Implementation Statement for AP Capstone Program

2021-12-29

The International Department are happy to announce that our high school has been officially approved to offer AP Capstone -- a two year multidisciplinary certificate comprised of two separate courses: AP Seminar and AP Research, an exclusive certificate offered only to those with a minimum number of predicted APs. AP CapstoneTM 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. In AP Seminar, students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives, gathering and analyzing information from various sources in order to develop credible and valid evidence-based arguments.

In AP Research, students cultivate the skills and discipline necessary to conduct independent research and inquiry in order to produce and defend their scholarly work. It is a qualification that can really help our students stand out academically, and will better prepare them for University level research, writing and discussion. Here is some further information  about these courses: Only half of the final score will be based on the final AP exam, so this will be an excellent test of student engagement and attention to coursework; This course will give our students the opportunity to engage with education in a cross-curricular and multi-disciplinary way and analyse the various connections between their other courses and real-world topics, as well as understand the many transferrable skills they have gained or might gain from other courses and fields of study; This course will help showcase the many transferrable skills students have gained from humanities and science classes. 

Capstone will better prepare our students for university level research and seminar discussion, whilst opening up different modes of thinking and multiple perspectives our students would not ordinarily glean from their current studies. AP Capstone will compliment and extend the STEM curriculum, as well as help students develop critical thinking and argumentation skills, including the use of analytical frameworks, research methodologies, philosophical inquiry and synthesizing ideas in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments. Additionally, this course will be taught by a head of department, whose academic record and student rapport is of a very high standard, which will help alleviate any barriers our students might have in their transfer from lecture-based to seminar-style teaching.