Newberry College Professor Selected for College Board Annual AP Reading in Biology

Bret Clark, Professor of Biology at Newberry College, was selected to participate in the College Board’s annual Advanced Placement (AP) Reading in Biology. Each June, AP teachers and college faculty members from around the world gather in the United States to evaluate and score the free-response sections of the AP Exams. During the 2015 scoring sessions, more than 13,500 AP Readers evaluated more than 4.5 million AP Exams. 

AP Readers are high school and college educators who represent many of the world’s leading academic institutions. The AP Reading is a unique forum in which an academic dialogue between educators is both fostered and encouraged. 

“The AP Reading draws upon the talents of some of the finest teachers and professors that the world has to offer,” said Trevor Packer, Senior Vice President, AP and Instruction at the College Board. “It fosters professionalism, allows for the exchange of ideas, and strengthens the commitment to students and to teaching. We are very grateful for the contributions of talented educators like Dr. Clark.” 

The Advanced Placement Program enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies – with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement or both – while still in high school. Through AP courses in 36 subjects, each culminating in a rigorous exam, students learn to analyze complex problems, construct solid arguments and see many sides of an issue – skills that prepare them for college and beyond. Research indicates that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically experience greater academic success in college and are more likely to earn a college degree than non-AP students.