustained Investigation’ portion of their portfolio.
For the ‘Selected works’ portion of their College Board digital portfolio–artworks are intended to show off student's very best and technically advanced art. These artworks can be 5 of your best Sustained Investigation artworks or they can be relatively random unconnected artworks that show off the best of your art.
Digital Portfolio submitted in May with Sustained Investigation (15 slides) and Selected Works (5 works).
Mid-year and End of Year Portfolio Review
End of Year Final Portfolio Presentation
Sketchbook/Journal writing on art and research for creating works of art
2D Design can focus on photography, digital art, or studio art
3D can focus on ceramics, sculpture, or 3D modeling and printing.
English
English Language and Composition
(Gr. 11)
- 1 research paper in MLA format
- 4-6 shorter writings
- Numerous timed writings
- Tests and quizzes
- Oral presentations
- Group projects/team work
- 4-6 books per year
- Summer reading project
- Choice book project some quarters
- Be sure that you are organized and have elevated writing and grammar skills to keep up with a rigorous pace.
English Literature and Composition
(Gr. 12)
- Multiple major writing assignments and reading assessments
- More timed writings as AP exam approaches
- Individual and collaborative papers and projects
- Mandatory summer reading and writing
- Discussion and collaboration skills are essential to success
- College-level writing skills are expected upon enrollment
General
AP Capstone 1: Seminar
(Gr. 10-12)
At least one substantial research paper per quarter; oral presentation each quarter
AP Capstone 2: Research
(Gr. 10-12)
AP Research culminates in a 5000-word independent and original research paper, plus a 15-minute oral presentation and defense; students must take AP Seminar first
Mathematics
Calculus AB
(Gr. 11-12)
- 4-6 quizzes,
- 2-3 tests
Calculus BC
(Gr. 11-12)
- 4-6 quizzes
- 2-3 tests
Computer Science Principles
(Gr. 9-12)
- 4-6 quizzes/tests
- 5-8 lab assignments
- General CS course: Computational thinking, data storage, internet structure, programming basics
- Portfolio project
- Many assignments require access to a computer
Computer Science A
(Gr. 10-12)
- 4-6 quizzes/tests
- 8-15 lab assignments
- Specific CS course: Object-oriented programming using Java programming language
- Mandatory summer packet
- Many assignments require access to a computer
AP Precalculus
(Gr. 9-12)
2-3 quizzes
4-6 free response questions
2-3 tests
Students are expected to perform much more analysis using multiple representations (tables, equations, graphs, verbal) than previous courses.
The course has an emphasis on communicating understanding versus computation.
Statistics
(Gr. 11-12)
2-4 tests per quarter
4-6 quizzes per quarter
Some homework assignments require access to YouTube
Significant independent review and practice expected
Midterm assessment given before the end of the 2nd quarter
Music
Music Theory
(Gr. 10-12)
Varies
2-3 tests – ear training and dictation, analysis, harmony, sight singing, unit exams.
20-25 Short Weekly Quizzes to check for understanding
- Composition project OR music history research project.
Science
Biology
(Gr. 11-12)
5-7
2 exams (MCQ and FRQ)
5-7 quizzes
2-3 labs and write-ups
Significant independent review and practice expected
Lab work/data collection and analysis before/after school and/or in WIN Time
Chemistry
(Gr.11-12)
- 3 major tests
- 3-4 labs/reports
- Significant independent review and practice expected
- Project after the AP Exam
Environmental Science
(Gr. 11-12)
2 units/quarter
Each unit has 1 exam and 2-4 graded labs
2Culminating activity after AP test
Physics 1
(Gr. 11)
10 pages per week (half chapter)
May vary
5-7
3-5 quizzes and/or tests per quarter
2-4 labs
- End of year group project
Physics 2
(Gr. 12)
10 pages per week (half chapter)
May vary
- 4-6 quizzes and/or tests per quarter
- 3-5 labs
- End of year group project
AP C Physics Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism
(Gr. 11-12)
10-20 pages per week
May vary
- 5-8 quizzes/tests per quarter
- 5-10 labs per quarter
- Optional participation in Science Fair, Science Olympiad, TARC, and Robotics
Social Studies
Economics
(Gr. 11-12)
- 2 unit tests
- Vocabulary quizzes
- Economic models and simulations
- Problem sets
- Project-Based Learning Project
- 2 or 3 one and a half page written analyses of economics in the real world
European History
(Gr. 11-12)
- 1-2 tests
- 1-2 timed writings
- Designed to be rigorous and intellectually challenging, but not as time-intensive as other AP history courses
- Recommended for students with a genuine interest in history and current events
Human Geography
(Gr. 10-12)
20-25 pages per week while taking reading notes
2 unit tests per quarter
FRQs (Free Response Questions) building to 3 timed questions by the AP exam dates
Online Regional map quizzes
Emphasis on analyzing the patterns of human behavior and our impact on the world. Textbook readings must be complete in order to do case study analysis during classes.
Must have an interest in human behavior at world and regional levels as well as current world events.
Psychology
(Gr. 11-12)
- 2 cumulative tests
- 4-5 reading quizzes
- 1-2 free response questions (FRQs)
US and Comparative Government
(Gr. 12)
2-6 YouTube videos per week
Textbook reading optional
- 2-4 tests
- 2-4 free response questions (FRQs)
- 1-2 essays
This is a VERY fast-paced class and covers double the material that AP US Government does
Background knowledge of US History and current politics is recommended
Community Service requirement
US Government
(Gr. 12)
30-40 pages per week
(Text and articles)
- 4-6 vocabulary and reading quizzes
- 2-3 tests
- 4-6 free response questions (FRQs)
1-2 individual or group projects per quarter
Community Service requirement
US History
(Gr. 11)
2-3 timed exams
2-3 timed writing requirements
Varies per teacher
1-2 projects a year
Emphasis on critical thinking and analytical skills
Regular college-level reading and document analysis
World History
(Gr. 10-12)
5 Stimulus based multiple-choice and short answer question tests
Weekly reading quizzes
2-4 timed in class document based and long-question answer essays
Period based simulations
Unit Emphasis on critical thinking and analytical skills
Need to be an independent learner
For strong readers
Must have a great interest in history
World Languages
French Language
(Gr. 11-12)
Mastery Benchmark Assessments
(two or more types)
AP style practice exam
3-4 quizzes
Other info: AP French is combined with French 4
Optional after-school practice sessions are offered throughout the year.
Japanese
(Gr. 11-12)
2-3
(Continuous and regular practice is expected.)
Mastery Benchmark Assessments
(two or more types)
AP style practice exam
3-4 quizzes
Capstone project (PBL) in 1Q.
Other info: AP Japanese is combined with Japanese 4.
Latin - Caesar & Vergil
(Gr. 11-12)
- 5-8 quizzes and tests
- 3-4 essays
- 1 test on English reading
- 1 project per quarter
Spanish Language
(Gr. 11-12)
Reading comprehension questions for each work.
3-4 quizzes
2-3 tests
4 essays
- 3-4 oral presentations/projects per quarter
Spanish Literature and Culture
(Gr. 11-12)
Reading comprehension questions for each work.
End of unit tests with analysis/comparison of the works in their literary, social, historical and cultural contexts.
Class notes about literary movements & their characteristics, and the social, historical and cultural contexts of the works
Class incorporates art, movies/videos, interviews, etc. in relation to the works.
2-3 short presentations.
