The AP program is sponsored by the College Board. AP courses are college-level courses offered in high school and allow students the opportunity to earn college credit and placement by receiving a passing score on the AP Exam. AP Courses are quite rigorous and require dedication to their particular subject area. To be successful in AP courses, students must be responsible, manage their time well, and be able to work independently.

In the spring, students enrolled in AP courses will take their corresponding AP Exam. AP Exams are standardized tests designed to measure how well students have mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course. Students who are enrolled in an AP Course at MHS are expected to take their corresponding AP Exam.

The College Board grades AP Exams on a scale from 1-5. A grade of 3, 4 or 5 is considered passing. Many colleges and universities offer college credit, advanced placement, or both for passing AP Exam scores. This can mean fulfilling college graduation requirements early, being able to skip introductory courses, or fulfill the required general-education courses. College placement is determined and varies by intuition. Please be sure to check with each college/university’s AP credit policy for more information. It is the student’s responsibility to send AP scores to their college after they’ve committed to their school.

MHS AP Course Offerings

Malibu High School offers the following AP Courses (please note that exact offerings may vary by year depending on the master schedule/teacher availability). Talk to your school counselor for specific course advice/availability.

• Biology
• Calculus AB
• Calculus BC
• Chemistry
• European History
• English Language (English 11AP)
• English Literature (English 12AP)
• Environmental Science
• French Language (French 5)
• Music Theory
• Physics 1
• Physics 2
• Spanish Language (Spanish 5)
• Statistics
• Studio Art: 2-D, 3-D, Drawing
• U.S. History
• U.S. Government
  
  

AP Exam Registration and Fees:

AP Classroom Registration: AP Exam registration consists of 2 separate steps. 1) Registration in AP Classroom (done through the college board website) and 2) submitting payment (collected by school).

Registration: All students who are enrolled in an AP Class will register for their AP exam in the AP Classroom by logging on to myap.collegeboard.org and entering their class join code. This join code will be given to students by their AP teacher at the beginning of the school year. All AP students MUST complete this step in the AP classroom or an AP exam cannot be ordered for them. Here is a tutorial video. Students who fail to register in the fall may be subject to late fees or may not be able to test.

Payment: Students must pay for each AP exam they take. The cost of each AP exam is $100. Financial assistance is available for students/families who qualify for a free/reduced lunch program. Students can pay for AP exams by Cash/Check with Mary Slawter in the Student store, or they may pay online at the MHS Student Store Website. Please pay for your AP Exam as soon as possible, but no later than March 15, 2024. Please contact Amariah Taylor if you need any assistance with your online student store account or processing payment.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where do I report for test day?
Typically, AP exams take place in the gym but sometimes in a classroom or computer lab, depending on the exam. Students will be notified when and where to report closer to testing dates.

What should I bring on test day?

• Two sharpened No. 2 pencils (with erasers)
• Two pens, with black or dark blue ink only
• Calculator if applicable (click here for AP Calculator Policy)

DO NOT Bring:

• Electronic equipment including phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, wearable technology, cameras, recording or listening devices, or any other type of electronic or communication device. Phones will need to be powered off during testing and breaks.
• Books, reference guides, notes, compasses, protractors, mechanical pencils, pencils that are not No. 2, correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, clipboards, reference or colored pencils.
• Scratch paper: Students testing in-school are prohibited from bringing scratch paper to the AP Exam, but scratch paper will be provided.
• Watches that beep, make a noise, or have an alarm.
• Food or drink (students may get water/snack during break if needed)

A student observed with any of these prohibited items during testing or breaks may be dismissed from the exam, the device may be confiscated, the student’s score may be canceled, and no retest may be permitted.

Am I excused from class during my AP exam?
Teachers know that AP testing is happening during the first two weeks of May. Students will be excused from class time for testing but are expected to check with their teachers on any work missed from other classes.

What do I do if I can’t take my AP exam or if I am late?
Students must report at the time and location instructed.  Due to test security reasons, students will not be allowed to show up late or leave early. Generally, there are no make-ups except on rare occasions when the College Board approved, emergency situations. Should an emergency come up and you cannot report for your AP exam, contact Ms. Samsel right away. If a student skips their AP exam for a non-emergency reason, they may be subject to additional unused test fees.

What if I have 2 AP exams scheduled at the same time?
Although rare, this may happen occasionally. The College Board sets the AP exam schedule and schools across the nation follow based on local time. Should you have 2 AP exams scheduled at the same time, please notify Ms. Samsel and she can let you know your options for alternate testing. Please note that alternate testing does not apply to students who have 2 AP exams scheduled back-to-back.

How long are AP exams?
The exam itself is around 3 hours, but that does not include time for instructions, breaks, and filling out demographic information on the answer sheet. Some tests like music theory, Spanish and French may take longer due to the individual audio recording components.

My student has an IEP or 504 plan. Do they automatically receive testing accommodation on AP exams?
No. Testing accommodation requests for any College Board exam must be submitted to and approved by the College Board. The process requires documentation of diagnosis and a written accommodation plan. It can take several weeks for the College Board to review, and approve or deny accommodation requests. Students may only test with accommodations if they have been reviewed and approved by the College Board.

What if I’m in an AP class, but I don’t want to take the exam?
Students who have requested and enrolled in an AP class are expected to take the corresponding AP exam. If there are extenuating circumstances, talk to your AP teacher or AP coordinator. Please note that if a student has registered for their AP exam and does not show up to take their AP exam, they will be subject to an unused exam fee of $40.

How should I prepare for Test Day?

• Review the College Board AP Terms and Conditions on the AP website
• Get a good night’s sleep before exam day
• Eat a healthy breakfast/lunch before your exam and stay hydrated
• Arrive to the testing location on time. Do not bring any unnecessary materials or prohibited items to your exam
• Remember to breathe! You’ve got this!

Does MHS automatically submit my AP exam score(s) to colleges?
No. MHS cannot submit student scores. Official Score Reports must be sent through the College Board. The student is responsible for submitting AP exam scores to colleges. Check with your college/university’s AP exam policy and the College Board for more information.

I am locked out of my College Board account. What do I do?
MHS does not have any access to student College Board account usernames or passwords. If you are locked out of your College Board account, use the password reset tool on the log- in page or contact College Board customer service for assistance. It is strongly recommended that you use your personal email, which you check frequently with the College Board, rather than your school smmk12 email.

AP Resources

• Please visit the College Board Website for more information about the AP Program.
• AP Daily Videos are short on-demand segments, led by expert AP teachers, that cover all course content and skills.
• You can access resources including AP Daily Videos in AP Classroom.
• MHS Student Store (AP Exam Payments)

Please continue to check Monday Messages, and our website frequently for updates. Students should also check their emails for information from the College Board, AP Teacher and AP Coordinator.
Any additional questions regarding AP exams can be directed towards Makenna Samsel, MHS AP Coordinator.

Questions can be directed to the MHS AP Coordinator: Makenna Samsel