AP® Economics

Economics is a social science which addresses how society allocates (distributes) limited resources (e.g. - goods and services). It is a “science” because it is governed by quantifiable laws designed to predict likely outcomes. It is a “social” science, as opposed to a natural science, because its laws are based upon social, as opposed to natural occurrences.

This course will prepare the student for both the AP® Micro and Macroeconomics exams. Each exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions and three free-response essay questions. Many colleges and universities give credit for passing the AP® exam, enabling the student to move on to more advanced level courses.

Students enrolled in VHS Learning Advanced Placement® courses are expected to take the exam and to report their AP® exam scores to VHS Learning. By enrolling in an AP® VHS Learning class, the students authorize their school administration to report AP® exam scores to VHS Learning. Exam results will not affect the student's VHS Learning grade or future enrollment in VHS Learning courses.

This AP® course has a required summer assignment. Students are expected to complete their summer assignment before the course begins and submit their work by the end of Week 1. Students who register on or after September 1st will receive an extension to complete the summer assignment by the end of Week 3. The summer assignment is intended to review crucial content associated with pre-requisite knowledge for the course, where applicable, as well as to allow students to better understand the rigor associated with the content.

• To develop economic thinking skills to gain an understanding of our role in the economy.
• An understanding of scarcity, the need to make a choice and the opportunity cost of such choices.
• An understanding of the graphs and interpretation of those graphs. Applying graphs to real world scenarios.
• Learning the basics of economic concepts examining how business has an effect on how the economy operates.
• Recognize the far-reaching effects of those business decisions on the economy as a whole.
• All the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to be successful on the Advanced Placement® exams at the end of the spring semester.