Advanced Placement

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).