Honors Classes, AP Classes, and overlap
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Anonymous
| I am hoping someone can help me understand something. Is it an either/or situation with Honors World History and AP World History: Modern? DC is in 9th and taking Honors World History this year. It covers only through the Middle Ages, while AP World: Modern goes from 1200 CE-present, so there isn't much content overlap (as far as I can tell). Counselor advised against "repeating content"--but this isn't actually repeating content...or is it? I should also add that DC is very, very interested in history, to the point where he's saying that's what he'd like to focus on in college. And my undertstanding is that colleges like to see some focus and interests building on themselves, so that's what this would be...I think. Can anyone who knows more than me (likely everyone) offer some advice? Thank you so so much. |
Anonymous
OP here. I forgot to add that the reason I'm asking is that DC would like to take AP World History in 10th, after taking Honors World History in 9th. Sorry--that would have been useful for me to add in my original post. |
Anonymous
| I think it's fine. My kids took "pre-AP World History" freshman year and then AP World sophomore year. Seems to be commonly done. |
Anonymous
| Yep. In FCPS at least, the path is honors in 9th, AP in 10th. Honors also gets you ready for first half of the content. Both honors and AP cover the 2nd half. AP goes a step further on AP preparation and works on analysis, writing preparation for DBQs, themes, etc. |
Anonymous
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The difference is MAJOR. "Honors" are what the state curriculum makes of it. But AP exam scores are the only way colleges can compare students across high schools and state curriculae, along with SAT/ACT scores. AP classes are suppose to be the nec plus ultra of high school classes (apart from really well done IB classes and magnet classes). Sometimes, in certain high schools, AP teachers are not up to par, and students are surprised by low scores on the exams, which are organized and score by an independent private company, the College Board, of SAT fame. So from a college admissions perspective, it's AP all the way, as long as your student gets at least a 4 on the exam. If this subject is his passion, then he will do well and colleges will see he has a special interest in it. In MCPS, my son did AP US Gov with NSL in 9th, AP US History in 10th, plans to take AP World History in 11th and then perhaps AP European History (or whatever it's called). |
Anonymous
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OP— maybe name your school system everyone does it differently. We are also FCPS. And yep— two years of WH. You go 9th honors (up to 1200 CE?) then 10th AP (1200- present). I might have the year wrong. But, that the idea. 10th grade AP doesn’t repeat 9th grade material.
That said, WH is a hard AP. Lots of memorization, writing analysis. If these aren’t your kids strong points, honors 10th is perfectly respectable. |
Anonymous
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OP I think they could do that but they probably may need to double up one year to make sure that they qualify for having taken 4 different history classes over HS
does that make sense? I think if they do honors WH and then AP WH it won't count as 2 |
Anonymous
It counts as two. |
Anonymous
| You need to know the state grad requirements for history. In MD, students need NSL (government), US hsitory and world history. Each is available in on level, honors and AP versions at my kids’ HS. There are many other social studies options for a fourth year (which 4th year of social studies is not required to graduate), and I’d say at their HS, accelrated history loving students would take AP of each of the 3 required classes and then AP Euro for the 4th year (along with other electives like AP comparative politics, AP human geo, etc). |
Anonymous
| In FCPS, my current senior took World History I Honors, AP World, APUSH, and AP Gov. Kids who don’t take AP do World 2 Honors instead. Whichever you take, the two World classes cover different material and count as separate requirements toward graduation |
Anonymous
| My daughter loved AP World. Great class! |
Anonymous
Which HS? The teacher makes such a difference! |
Anonymous
| The World History AP used to cover the full time period but changed recently to only 1200 and on. So alot of schools have created a "honors" course to cover up to 1200 and then the AP course to cover 1200 on. At my son's school, it used to be a 2 year AP course. |
Anonymous
| OP here. Thanks to everyone for the info and sharing your experiences. Much appreciated! |