The AP and AP Capstone Pathway
What the AP Capstone Pathway offers
The Advanced Placement (AP) program at ISB allows students to pursue college level courses and exams while still in high school. Students can pursue AP courses from Grade 10 onwards, though most students will take AP courses in Grade 11-12. Each AP course at ISB is a yearlong course. The AP exam in May is required for the AP designation to be placed on the student transcript. The AP Capstone™ program provides a rigorous academic experience, fostering skills such as research, collaboration and communication. It prepares students for the challenges of higher education and beyond. Students pursuing the AP Capstone Diploma™ are required to take AP Seminar and AP Research, in addition to 4 other AP courses. Students must earn a score of 3 or higher on all designated AP courses, to obtain the AP Capstone Diploma™.
- Focuses on developing well-rounded students with academic, personal, and global perspectives.
- Prepares students for college rigor with challenging coursework and diverse assessment styles.
- Encourages connections between subjects through its broad curriculum.
AP Diploma Pathway Ideas
Emina (G11): As someone passionate about learning and making a difference, I wanted to choose a pathway that reflected my interests, challenged me academically, and gave me lifelong skills. After taking AP US History in Grade 10, I realized that I thrived from diving deep into a specific subject and challenging myself to master it in a year's time. APUSH also sparked an interest in history that I wouldn't have discovered otherwise. By choosing my current pathway, I've gotten the chance to delve into several more specific subjects, pursue rigor, balance academics with music and community service, and open doors to future opportunities.
Malaya (G11): “As the AP program is greatly recognised in the countries in which I am planning on going to; Australia and New Zealand, I have chosen to stick with the AP curriculum. I believe that the skills and knowledge I am gaining throughout this course all help me prepare for my future. The AP curriculum also aligns with many of my interests in specific subjects including AP Sports Exercise Health Science, AP English Language and Literature and AP Biology. As the AP curriculum is a 1 year course I find that I am able to explore concepts in depth and earn a deeper understanding in a manageable way.
Keene (G11) - AP Pathway: Realizing early on that I wanted to major in engineering, I chose AP courses
for their flexibility which allows me to solely focus on the subjects that align with my field, like
math and physics. Additionally, the one-year structure of AP courses gives me the freedom to
experiment with other subjects, offering more variety compared to the two-year commitment of IB
courses. I also prefer taking a test right after completing a one-year course rather than a two-year
course, as it spreads out the content across two smaller exams instead of one massive final exam.
Since the universities that I'm applying to prioritize SAT scores and major-related classes, this made
my decision even easier, as I could use the time IB students spend on TOK or EE to study or go to the
gym instead.
Grace (made-up) - AP Pathway: Grace is set on studying Engineering at a Russell Group university. She will choose her high school courses based on the requirements from the universities of her choice in the UK. As a student who loves Physics and Maths she has decided to go for the AP as the program as it offers multiple courses in these disciplines. She will need 8 or more AP courses to be competitive. After submitting AP grades already achieved in Gr10-11 and predicted grades for APs taken as a Senior, the university will decide if Grace receives a conditional offer of admissions pending her final test results.
Links for further information
AP Capstone™ is a diploma program based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. These
courses are designed to complement other AP courses that the AP Capstone student may take.
The AP Capstone™ curriculum is made up of two courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Through these
courses, students develop the skills to analyze and evaluate information, conduct independent research,
and communicate their findings effectively.
Instead of teaching specific subject knowledge, AP Seminar and AP Research use an interdisciplinary
approach to develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation
skills students need for college-level work.
College Board developed the AP Capstone Diploma program at the request of higher education
professionals, who saw a need for a systematic way for high school students to begin mastering these
skills before college.
Students typically take AP Seminar in grade 10 or 11, followed by AP Research. Each course is
yearlong, and AP Seminar is a prerequisite for AP Research. In both courses, students investigate a variety of topics in multiple disciplines. Students may choose
to explore topics related to other AP courses they’re taking. Both courses guide students through completing a research project, writing an academic paper, and
making a presentation on their project.
