Why is ISM limiting AP classes?

Written by: Sofia V.

Edited by: Ines L.

AP Art History? AP Language Classes? Gone. AP Human Geography and AP United States History? Smaller classes. What’s happening to AP classes at ISM?

This school year, ISM’s curriculum experienced a massive change in how it integrates Advanced Placement (AP) classes into the high school program. For instance, AP Language and Culture classes ranging from French, Spanish, and Chinese, are no longer offered. AP Art History was also unavailable this year, reportedly due to a lack of student sign-ups. 

Freshmen and sophomores can still opt to take an AP class for their social studies requirement, however. Freshmen can take AP Human Geography (APHUG) and sophomores can take AP United States History (APUSH). Despite these course offerings, class sizes are limited with only two sections for each AP class. 

English Honors 2 can also be classified as a hidden AP since students enrolled in the class sit the AP Literature & Composition exam at the end of the school year. Furthermore, students who choose to self-study an AP class and take the exam at the end of the year are limited to only one non-ISM AP class. 

Despite the courses mentioned, ISM’s current range of offerings for AP classes is limited compared to similar institutions such as other IASAS schools. But the question remains: why?

There is a debate among students, teachers, and staff as to whether or not AP classes will help ISM students. On the one hand, some say that the inclusion of a more structured AP pathway would help those who do not want to push through the whole International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP).  It allows students to benefit from another internationally-recognized curriculum but with fewer requirements. 

On the other hand, some say that the introduction of more AP classes would only be an added burden to students who are already juggling multiple challenging classes and extracurricular activities. Both sides have their point but ISM seems to be leaning more towards the latter.

Mr. Hillman, the AP/IB coordinator explained, “The governing factor for pairing back the number of AP classes and reducing the number of students taking independent study AP courses is the well-being of students.” He expanded on how the teachers saw how in the previous years, students would register for several AP classes and how those who did would either cancel their end-of-year AP exams or experience school-related mental health problems. He stated that the decision to reduce the amount of AP courses from an independent study point-of-view stems from a ‘well-being of students’ perspective. “We know that having AP Chemistry on your transcript when you’re doing IB Chemistry anyway doesn’t actually help you particularly at all and it’s just so much extra work,” commented Mr. Hillman.

Workload is one of the main reasons cited by students for stress in the ISM community, sometimes even leading to burnout. Students tend to take on as much work as they can as there is a certain amount of pressure attached to having the most impressive and polished transcript one can have. Yet, taking on an overwhelming amount of work may lead to a poorer academic performance overall. One may spread themselves too thin by taking several AP courses. Self-care and mental health prioritization may also be neglected when a student takes on too much work. 

If the focus is on the benefit of having APs for college, counselors like Mr. Swan say that taking APs in school or self-studying them has little to no impact on your college application. In the case of self-studying APs, colleges will only find it redundant if a student studies the same course at an AP and IB level. For example, a student who is interested in psychology may think that taking AP Psychology in 9th or 10th grade would be beneficial in preparing them for IB Psychology. While students should be taking classes in topics they are passionate about, there is a misconception that taking the same class as an AP and IB course will be impressive to colleges. In reality, there is no difference between AP Psychology and IB Psychology; the same goes for every other subject in the AP and IB program. If anything, colleges find it unnecessary to take two classes that are essentially discussing the same subject and it might even put a student at a disadvantage during the admissions process. While APs may be used for college credit, overstacking APs is counterproductive to your college applications.

Furthermore, a curriculum that ISM can tweak to its liking might be more effective in preparing students for the IB. In regards to this, Mr. Hillman explained, “The AP Languages curriculum didn’t support the learning of the students in preparation for IB as well as a curriculum which we can design ourselves.” He shared that forcing students to do the AP program in 9th and 10th grade, like in the languages with AP Chinese/French/Spanish, was not helping their performance in 11th and 12th grade. Since most ISM students go through the IB anyway, it would make sense for students to go through a curriculum that is more suited as preparation for the diploma programme as compared to the AP with a completely different set of standards and requirements.

We asked Mr. Sutton, who teaches both AP Human Geography and AP US History, about his thoughts on the smaller class sizes for APHUG and APUSH. “The intentions are good and I understand limiting both,” he stated. He continued by explaining how APHUG and APUSH, taught in ninth and tenth grade respectively, can be difficult due to the circumstances of the grade levels studying them. Ninth grade is a difficult transition year and APUSH is taught a year before it is usually studied. He says that limiting class sizes to not overwhelm students with challenging courses is an important aspect of balancing their well-being with their need for academic rigor. Yet, he points out that even though APs are rigorous, they aren’t necessarily the most tedious courses that students take. “Based on my experience with the kids, it’s not necessarily [AP] classes causing them the most stress. I do think that there are valuable skills in [AP classes]. Taking challenging courses early on, learning to manage course load and resiliency [are] important skill[s] to develop before 11th grade,” Mr. Sutton expressed.

Each grade level needs to adjust to a change in their academics and that is especially true for grades nine and ten. Freshmen and sophomores are adjusting to their first two years of HS and adding an AP class to their workload can be quite challenging. At ISM, AP classes are taken one to two years earlier than is traditional. AP courses are typically taken in 11th and 12th-grade classes. However, there is a point to be made on how APs are not causing students the most stress. 

Lily (10) says that Math Honors is her hardest class because the content is confusing and is paired with a bigger workload compared to other classes. “While my APUSH class does have work, it is manageable and repetitive so I know how to study it,” she commented. APs are straightforward classes where you know what to learn and how to study. Additionally, there are plenty of resources that can help you prepare for the AP exam. Whereas ISM classes like certain electives are more process-based than content-based which may lead students to be confused about how to approach the class and cause them to be more stressed.

Mr. Sutton calls it a “difficult balancing act” to try and reduce AP classes while still hoping that students are taught the necessary academic skills to prepare them for the challenging two-year program that is the IB. He advises that it is important for students to not wait until 11th grade to challenge themselves or else they may succumb to what he calls the ‘first semester IB shock.’ When students take the standard level of classes in 9th and 10th grade, the IB may require a massive adjustment in terms of workload and the depth of the concepts. If a student takes courses like APHUG, APUSH, or AP Lit, then that adjustment to the IB will be easier since they are already used to challenging themselves.

There are valid points to be made for both including and restricting APs in ISM. While there is a tendency for students to take on as much work as they can, it can lead to mental health problems that would impede the student’s life later on in their HS career. Mental health prioritization is something that ISM does not take lightly and the choice to limit the AP curriculum can contribute to helping that cause. 

At the same time, AP classes do provide students with the rigor that is needed when they complete IB. The IB aside, AP classes also teach students integral academic and non-academic skills from better structured writing to having grit which will help them in all aspects of life. As Mr. Sutton said, there is a delicate balance that should be maintained between taking care of students’ mental health and making sure they are still academically challenged.

Bearcats, what do you think? Would you like to be given the option to take more AP classes or do you think AP classes should be limited? We’d like to hear your thoughts in the comments section or send us a DM on our Instagram page (@bambootelegraphism).