Random thought, but how old is the Advanced Placement program? When did it start and what were the first subjects available?
The Advanced Placement (AP) program was created in the early 1950s by the College Board as a response to concerns about the standard of high school education and the widening gap between high school and college curriculums. The program aimed to provide opportunities for students to take college-level courses while in high school and earn credit for their work.
The first AP exams were administered in 1956 and covered 11 subjects: English Language Composition, English Literature, European History, German Language, Mathematics, Latin: Vergil, Latin: Lyric, Latin: Prose, Spanish Language, French Language, and American History. Over the years, the AP program has expanded significantly, and today there are more than 38 AP courses and exams available to high school students across various disciplines, including STEM subjects, humanities, social sciences, arts, and world languages.
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