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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 on this page.

Interested in applying to AP at OTHS?

Applications open October 30, 2026.

Application Information ↓

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

Grade 11 Courses

  • AP US History
  • AP Physics (Physics 1 Exam)
  • AP Science - Environmental
  • AP Computer Science Principles

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 enroll 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:

Students at Oakville Trafalgar High School have the opportunity to write Advanced Placement examinations in a variety of subjects.

Available AP Examinations

  • Business & Personal Finance
  • *Biology
  • *Calculus AB
  • Calculus BC
  • Chemistry
  • **Chinese Language & Culture
  • Computer Science A
  • Computer Science Principles
  • English Language & Composition
  • English Literature & Composition
  • Environmental Science
  • European History
  • *French Language & Culture
  • 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

Exam Availability & Registration Conditions

AP examinations will be offered subject to the following conditions:

  1. At least three students must register for the same examination.
  2. Registration is limited to 30 students per examination unless otherwise indicated with an asterisk (*).
  3. Grade 12 students will receive priority if registrations exceed examination limits.
  4. Students currently enrolled in AP courses at OTHS will receive priority if registrations exceed examination limits.
  5. **Chinese Language and Culture: Limited to five examinations in total and subject to cancellation if technology requirements exceed available school supports.
  6. Some AP examinations include project work that must be submitted before the AP examination period.

AP Exam Registration

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

Registration Deadline

October 13, 2026

11:59 p.m.

Cost Per Regular Exam

$170 CAD

Non-refundable

Three-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Payment

Pay for AP exam(s) through SchoolCashOnline .

Step 2: Registration Form

Complete the school's Google Form registration.

Step 3: College Board Registration

You will receive a unique exam JOIN code through your student email from the OTHS Guidance Department. Check your email regularly.

  1. Sign in to your College Board account. New users must create an account using their legal name and a personal email address, not their school email. College Board .
  2. Navigate to My AP and enter your unique exam JOIN code.
  3. If you registered for multiple AP exams, you will receive separate JOIN codes for each exam. These may arrive over several days in different email batches.
  4. Confirm your name appears under the appropriate Exam Only class(es) in My AP.
  5. Once successfully joined, your registration is complete.

Already Enrolled in an AP Course?

Students currently taking AP courses should already have joined their digital AP classroom using the unique classroom code provided by their AP teacher.

Once payment and the Google Form are submitted, Mrs. O'Hara will change the exam indicator from "Undecided" to "Yes" in the student's My AP account.

 

Preparing for Your Exams

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.

Benefits of Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement offers students opportunities to challenge themselves academically and prepare for post-secondary education.

University Preparation

Additional preparation for the rigours of post-secondary education, leading to greater success.

Academic Curiosity

Opportunity to demonstrate academic curiosity to post-secondary institutions through AP course enrolment and examination scores.

Potential University Credit

Potential to earn university credit and/or placement into advanced university courses, saving tuition and time.

Advanced Learning

Exposure to advanced topics and study in greater depth, fostering disciplined study habits.

Academic Recognition

Eligibility for AP Scholar Awards and recognition for students who challenge multiple examinations.

AP Scholar Awards

For AP award criteria, visit AP Scholar Awards 

JOIN THE OTHS STUDENT COMMUNITY

Advanced Placement Applications

Applications open October 30, 2026.

Ready to apply?

Select the appropriate application option below for students currently in Grades 8–10.

Current HDSB Students

Students currently attending an HDSB school.

Apply here →

Non-HDSB Students

Students currently attending a school outside HDSB.

Apply here →

We look forward to welcoming you to OTHS!

Advanced Placement at HDSB

Explore More

To learn more about Advanced Placement at the HDSB, please visit AP on hdsb.ca

Advanced Placement - hdsb.ca