Advanced Placement

2024 AP Exam Information 

Note: Even if students are not taking the AP exam in May, they must take action as stated below.

Registration is a 2-step process. Both steps are required to take an AP exam.

STEP 1: Join Your AP Course Online

It is mandatory students “join” their AP courses by logging into their College Board account (https://myap.collegeboard.org) using the joining code provided by their AP course instructor.

• Most students will have completed this in their AP classes.
• After joining each AP course, students are automatically signed up for an AP exam.
• Students who choose NOT to take the AP exam in May must notify the Counseling Center by Tuesday, Nov. 14.
• To register for an AP exam if you are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course, please see Mr. Mandernach in the Counseling Center for a code to join the course.

STEP 2: Pay for exam(s) by March 3, 2023.

• Fees ($97/test) will be posted to WDMCS student accounts after Valley’s order has been placed with College Board (Nov. 15, 2023).
• Fees can be paid online or in-person in Valley’s Student Services office by cash, check, or card payment.
• Once fees are posted to WDMCS student accounts, families may pay for exams in full or in installments, with full payment due by March 1, 2024.

IMPORTANT AP DATES

• Nov. 15, 2023, through March 1, 2024: After Nov. 14, 2023, full-year and first-semester exams ordered will incur a non-refundable $40/exam College Board-imposed late fee.
• March 1, 2024: Final deadline to order and pay in full for all exams, including second semester-only courses. The College Board does not allow exceptions.

REFUNDS

• Refunds for second-semester exams requested by March 1, 2024, will receive a full refund. 
• Refunds for full-year and first-semester exams requested after Nov. 14, 2023, and by noon on March 1, 2024, will receive a full refund.
• This is true even if a student drops an AP course after March 1, 2024.

Have questions? Please contact Valley AP Coordinator Pam Wymer at wymerp@wdmcs.org.

2024 AP Exam Times and Locations

Unless otherwise noted below, all exams will be held at:
West Des Moines Christian Church (WDMCC)
4501 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines

All students with testing accomodations should report to the Valley Counseling Center.

WEEK ONE
Monday, May 6
8 a.m.: United States Government and Politics
Noon:  Chemistry

Tuesday, May 7
8 a.m.: Human Geography and Microeconomics
Noon: Statistics (exam locations are at WDMCC and the Learning Resource Center)

Wednesday, May 8
8 a.m.: English Literature and Composition
Noon: Computer Science A

Thursday, May 9
8 a.m.: Chinese (Valley Counseling Center) and Environmental Science
Noon: Psychology

Friday, May 10
8 a.m.: European History (Learning Resource Center) and United States History (WDMCC and Valley's gym)
Noon: Macroeconomics and Art portfolios are due

WEEK TWO
Monday, May 13
8 a.m.: Calculus AB and Calculus BC
Noon: nothing

Tuesday, May 14
8 a.m.: English Language and Composition
Noon: nothing

Wednesday, May 15
8 a.m.: French Language and Culture (Valley Counseling Center) and World History
Noon: Computer Science Principles and Music Theory (Valley MT classroom)

Thursday, May 16
8 a.m.: Spanish Language and Culture (Learning Resource Center in Hillside Room)
Noon: Biology

Friday, May 17
8 a.m.: Physics 1 (Learning Resource Center in Fairmeadows Room)
Noon: Latin (Valley Counseling Center)

AP courses presently offered are:

• Art: AP Art and Design
• Computer Science:  AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles
• Language Arts:  AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition
• Math: AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics
• Music: AP Music Theory
• Science: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Environmental Science with AP Seminar (PBLN), AP Physics
• Social Studies: AP African American Studies, AP European History, AP Human Geography (VSW), AP Macroeconomics, AP Psychology, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP U.S. History, and AP World History: Modern
• World Languages: AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP French, AP Latin, AP Spanish

It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

Successful completion of an Advanced Placement course requires much more commitment to study time than a normal high school class. Therefore, before registering for these classes, it is highly recommended that the student assess their total course schedule as well as the amount of involvement in extracurricular activities. Students should consider including at least one study hall each day for additional assistance and an opportunity for make-up after an absence.

AP Capstone is an innovative diploma program from the College Board that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges.  AP Capstone is built on the foundation of two AP courses — AP Seminar and AP Research — and is designed to complement and enhance the in-depth, discipline-specific study experienced in other AP courses.

AP Seminar is integrated with AP Environmental Science using project-based learning instructional strategies.

AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives.  Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances.  Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision.

AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest.  Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question.  In the AP Research course, students further their skills acquired in the AP Seminar course by understanding research methodology; employing ethical research practices; and accessing. Analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question.  Students explore their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of the development of their scholarly work in a portfolio.  The course culminates in an academic paper of 4000-5000 words (accompanied by a performance or exhibition of product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.

It is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.  Students who successfully complete an AP course will have a .5 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Students who participate in the AP exam will have a total of 1.0 weighted grade applied to their GPA for the course. Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in. 

Each exam has a cost that will be incurred by the student.  If students are in need of financial assistance to help with the cost of AP exams, please see your assigned counselor for information.

Advanced Placement (AP) is an international program. The program offers college-level rigorous courses and examinations.

Valley High School currently offers 28 classes to prepare students for the examinations each May.

There are many factors to consider when deciding on advanced classes, but you should start with the recommendation of teachers. They may not be able to give you a definitive answer, but they can help you weigh your options.

• AP classes are challenging and help prepare students for more academically rigorous college classes. 
• AP classes sharpen students’ writing skills, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities, which helps them in all classes. 
• Strong performance in an AP class signals to admissions counselors that a student is ready for college.
• Students can potentially earn college credit, get a jump start on first-year requirements, graduate early, or have room in their schedule to add a second major or minor. (AP policies vary widely from school to school.)
• AP classes can improve a student’s GPA. AP classes are scored on a 4.5 scale rather than the standard 4.0 scale, which can enhance a students’ cumulative GPA. Students who take the AP exam in May will receive an additional .5 bonus, meaning they'll be graded on a 5.0 scale. This is called a weighted GPA.

Another important tool that can help with this decision is "Characteristics of Effective Learners." Download the PDF and answer the 15 questions with your student.

• Coursework is time-consuming and may impact time dedicated to non-AP courses and other non-curricular activities. 
• There is a cost to take the exam at the end of the year ($97 in 2023). Additional fees apply when signing up late, dropping a test after the ordering deadline, or rescheduling exams, in certain circumstances. 
• If an AP class is a dual credit class (meaning a student simultaneously earns DMACC credit as well as Valley credit), a college transcript is started for a student. This college transcript must be submitted when applying to any future college or university. Poor performance in the class must then be reported on a college transcript.
• No two colleges award credit for AP classes/exams the same way, which means some will not award credi

There is no cost to take an AP course, but there is a cost to take the AP exam in May ($97 in 2023). Some students may qualify for fee reductions.

Regardless of exam participation, a student's transcript will reflect the title of the AP course they enrolled in.

Yes, but with caution. With the extra time and effort associated with AP classes, students must consider the time commitment and stress load of taking multiple AP classes.

No, but it is highly advised to take the Advanced Placement exam as a culmination of the AP course curriculum.

Students will automatically receive a .5 weighting for taking an AP course. If the student takes the associated AP exam, they will be awarded an additional .5 weighting for the class.