Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement (AP) at OTHS

Advanced Placement Courses and Examinations align with Oakville Trafalgar High School’s tradition of excellence since 1908.

The College Board, a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to university success and opportunity, started the Advanced Placement Program in 1955. The Advanced Placement Program (AP) enables students to pursue university-level studies while in high school. AP is the most widespread university preparation program in the world recognized by universities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and in over 60 countries around the world.

Oakville Trafalgar High School provides our students with the opportunity to challenge Advanced Placement courses and exams. Benefits of challenging AP courses and/or exams are included in this document.

What are AP Courses at OTHS?

AP courses are university-level courses offered in high school and reflect what is taught in introductory university courses. Students taking an AP course will cover and be evaluated on the Ontario curriculum. The additional layer of AP material will foster a rigorous, high paced environment tailored to engage our high achieving and critical thinking student population. AP courses offered at Oakville Trafalgar if course enrollment requests are sufficient in 2026/27 are:

Grade 12 Courses

AP Economics (Macro & Micro Exams)
AP Calculus AB (must take MHF 4U in the same year)
AP Biology
AP Computer Science A
AP Chemistry
AP Science - Environmental

Grade 11 Courses

AP US History
AP Physics (Physics 1 Exam)

Grade 11 AP Preparation

French FSF 3U1 – preparation for AP French Language & Culture Exam
Chemistry SCH 3U1 – preparation for AP Chemistry Exam

Grade 10 Course

AP Business with Personal Finance

Future Expansion (2027–28)

AP French Language & Culture

Review for additional AP courses and preparation for 2027–28 is underway.

At the end of the AP course, students may take the AP exam — a standardized exam delivered in May that measures how well students have mastered the university-level course work. Students who score 4 or 5 on the exam may receive credit, advanced placement, or both at most universities in Canada and the United States.

Students may self-select to enrol in one or more AP courses during regular course selection. Pre-requisite courses must be completed before entering an AP course (for example, students must complete SBI 3U1 before enrolling in SBI 4UP (AP).

AP Exams at OTHS

(subject to change)

There are currently close to 30 AP exams that ANY OT student can challenge in May at Oakville Trafalgar. Students may challenge any of the offered AP exams without taking an AP course at OT. Students in grade 9 and 10 have successfully written AP exams but we would typically recommend writing the exams in grades 11 and 12.

AP Exams are written in the following subjects:

AP Exams at OTHS

Art History
*Biology
*Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chemistry
*Chinese Language & Culture
Computer Science A
English Language & Composition
English Literature & Composition
Environmental Science
European History
*French Language & Culture
African American Studies
Government & Politics Comparative
Government & Politics: US
Human Geography
*Macroeconomics
*Microeconomics
Music Theory
Physics 1 or 2: Algebra Based
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
Psychology
PreCalculus
Statistics
*United States History
World History
Physics C: Mechanics

What are the Benefits of AP Courses and Exams?

Additional preparation for the rigours of post-secondary education, leading to greater success.
Opportunity to demonstrate academic curiosity to post-secondary institutions through enrolment and AP exam scores.
Potential to earn university credit and/or placement into advanced university courses, saving tuition and time.
Exposure to advanced topics and study in greater depth, fostering disciplined study habits.
Eligibility for AP Scholar Awards and recognition for students who challenge multiple exams.

For AP award criteria, visit AP Scholar Awards.

More information about the Advanced Placement Program can be found at College Board – Advanced Placement Program.

AP Exam Registration at OTHS

All OTHS students are eligible to write an Advanced Placement exam.

2 - Step Registration Process. The complete registration process can take up to two weeks.
Deadline to complete the full 2-step registration process is October 21st 2025 11:59pm.
Space is LIMITED! Registration will be time-stamped with a first come first serve policy.
All Exams are written in May 2026 and they are scheduled for in-school at OTHS.
Please refer to the link for regular testing dates and times. 2026 AP Exam Dates
Cost: $160 Cdn per regular exam.
- This fee is non-refundable due to the Collegeboard fee structure and examination school administrative resources required.

STEP ONE:

Print off permission form for each exam of interest. Complete & return permission form to the Guidance Office. Permission Forms HERE.
Clearly write both your legal name and chosen name.
Have a parent/guardian sign the form and return the form asap to the Guidance office
This form does not guarantee an exam, it only starts the payment process.
Look for the fee to be added to your School Cash Account within 5 business days. Pay the fee before October 21st, 2025
- Payment Method: School Cash online website: School Cash Online

STEP TWO:

You will receive a unique exam JOIN code in your student email from the OTHS Guidance Department These emails are sent in batches usually every 2 weeks. Check often. Students in AP courses should have already ‘joined’ their digital AP classroom and upon payment will see their exam indicator turn from undecided to ‘YES’ in their AP account.
Access your Collegeboard Account or if you are a New User, Create an Account. Note: Do not use your school email to build this account. AND, use your legal name. Account Sign Up - College Board
Navigate to MyAP and enter your JOIN code. If you have registered for multiple AP exams you will receive multiple unique JOIN codes in separate school emails from Mrs O’Hara. This process can take up to two weeks and happens in different email batches.
Your name should now appear under Exam Only class (es) for your AP exam (s) in the MyAP account.
Registration is complete.
Students in AP courses should have already JOINed MyAP through their unique classroom code given to them by their AP teacher. Once these students have paid for each AP exam, Mrs. O’Hara will turn their exam indicator to YES and save.

Preparing for AP Examinations

OT is a Self study model, https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/takingtheexam, form study groups, check school library for resources, Khan Academy, and an online search for resources/content.

AP Exams are written in the following subjects if:

3 or more students register in the same exam
the # of registrations in an exam does not exceed 30 exam writers unless denoted with a ‘*’
priority will be given to grade 12 students if registrations exceed limits
priority will be given to students currently registered in AP courses at OT if registrations exceed limits
**Chinese Language and Culture is restricted to 5 exams total and subject to cancellation if technology requirements exceed school supports.
French Language and Culture will be capped at 15 exams total.

Art History	*Biology	*Calculus AB	Calculus BC
Chemistry	**Chinese Language & Culture	Computer Science A	English Language & Composition
English Literature & Composition	Environmental Science	European History	**French Language & Culture
African American Studies	Government & Politics Comparative	Government & Politics: US	Human Geography
*Macroeconomics	*Microeconomics	Music Theory	Physics 1 or 2:Algebra Based
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism	Psychology	PreCalculus	Statistics
*United States History	World History	Physics C: Mechanics