AP Exams

AP exams are given by the College Board, the same company that administers the SAT.  They are administered in early May each year to the students who took the corresponding AP class at their high school that year.  

AP scores are not used in the college admissions process, although the semester grades on your report card is definitely considered by colleges.

The test is scored on a 1 to 5 scale.  A three is passing, however it usually takes a 4 or a 5 in order to earn college credit.

Doing well on an AP exam can earn you college credit and save you [time, energy, and money when you’re in college.]

Begin your training 2 months in advance by signing up for a free diagnostic test>.  There is a lot to cover and you’re schedule is already stacked.   Learn more about AP Test Prep>

Every high school offers different AP classes, so you will have to talk to your counselor about what is available for you to take.  Generally speaking you do not want to take one in your freshman year.  Typically the first AP class that high schools offer in tenth grade and it is AP European History, or EHAP.

An AP course is basically a semester’s worth of college content spread over a full year of high school.  They are available at most schools nowadays, and are used by college admission counselors to help differentiate the top-performing students from the rest of the pack.  Taking the most rigorous classes and performing well on the tests is an essential part of any top-tier college admissions portfolio.  You also get an extra point on your GPA (5 for an A, 4 for a B, etc.), which really helps pad your stats.

Furthermore, universities give college credit for doing well on the test – a score of 4 or 5 at most schools.  That means that you can save money by taking, studying for, and acing all your AP tests!

Does that mean you should take all the AP classes that are offered at your school?  Not necessarily.  Carefully choosing a schedule is crucial in order to achieve your goals.  Please give us a call and we can help guide you through this process 

Most AP teachers will begin introducing the AP test structure by the second semester.  This is a great way to begin familiarizing yourself with the rigors you will face on test day.  To really improve your score, however, you will want to hone in on your weaknesses.  From there, you will want to study continuously each week for the four months leading up to the actual test.  Cramming the day or week before the test does little to improve scores, so make sure you leave ample time to get ready!  Learn more about the AP exam from the test-makers>