Science Department Academic Expectations for AP Classes
Science Department
| Area of Study | Reading to Prepare for Each Class | # of Hours to Study/Prepare for Each Class | Tests, Essays, Papers | Major Projects | Summer Assignments | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP Bio |
2 - 5 textbook chapters per unit, depending on the content Chapters vary in length and are essential to success in class. |
1-2 hours per day |
1-2 quizzes and 1 test per unit (tests include multiple-choice, grid-in, free-response). 2 - 3 units per quarter |
2 major formal lab reports. 1 during 1st quarter, 1 during 2nd quarter. (Other labs have informal analysis questions). | Self-study covering 1 AP Bio unit (material provided online, no books required, due mid-Sept). |
Course includes a variety of activities and skills, such as labs, essay-writing, critical and abstract thinking, complex problem-solving. Emphasis on analysis of new scenarios (need to know vocabulary and concepts, but also apply them) |
| AP Chemistry | 10-20 pages | 1-2 hours |
1-2 quizzes every 2 weeks 1 test every 4 to 6 weeks |
final project at end of year after AP exam Maintain a Lab notebook throughout the year lab reports every 2 weeks 2-4 hours additional |
10 hour review of chemistry I |
retain as much knowledge from your chemistry I course keep your chemistry I notebook |
| AP Environmental Science |
2-4 textbook chapters per unit 2-3 units per quarter |
1-2 hours per block day, including reading, notes and test practice | One test per unit, to include MC questions and essays; practice quizzes for each unit; timed writings in class | One project per quarter, outside of class time usually needed Post-exam project is up to 50% of 4th quarter grade |
Short reading, map assignment, and some math problems, due by end of first week | You get out what you put in to this course. While nothing is inherently too hard to understand, there is a decent volume of work, and it picks up speed as the year goes on. Reading is essential to a passing National Exam score. Be ready to analyze your own habits as we learn to live more sustainably |
| AP Physics I | 5 - 10 pages reading each class | 30 - 60 minutes A Day to A Day (or B to B) |
2 - 3 tests per quarter Ongoing lab notebook |
Externally moderated project | No summer assignment | Must at least be in Precalc while taking this course |
| AP Physics 2 | 5 - 10 pages reading each class | 30 - 60 minutes A Day to A Day (or B to B) |
2 - 3 tests per quarter Ongoing lab notebook |
No projects | No summer assignment | Must at least have taken Physics as a prerequisite, but AP Physics 1 is strongly recommended |
| AP Physics C - Mechanics | 15 pages per week from a college level textbook | 1 hour from A Day to A Day (or B to B) |
3 tests each quarter determine 50% of the grade 40% Labs |
Lab notebook, ongoing | No summer assignment |
Must at least be in AP Calc AB, but BC is strongly recommended Previous Physics experience strongly recommended |
| HN Biology I | 0 | 30-45 minutes. 90 minutes per week devoted to science fair project. |
1-2 quizzes, 1 unit test multiple choice format, 1 free response question per unit. | Mandatory Independent Research Project (science fair project) | No summer assignment | Strong reading comprehension, organizational and study skills needed. Not strictly memorization. Investigate at a deeper level, emphasis on analysis, inference and abstraction at an accelerated pace. |
| HN Chemistry | 0 | .25 hrs | 2-4 quizzes and 2-3 Unit Tests per quarter | Science Project including reference reviews, research plan, experimentation & presentation of results | No summer assignment | Algebra 2 corequisite |
| HN Geosystems | 0 | 90 minutes per week devoted to science fair project. | 2-3 Unit Tests per quarter | Mandatory Science Project | No summer assignment | Chemistry and Biology corequisite |
| HN Physics 1 | 5-10 pages reading each class (same as AP Physics 1) |
30 - 60 minutes A Day to A Day (or B to B) (same as AP Physics 1) |
2 - 3 tests per quarter Ongoing lab notebook (same as AP Physics 1) |
Science Fair Project | No summer assignment | Must at least be in Precalc while taking this course |
Printable PDF of Science Department - Academic Expectations for AP and Honors Classes