Advanced Placement (AP)

Centennial School’s students have always had the ability to write AP exams though no formal classroom instruction has taken place.  Though that option will continue, Centennial now offers instruction in several areas of AP:  Biology, Chemistry, World History and more to courses come in the future.

To allow students to take these ‘additional’ courses, it is essential that they start early in their high school career by taking additional courses. Please see our Grade 9 Acceleration page for more information on courses that Grade 9’s should take in preparation for the Advanced Placement program.

For more information, please contact Mr Benjamin King at bking@sd43.bc.ca.

This course, in combination with Calculus 12, comprises the majority of the first year of university-level calculus. Students will review and extend their knowledge of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and other areas as appropriate in preparation for the AP exam in May.  Topics include differentiation, integration, and other calculus topics in theory and as applied to contextual problems. This course runs in the spring semester, and students should begin the course with a basic understanding of crucial calculus concepts such as limits, derivatives, and integrals.

 Foundation: Calculus 12 OR Pre-Calculus 12 with 95% or higher and recommendation of the teacher.

This is the third course in the secondary Biology program. This semester two course is for the highly motivated and scientifically minded Biology student who wishes to study Biology in more depth and detail. The College Board AP curriculum is equivalent to a first-year Biology course at a college or university. Course content is structured around four big ideas: a) Evolution as the driving force of diversity and unity of life; b) The use of free energy in biological systems; c) Living systems; and d) Interaction of biological systems. This very fast-paced course introduces the student to the rigours of university-level material and has an extensive inquiry-based laboratory component. The following science process skills will be extensively addressed and evaluated: questioning and predicting; planning and conducting; processing and analyzing data and information; evaluating; applying; innovating; and communicating. There is an optional College Board AP Biology exam in May for students who wish to obtain advanced standing for credit at some universities. There is also an optional fee for a vertebrate dissection at the end of the semester.    

Foundation: Life Sciences 11, Anatomy and Physiology 12 (Biology 12), Chemistry 11, and Chemistry 12. Achievement in Chemistry 11, Life Sciences 11, Anatomy and Physiology 12 should be an “A” or high “B”. Chemistry 12 should be taken in semester one or concurrently in semester two. Students should also have strong, expository writing skills as it is required for writing lab reports and free-response exam questions. Please see a counsellor for a supplemental application form for this course.    

This course covers material equivalent to first year university chemistry. It is an excellent preview of university chemistry and will give students an advantage in post-secondary science programs. Labs will be done in class and virtually (via software). Course topics include: Unit 1 – Structure of Matter (atomic structure, chemical bonding, nuclear bonding); Unit II – States of Matter (gases, liquids and solids, solutions); Unit III – Reactions (types, stoichiometry, equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamics); and Unit IV – Organic Chemistry. In May, the students have the option of writing the College Board Advanced Placement Chemistry exam which could give them university credit for the course. 

Foundation: Chemistry 12

AP Psychology is designed to introduce students to the scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes. Students will be exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with the topics of neuroscience, behaviour, sensation and perception, consciousness, learning, cognition, emotion, development, personality, disorders, and treatment. This course is a university-level Psychology preparation-based course. In May, the students have the option of writing the College Board Advanced Placement Psychology exam which could give them 6 university credits for the course.

Note: A fee is required for those writing the official College Board AP exam in May.

Foundation: Social Studies 10 (it is strongly recommended that students complete their Social Studies 11/12 credit course prior to taking AP Psychology 12. A B letter grade or higher in previous Social Studies and English courses is recommended as this is a university-level Psychology preparation-based course).