AP Exams -- Paly Link

Palo Alto High School

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AP EXAMS 2008
Updated Mon 21 Apr 2008

Schedule & exam-day info below -- scroll down or click here.

GENERAL INFO

AP (Advanced Placement) Exams are commercial tests produced by the College Board and administered worldwide (but primarily in US high schools). AP exams are entirely optional. No one is required or expected to take them. However, they can make a difference in college admissions, etc.

Paly offers a number of advanced courses that are designed to prepare students for these exams. AP exams are given only once a year, in May, near the end of the school year, & are intended to evaluate what you've learned in the particular subject area.

AP Exams are scored on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Some colleges give special placement, or course credit, or both, to students who score 4 or 5 on an AP exam.

College admissions: scores on exams taken in your Junior year (or earlier) are available when you apply to colleges. Some colleges review them as part of your application. You can specify which of your AP scores are sent to colleges.

Paly offers AP exams only for Paly AP courses. You can take an AP exam without taking the corresponding course. If you want to take an exam that Paly does not offer, you may be able to take it someplace else.

Questions: Test Coordinator Jamie Shepard, 329-3963.

REALLY DETAILED INFO

	AP COURSES and EXAMS -- COLLEGE BOARD INFO.
	Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask. http://www.collegeboard.com/parents http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html then pull down menu to select a subject. Even more info - a set of pages designed for teachers of AP courses. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/

REGISTERING FOR A TEST

REGISTRATION DATES & FEES:

Mon Mar 10 - Fri Apr 4	Regular registration	$100/test
Mon - Wed Apr 7 - 9	Late registration	$145/test

FEE REDUCTIONS: Students who have a verifiable financial need may request reduced fees from the Auditor. A financial statement of need will be required.

TWO WAYS TO REGISTER:

(1) In the Tower Bldg, at the Auditor's Window. Make check out to PAUSD.
(2) [online] Pay with a credit card (same price).

Either way, pick up Bulletin for AP Students & Parents from Auditor's Office.
Questions: Julia Sing (Auditor), 329-3895, or Jamie Shepard, 329-3963.

TEST-DAY INFO

•	Get a good night's rest;
•	Eat a healthy breakfast.

Where to Go

•	AP Studio Art	Tower Bldg, upstairs, Rm 22
•	ALL OTHER EXAMS	The Quad side of the Library

When to Get There

CHECK-IN TIMES:

•	7:30 a.m.	All morning exams
•	11:45 a.m.	All afternoon exams, except ...
•	1:45 p.m.	Physics C (Electricity & Magnetism)

Be on time! If you're late, you may be denied entrance to the exam. College Board rules prohibit students from entrering once exams have started.

These tests do not interrupt normal class schedules. Students taking any AP exam are automatically excused from the classes they would normally attend at that time. It is, however, a good idea to discuss this in advance with the teachers in the classes you will miss.

What to bring to the test:

When you come for tests, please bring:

•	Photo ID (very important!) & your Social Security Number;
•	Two #2 pencils (mechanical pencils are not allowed);
•	White eraser (erasers that click are not allowed);
•	Pens (blue or black ink);
•	For math/science tests, an appropriate graphing calculator with fresh batteries;
•	A water bottle. (No other drinks are permitted at your desk.)

What's allowed in your backpack, but not in the testing area:

•	Snacks & drinks -- refreshments for the breaks between sections of the test;
•	Cell phone (which you may leave with the proctor for safekeeping).

What NOT to bring at all:

You cannot use the following items at any time during the testing period, even if you have finished your test:

•	Books or other reading material;
•	iPod, MP3 player, PDA, or any other wireless device.

Please don't leave in your backpack anything you're not prepared to lose.

AP EXAM SCHEDULE 2008

Note: STAR tests will be given at Paly on Wed-Thu May 14-15. If you have a conflict between STAR tests and an AP exam, please contact Kathie Laurence for instructions.

	morning exams check in 7:30 a.m.	afternoon exams check in 11:45 a.m.

Mon May 5	no exams	French Language

Tue May 6	Computer Science Spanish Language	Statistics

Wed May 7	AB Calculus BC Calculus	no exams

Thu May 8	English Literature	Japanese Lang. & Culture French Literature

Fri May 9	US History	Studio Art (portfolios due)



Mon May 12	Biology Music Theory	Physics C: Mechanics Physics C: E&M (1:45 p.m.)

Tue May 13	Environmental Science Chemistry	Psychology

Wed May 14	English Language	Art History

Thu May 15	no exams	no exams

Fri May 16	Spanish Literature	no exams