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Can help you develop college-level academic skills
- Taking AP exams can help you develop college-level academic skills and strong study habit s, which will serve you well throughout your college career. In addition, the rigorous nature of AP courses and exams can improve your time-management skills, making you better equipped to handle the demands of college life.
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AP at a Glance. Benefits of AP. Taking AP classes and exams can help students get ahead in high school and college. Students will: Build skills and confidence. AP students learn essential time management and study skills needed for college and career success.
- Pros of AP Classes
- Cons of AP Classes
- The Bottom Line
1. You may receive college credit.
Many colleges offer college credit for students who receive certain scores on their AP exams. At selective schools, that’s typically a 4 or 5, though some schools may offer credit for a score of 3. Just make sure you look up their policies because most colleges only apply credit for select exams. In some cases, for example, you’ll receive credit for a 3 on AP Calculus BC, but not for a 5 on AP English Literature and Composition. In some cases, albeit rare ones, you could even save moneyon you...
2. The rigor better prepares you for college.
Research showsthat AP students — especially high scorers on AP exams — are more likely to have higher GPAs in their first year of college than those who didn’t take any AP exams. This suggests that participation in the AP program correlates to better preparation for a college curriculum.
3. Weighted grades can boost your GPA.
Many high schools weight GPAs, adding as much as a full point for participation in AP courses. That means that if you earn a B, typically a 3.0 in a regular course, it could be assigned a value of 4.0. Still, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work hard in AP courses, or that the weighting will save your GPA. Colleges take many aspects of your transcript into account, including the rigor of the courses and the grade you received, as well as how your performance compares to that of your classmates.
1. Coursework is time-consuming.
When you enroll in an AP course, you should be aware that the work will take longer than that in regular-level classes. These curricula are meant to be college-level, so you’ll need to invest more time and effort than you would in less rigorous classes. Be honest with yourself about your time commitments; the last thing you want to do is spend every waking hour on academics. Take care to budget time for extracurriculars, friends, family, and self-care.
2. Exams are expensive.
AP exams generally cost $95 each, at least in the US, US territories, Canada, or DoDEA schools. Students outside of these areas will pay $125/exam. The two exceptions are AP Seminar and AP Research, whose exams cost $143 in all locations. If exams are ordered late, they will incur a $40 additional fee. If a student takes a handful of AP exams, that’s easily several hundred dollars! Fortunately, students who are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program can re...
3. Many selective schools don’t take AP credit.
Some more selective schools won’t accept AP scores as college credit. More still accept certain subjects but not others. While you may not receive credit, taking the course and the exam will still demonstrate that you’re up to the task of handling rigorous, college-level work. In fact, some colleges use the exam for placement purposes; for example, a 4 or 5 on a math or language exam could allow you to start at the 200-level, rather than the 100-level.
Even if you don’t earn college credit with your AP scores, the courses and exams are still helpful. You should certainly take as many as you can handle if you’re applying to top 30 colleges and universities. If you’re applying to less selective schools, such as the top 30-100, you don’t need to overload on APs. However, you should still take some i...
Feb 16, 2024 · When it comes to AP exams, you might wonder if this is the factor that might tip the college admissions game in your favor. In this post, we’ll outline just how important your AP classes are in college admissions, and the answer may surprise you.
In this guide, we'll illuminate the relationship between AP scores and college admission. We'll also discuss how important AP scores are for your application, how colleges consider these scores, and what being an AP Scholar can mean for your admission chances.
- There are two issues to address when we consider the connection between AP scores and college admission. First, do colleges even look at your AP sc...
- The fact that your AP exam scores aren’t a critical factor in college admission does not mean that AP courses are not important. While your actual...
- The AP Scholar program gives honorary awards (meaning there’s no money involved) to students who meet certain score thresholds on certain numbers o...
- Colleges typically ask students to self-report their AP scores on applications. As a result, they will see any scores you choose to report (and won...
Research consistently shows that AP students are better prepared for college than students who don’t take AP, regardless of their exam score. They’re more likely to enroll and stay in college, do well in their classes, and graduate in four years.
Yes. No. Students who earn AP Exam scores of 1 or 2 often earn a higher score on their next AP Exams and are more likely to attend college and graduate on time.
