AP Courses & Exams Offer Enrichment Opportunities
A common question asked during Admissions tours and Open Houses is whether The Country Day School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) school; both are enrichment differentiators for parents exploring independent schools for their child(ren), but schools choose to be one or the other.
CDS is an AP school and currently offers nine AP courses for students in Grades 11 and 12. Over the past three years, CDS has increased its AP class offerings and more than quadrupled the number of students writing exams and the number of subjects. This academic year, we will have 144 students in Grades 9-12 write 269 AP exams in 24 different subjects in May.
Students register for AP courses and exams as a form of enrichment and to experience the rigours of first year university curricula. Many universities/colleges grant credit for qualifying AP exam scores (typically a Level 4 or above). This gives students more flexibility and time to explore other interests in their first year of university. In some cases, just demonstrating that they took an AP course and exam helps make them stand out on their university applications as it demonstrates initiative and willingness to learn at a higher level.
AP exams are standardized tests that evaluate a student’s mastery of the course material in a particular subject. The majority of AP courses culminate in an exam, but some are evaluated by a portfolio or final project. Although recommended, one does not have to take the AP course in order to sit for an AP exam; however, many students are highly successful when they do pursue AP exams independently.
New this year is that every Grade 11 English student will take AP Seminar as part of their English unit. According to Ms. Williams, CDS Assistant Director of Academics and AP Coordinator, the “strands of both Grade 11 English and AP Seminar coincide nicely. Taught by Mr. Lesiuk, who has experience teaching at the university level, AP Seminar includes source material that offers students a choice of analyzing the stories through different lenses, eg. STEM or the Humanities, making it accessible and relatable to all.”
AP Biology (Grade 12) is also new this year and had enough students registered to be offered as a standalone course in addition to the regular Grade 12 Biology offering. Other AP courses offered at CDS include Microeconomics (Grade 11), Macroeconomics (Grade 12), Computer Science A (Grade 11/12), Calculus and Vectors (Grade 12), English Literature and Composition (Grade 12), and a non-credit course in Comparative Governments and Politics, held on Friday afternoons after school and taught by Mr. Young and Mr. Dermody.
Research conducted among 13,000 students at U of A and UBC demonstrated that no matter what score the student earns – it is good practice:
- Even with only one AP exam, students outperform non-AP students by over 11%
- Retention into 2nd year goes up 10%
- 93% of students said taking at least one AP course significantly reduced the stress of first year of university
- 94% of students said that AP gave them an advantage over their peers in the same class
- 98% of students said they would take AP again in high school if given the chance
Andrii Bessarab '25 took 8 AP exams in Grade 11 last May and plans to take 8 more this May, mostly in Maths and Sciences. According to Andrii, "Taking AP exams was not only a valuable addition to my university applications, but also an opportunity to experience the rigour of university workload. These courses allowed me to dive deeper into my subjects of interest and served as a deadline and assessment, ensuring I stay disciplined and on track with the material I decided to self-study."
To learn more about CDS AP offerings, visit our website.
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
