Academic Expectations for AP Courses

Patrick Henry High School

AP courses provide students with the factual knowledge and critical thinking skills expected in a college level course. Teachers of AP courses
follow a required course outline and prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful on the Advanced Placement
examination which takes place in May.

The below chart provides an approximation of the time and assignments for each AP course offered at Patrick Henry. In order to make
appropriate and informed choices, it is to your advantage to understand the rigor of each course.

Area of Study # of pages # of hours to Tests/Quizzes Major Summer Comments

to read to study/prepare Projects Assignments
prepare for for each class
each class
AP Biology 15-20 pages of 45-60 minutes every 1 test every month; 2 quizzes one formal lab none- although AP Biology students will explore,
reading or a 30-45 day per month report every quarter students can get a learn and think critically about life and
minute video head start on the world in which we live. Students
lecture semester reading will learn to think like a scientist and
projects demand evidence to back up claims.
Students must be able to successfully
articulate, in writing, their
understanding of the content.
Successful AP Biology students are
typically advanced/pre-B level
students who performed with a B+ or
better final grade in previous science
courses.
AP Calculus AB none On average students Tests occur approximately At most 1-2 over Twenty Best Friends Students should expect this course to
should plan on every 2 weeks, with 1-3 the course of the Project- to be be challenging but very satisfying.
spending 45 mins- 1 quizzes in between. FRQ year- presenting a completed over the They should expect to take, and be
hour on HW per night quizzes occur on average problem which the summer to recall pre- successful in, the AP exam in May.
(sometimes more, once per week. student has solved. calculus topics;
sometimes less). Students should expect to Format varies graphs, domain,
work quickly and accurately (shadow box, range, one-to-one
as tests will take the entire poster, video). function analyses
period.

AP Calculus BC We cover one At least 1 hour nightly Unit test roughly every 2 Only after AP exam Summer assignment
section each class weeks. or beginning of the
year assignment to
evaluate proper
placement
AP Chemistry Students will not 30-45 minutes 2 - 3 Tests per quarter, 3 - 4 Written lab reports Students should AP Chemistry is a fast-paced,
usually have Quizzes per quarter, All throughout the year. review first-year challenging class. Students should
reading assessments are AP style One project at the chemistry material, have high math skills and should
assignments (other and are timed. end of the year after particularly have performed well in Advanced or
than reading labs the AP Exam. Stoichiometry. Pre-Bac Chemistry.
ahead of time).
Most assignments
are working practice
 problems.

Area of Study # of pages # of hours to Tests/Quizzes Major Summer Comments

to read to study/prepare Projects Assignments
prepare for for each class
each class
AP Computer An average of five An hour per class Approximately two tests per This is a project- None. For people Computer Science is a challenging,
to ten pages per should do it. More if grading period. Quizzes as based course new to programming, but enjoyable pursuit. There is a
Science
class. you are new to time allows to supplement where students are an examination of the strong correlation of success with
computer programming projects. expected to basic ideas would be students who enjoy a challenging
programming, or if understand suggested, or better puzzle. The course will take time, grit,
you're confused by the program yet, take our intro and determination to get past
class material. requirements, and course before you roadblocks. But for those students
implement those in tackle the AP level who connect with the material, there
code. You can course. are a variety of career options that
expect to get stuck, can provide a rewarding and
be frustrated, and remunerative experience after high
work your way school.
through difficult
situations by using
your problem
solving skills.
AP English Students read and Students complete Students complete Students complete Students are Students will read and carefully
analyze approximately 20 approximately 4-7 minor approximately 2-4 expected to compete analyze a broad range of reading
Language
approximately 5 minutes of outside grades, small projects, and major grades, major a summer project selections, deepening their
(AP English 11) pages of work per classwork/homework quizzers per marking period essays, and large based on assigned awareness of rhetoric and how
class. Reading is for each class. Usually, projects per reading materials. language works .Through close
in-depth and always the students begin an marking period reading of a variety of prose styles
closely read. in-class activity and and genres and frequent expository,
complete it at home. analytical, and argumentative writing
assignments, students develop their
ability to work with language and text
with a greater awareness of purpose
and strategy, while strengthening their
own composing skills.
AP English 20 6-8 hours per week AP Multiple Choice Practice, Major Works Data 3 Summer Reading This is reading and writing intensive.
Essays: Prose and Poetry Sheet for all novels books including: The All reading is done outside of class
Literature
Analysis, Open Text Analysis. and plays. Essays Road, A Thousand with expectation students come
(AP English 12) Major Works Data Sheets for in class. Splendid Suns, and prepared for a class discussion in the
all text read. Their Eyes Were form of a Socratic seminar. Essays
Watching God are written in class and timed weekly.
We move very fast and preparation
outside of class is key to success.
Poetry Responses and College
Essays are weekly homework and are
due at the end of each week. All
classwork is to prepare students to
take the AP Literature exam in May.
The class is structured to prepare for
success on that test.
AP read 20 pages/ 4-5 hours of study/ 2-3 test /quarter minor quarter NO summer Class IS rigorous due to breadth of
week class preparation/ 5-6 quizzes / quarter projects assignment material
Environmental week 1 major culminating and Requirement to connect concepts
 Science project 4th quarter to real world situations

Area of Study # of pages # of hours to Tests/Quizzes Major Summer Comments

to read to study/prepare Projects Assignments
prepare for for each class
each class
AP European Students are It is recommended for Every unit includes 1 test and In every unit, there None In addition to content interest
responsible for 1-2 students to spend 30 1 or 2 quizzes. is 1 to 2 required students should:
History chapters of reading minutes every evening writing assignments - have excellent attendance
and outlining (typically
preparing for European for students to - be willing to invest the
30 pages a chapter)
per unit. Students History. Some nights complete. extra time needed for a
have the ability to pace may require more work college level class
out this assignment if there is a test or - be independent learners
over the course of a writing assignment. and complete all
unit, but it is assignments on their own.
recommended to - have good reading,
spend 30 minutes
writing and study skills
every evening reading
and outlining the that they are willing to improve.
assignments.

AP Music Theory We don't use a text one big test each 9 weeks, Each 9 weeks there no Any students interested in AP Music
book, just handouts multiple quizzes depending is one major project Theory see Mrs. Peters to take a pre-
so it varies from on the topic test to see if they have sufficient prior
topic to topic knowledge. Not needed If they have
already taken standard music theory.
AP Physics 1

AP Physics 2

AP Psychology 20 pages per class At least 30 minutes per 3 to 4 Tests per grading period
per day class per day 3 to 4 Free Responses per
grading period
4 to 5 Vocabulary quizzes per
grading period
Homework is reading the chapter
One major project Summer assignment Students typically spend at least 30
per grading period on the Teenage brain minutes each day on psychology
due the first week of homework either reading the chapter
school. or defining the vocabulary.
Considerable time is spent in
 and defining the vocabulary. preparation for weekly vocabulary
quizzes.

Area of Study # of pages # of hours to Tests/Quizzes Major Summer Comments

to read to study/prepare Projects Assignments
prepare for for each class
each class
AP Statistics 5-10 30-45 minutes per - Survey & Data None This is not a typical "math" class.
class 1-2 quizzes per Unit/Month Analysis Students will need to have excellent
1 exam per Unit/Month with - Survey & reading comprehension, problem
AP-level questions in free- Inference solving skills and a strong desire and
response and multiple-choice -Probability & commitment to learn. Pre-Rec: Math
styles. Simulation Analysis or Adv. Alg/Trig
Free response are graded
according to AP Rubrics.

AP US 10-15, sometimes 45 minutes 2-3 tests per marking period, One major project Read "What You Each class requires outside
more. at least one reading quiz per per nine weeks. Should Know About preparation and reading. This is a
Government
unit. Each major project Politics ... But Don't" requirement and an expectation.
requires work with a by Jessamyn Conrad
group. and do three current
event assignments.
AP US History 5-7 Half an hour to an hour Unit test approximately every A few short history Reading a book by a All activities in APUSH are geared
depending on reading two to two and a half weeks. books with writing historian and toward the AP exam in May. It is a
and note taking speed. Reading check quizzes assignments questions about the college level class, and therefore, it
during units. scattered reading. carries college level expectations.
throughout the year. Students are expected to complete
A few group assigned readings, use mandated
projects (about note-taking formats, write analytical
once a nine weeks). essays, and serve as self-advocates.
The biggest project
is writing for the
Gilder Lehrman
Civil War Essay
contest - original
research paper.