AP Courses
AP MICROECONOMICS 12
Prerequisite Course Required: none, open to all in Gr 11 & 12
A supplemental AP application form is required.
Microeconomics will focus on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual economic decision-makers. The course also develops students’ familiarity with the operation of product and factor markets, distributions of income, market failure, and the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Students learn to use graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic concepts.
AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION 12
Pre-Requisite Course Required: Completion of English First Peoples 11, Focused Literary Studies 11 or Creative Writing 11. Please submit a handwritten Statement of Interest to Ms Kwan
The AP English Literature and Composition 12 course engages students in the critical analysis of literary texts from several genres and historical periods. The course is excellent preparation for the critical thinking, careful reading and effective writing required in all areas of post-secondary studies. Students will:
- develop their understanding of how writers use language to shape meanings in literary texts.
- extend their ability to comprehend, analyze and evaluate literary texts.
- read a variety of literary genres from different periods: poetry, drama, short stories and novels.
- write a range of essays, from short close readings to longer contextualized literary criticism.
- work collaboratively with a community of peers who have enthusiasm for discussing and evaluating literary texts.
- prepare thoroughly for the AP English Literature exam through mock tests and exercises on AP Classroom.
Students who take this course may choose to take the AP exam in May in order to receive the AP credit, and will also receive credit for English Studies 12. Success in this course requires a commitment to reading regularly and articulating critical opinions about literary texts, both in discussion and on paper. Strong essay writing skills are an asset, but these will also be developed over the course. Students must come with an open mind, confident reading skills and a genuine interest in learning, but there is no minimum average mark required for registration. Students are advised that AP exam preparation is embedded as an important element of the course.
This is an 8-credit course - 4 credits will be received for AP Literature and Composition on successful completion of the AP Exam, and 4 credits will be received for English Studies 12. Students who achieve a 4 or 5 in this course's AP Exam will be eligible for advanced credit in First Year English at many colleges and universities.
AP CALCULUS 12 AB
Prerequisites Required: Pre-Calculus 11 with a minimum grade of 86%, Pre-Calculus 12 with a minimum grade of 86% (Or to be taken concurrently if you are in your Grade 12 year)
A supplemental AP application form and a recommendation from your Pre-Calculus teacher is required.
AP Calculus AB consists of a full high school academic year of work and is comparable to calculus courses in colleges and universities. Students are expected to write the AP Calculus AB exam and it is highly recommended that those wishing to take AP Calculus 12 AB be very strong in Mathematics. Those who are taking Pre-Calculus 12 concurrently must have a strong understanding of trigonometry and logarithms. Priority will be given to those who have taken their Pre-Calculus 11 and 12 at UHill and/or those who are entering their graduating year.
Most of the year will be devoted to differential and integral calculus. Topics include Functions, Graphs, and Limits, Concept of Derivatives, Derivatives at a Point, Derivative as a function, Second Derivatives, Applications of Derivatives, Computation of Derivatives, Interpretations and Properties of Definite Integrals, Application of Integrals, Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, Techniques of Antidifferentiation, Applications of Antidifferentiation, and Numerical Approximations to Definite Integrals. A graphing calculator is required.
AP STATISTICS 12
Prerequisites Required: Pre-Calculus 11 with a minimum grade of 86%. Note: AP Statistics and AP Calculus AB cannot be taken concurrently. A supplemental AP application form and a recommendation from your Pre-Calculus teacher is required.
AP Statistics is an introductory statistics course that allows students to learn theory and tools for collecting, analyzing and drawing conclusions from data. Students develop their knowledge of the concepts using technology, investigations, problem solving and writing as they explore the three main themes,
- variation and distribution
- patterns and uncertainty
- data-based predictions, decisions and conclusions
A graphing calculator is recommended.
Priority will be given to those who have taken their Pre-Calculus 11 at UHill and/or those who are entering their graduating year.
LIFESCIENCES 11 PRE AP
Prerequisite Course Required: Science 10. A supplemental AP application form is required.
This course is similar to an enriched Biology 11 curriculum; however, it will take a more laboratory intensive, inquiry-based study of how living organisms evolve and interact with their environment. This course is designed for students planning to enter AP Biology 12 and write the AP Biology exam. It is strongly recommended that Chemistry 11 precede or be taken concurrently with Biology 11 Pre-AP.
Students in Pre-AP Biology 11 do not have to take the AP Biology exam, as the exam covers content from both Pre-AP Biology 11 and AP Biology 12. It is recommended that a student waits until finishing AP Biology 12 before writing the exam. If you are interested in taking the exam in your grade 11 year, please talk to your teacher.
Biology AP is divided into four Big Ideas and seven Scientific Practices. This course will cover two Big Ideas and start developing students’ Scientific Practices. Topics used to cover these ideas include: Evolution, Immunology, Cell Systems, Ecology, Plant and Animal Systems.
AP BIOLOGY 12
Prerequisite Course Required: Biology 11 Pre-AP. A supplemental AP application form is required.
This course is the continuation of Biology 11 Pre AP and students are expected to know the curriculum and laboratory experiments from Biology 11 Honors. It is strongly recommended that student complete Chemistry 11 preceding this course. Students are expected to write the AP Biology exam.
This course will explore the final two Big Ideas and offer students more time to use their Scientific Practices. Topics used to cover this material include: Biochemistry, Gene Regulation, Ecology, Mendelian Genetics, Mitosis and Meiosis, and the Endocrine and Nervous System.
AP Biology 12 students write the AP Biology exam in May.
PRE-AP CHEMISTRY 11
Prerequisite Course Required: Science 10. A supplemental AP application form is required.
This course is similar to an enriched Chemistry 11 curriculum; however, it will take a more laboratory intensive, inquiry-based study of how the macroscale (the scale at which they observe phenomena) to the nanoscale (the scale at which atoms and molecules interact). Students demonstrate that they have made these connections symbolically, graphically, and mathematically throughout the year. This course is designed for students planning to enter AP Chemistry 12 and write the AP Chemistry exam.
Students in Pre-AP Chemistry 11 do not have to take the AP Chemistry exam, as the exam covers content from both Pre-AP Chemistry 11 and AP Chemistry 12. It is recommended that a student waits until finishing AP Chemistry 12 before writing the exam. If you are interested in taking the exam in your grade 11 year, please talk to your teacher.
The concepts are organized around chemical principles called big ideas that include the following topics: Atoms, Reactions and Stoichiometry, Chemical Energy and Thermodynamics, Atomic and Molecular Structure, Gases and Intermolecular Forces.
AP CHEMISTRY 12
Prerequisite Course Required: Chemistry 11 Pre AP, Application Form Submitted
A supplemental AP application form is required.
This course is the continuation of Chemistry 11 Pre AP and students are expected to know the curriculum and laboratory experiments from Chemistry 11 Pre-AP. Students are expected to write the AP Chemistry exam. AP Chemistry students will write the AP Chemistry exam in May.
The primary goal of AP Chemistry is for students to connect the macroscale (the scale at which they observe phenomena) to the nanoscale (the scale at which atoms and molecules interact). Students demonstrate that they have made these connections symbolically, graphically, and mathematically throughout the year.
The concepts covered include: Kinetics, General and Solubility Equilibria, Acid-Base Equilibria, and Reactions Involving Electron Transfer.
AP PHYSICS 1 HONOURS 11 APHH-11
Prerequisite Course Required: Science 10, Pre-Calculus 11, Application Form Submitted
(Pre-Calculus 11 may be taken concurrently)
A supplemental AP application form is required.
It is recommended that Pre-Calculus 11 precede or be taken concurrently with AP Physics 1. The student should also be competent in math and physics at the grade 10 level. This is a mathematically intensive course, to develop the student’s understanding of the physical world through lectured discussions, and inquiry-based activities. Students develop critical thinking and reasoning skills and apply these skills to solving physics problems in one and two-dimensions.
This course includes Newtonian Mechanics (kinematics, dynamics, circular motion and gravitation, equilibrium, rotational motion), Work, Energy, Power, Mechanical Waves and Sound, Simple Circuitry
Students write the AP Physics 1 exam in May. Upon successful completion of the course, they will continue with AP Physics 2 the year after.
AP PHYSICS 2 HONOURS 12 APHH-12
Prerequisite Course Required: AP Physics 1, Application Form Submitted.
Recommended: Pre-Calculus 12 (To be taken concurrently)
A supplemental AP application form is required.
This course is the continuation of AP Physics 1 and students are expected to know the curriculum and laboratory experiments from AP Physics 1. This is a mathematically intensive course to develop the student’s understanding of the physical world through lectured discussion and inquiring based activities. Students develop critical thinking skills and apply these skills to solving problems in two and three-dimensions.
This course includes Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory, Electrostatics and Circuits with Capacitors, Electromagnetism, Optics, Quantum, Atomic and Nuclear Physics.
AP Physics 2 students write the AP Physics 2 exam in May.
AP EUROPEAN HISTORY AHI—12 ** (Not offered in 2024 – 2025)
Prerequisite Course Required: Senior Humanities (Law, Social Studies, History, and/or Geography)
A supplemental AP application form is required.
Study the cultural, economic, political, and social developments from 1450 to the present. You’ll analyze texts, visual sources, and other historical evidence and write essays expressing historical arguments. You will learn skills in evaluating primary and secondary sources while analyzing the claims, evidence, and reasoning you find in sources. You will also place historical developments in context and making connections between them. Some units to be covered include the Renaissance, Exploration, Reformation, Scientific Development, Conflict and Crisis, Industrialization, 20th Century Conflict, the Cold War.
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY 12 AHG--12 ** (Offered in 2024 – 2025)
Prerequisite Course Required: Senior Humanities (Law, Social Studies, History, and/or Geography)
By understanding how human population has changed over time, students can better understand the reasons for and effects of current geographic patterns in population. Study of population theories, models, and problems will show students the widespread effect that human population growth and decline has on people throughout world. The course will take the student through an understanding of global patterns in population concerns including in-migration, outmigration, city growth and population density. Human geography looks at the factors that influence human settlement patterns including language, culture, ethnicity, and other factors. The course will also examine the factors that contribute to the development of a country’s infrastructure. This will include an analysis of the United Nations standards for development and human rights and concerns. Political geography will be discussed and analyzed in the context of human conflict. Students should have strong research and communication skills.
RE: AP EUROPEAN HISTORY & AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY ONE EACH WITH BE OFFERED IN ALTERNATING YEARS.