All You Need to Know About AP Courses and Exams

AP (Advanced Placement) classes are college-level classes offered in high school. They are harder than regular classes, but many students choose to take AP courses in high school to get college credits or advanced placement in college courses. There are many benefits of taking AP courses.

So if you're in high school and want to get a step ahead in your academic journey, getting into AP classes is a smart choice. I know, you'd have many questions, like what AP subjects to take, how many AP courses to take, how the AP exam works, and such.

No worries, we will explain everything you should know about the AP program in high school, including the benefits of taking AP courses and tips on scoring higher in AP classes.

What Are AP Classes and Exams: Quick Overview

The Advanced Placement (AP) program is managed by the College Board. This program allows high school students to take college-level classes and earn college credits in advance or get advanced placement in college courses depending on the performance of AP exams and the policies of the colleges. I'll quickly go over the AP subjects and AP exams below.

AP Subjects

There are 6 main AP subject categories, including 40 AP courses.

AP Subject	AP Courses
AP Arts	Art History, Music Theory, Studio Art: Drawing, 2-D Design, 3-D Design
AP English and Literature	English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition
AP History and Social Sciences	American Government and Politics, Comparative Government and Politics, Economics, European History, Human Geography, Psychology, United States History (USH), World History: Modern
AP World Languages and Culture	Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, and Spanish
AP Mathematics and Computer Science	Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Precalculus, Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, Statistics
AP Sciences	Biology, Chemistry, Physics 1: Algebra-Based, Physics 2: Algebra-Based, Physics C: Mechanics, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, Psychology, Environmental Science

AP Exams

The Advanced Placement Exam is part of the AP program that allows students to get college credit or get a higher-level placement on a college course. Getting high scores in AP exams is a good way to show academic skills and save on college tuition. I mean, you do need to pay $98 for each AP exam, students with financial need can get a $36 reduction. But still, it's much cheaper than college credits.

AP exams consist of two sections - multiple-choice and free responses. Usually, it takes 2-3 hours to take the AP exam (the exam time is around 3 hours). For example, subjects like AP Studio Art, which is project-based, can take much longer than 3 hours to complete and subjects like Physics can take a shorter time.

The AP exam scores are from 1 to 5. Although a 3 is considered passing, you'll want to aim for a 4 or 5. Most public universities in the US accept AP exam scores higher than 3 for placement or credits depending on the subjects.

Some Ivy League Schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton can accept AP high scores (4 or 5) but their policies are much stricter than regular universities. Many private colleges, art schools, and even some universities outside of the US also accept AP scores. I highly recommend that you check the school's AP policy on the College Board or the school's website.

4 Reasons Why You Should Consider Taking AP Courses

Here are 4 key benefits of taking AP classes in high school.

1. Improve and show your academic skills

AP courses are harder than regular courses, so you're challenging yourself with rigorous coursework. Besides that, you can also develop your independent problem-solving skills because the AP courses involve a lot of critical thinking, research, and analysis.

Developing independence ahead of time is essential for success in higher education. College is all about self-discipline and individual problem-solving. I mean, the professors are there, but you'll have to figure out a lot of things on your own.

Successfully completing the courses will also build your confidence and demonstrate your intellectual intelligence to colleges and universities. Meaning, it can also increase your chance of getting into a better college or university.

2. Be prepared for college

Taking college-level courses in advance will ease the transition of your academic journey between high school and college/university. You'll get more used to the difficulty of the subjects, workload, and education style.

The biggest difference between high school and college education is that in high school, teachers will guide you with your studies most of the time, while in college, there will be more independent studies. You will attend fewer classes, but expect more studying hours outside of the classroom.

AP courses are designed to bridge the gap between high school and college education.

3. Save your time and money in college

Depending on your AP exam scores, you can get college credits or skip some introductory classes in college. If you complete your college credits sooner, you can graduate sooner. Although the AP exam is not free, it's cheaper than most college credits.

Let's do some maths here. Most college courses are 3 to 4 credits, and each credit costs about $400 for an in-state student at a public university. So, it would cost you at least $1200 to complete a course. But if you can get an advanced placement and skip that course with your AP score, it'll only cost you $98 to take the AP exam.

4. Get a higher GPA

Many high schools in the US consider AP course performance when calculating GPAs, so if you do well on your AP courses, you can improve your academic standing.

How's that? Here's an example.

Many schools use a weighted grading system. This means an "A" in an AP class is worth more points (often 5.0) than an "A" in a regular class (usually 4.0). This extra point for each AP class increases your overall GPA and demonstrates your commitment to challenging coursework.

How to Choose an AP Course

Everything sounds so good. Now, which AP course should you take or what are the best AP classes? Well, there are no strict rules. You can take the AP course based on your interests, academic strength, and your college plan (what do you want to major in?).

For example, if you like Computer Science, you can take AP Computer Science A. If your time allows, and you're good at maths, you can consider taking AP Calculus BC, which is one of the hardest AP subjects and can impress the college admission decision if you get a high score. Or consider what major you want to study when you're in college and take the AP courses related to that major.

3 Tips to Get High Scores in AP Classes

Tip 1: Choose your AP courses wisely (avoid over-challenging subjects)

Try not to take a very challenging course if you're not sure that you can pass the exam even if you're super interested in that course. It can waste your time and effort, reduce confidence, and obviously, lose the exam fee.

For example, AP Physics 1 is one of the most difficult AP courses with a pass rate of 46.5% (in 2023). So you won't want to take it if you're not strong at physics until you know that you're ready.

Tip 2: Develop effective studying habits.

Developing good study habits and studying effectively can help you excel in AP classes. For example, one highly effective study habit for AP courses is the spaced repetition technique. You should review new information immediately and repeatedly at an increasing interval. The goal is to have fresh memories of what you just learned.

For example, in AP Biology, there are many key concepts to remember. On the day you learn about the concepts, you can create flashcards, then review the flashcards after 24 hours, take note of what you struggle with, repeat the flashcards you struggle with two days later, and then review all the concepts again in 5 days, one week, etc. Eventually, you will remember the key concepts by reviewing flashcards repeatedly.

Tip 3: Practice with AP tests and exams.

Practice AP tests and past AP exams to get familiar with the exam formats. Focus on the topics you struggle with and practice more. You can use resources like The Princeton Review, CrackAP, and College Board practice exams.

If you have no idea what AP course to take, I suggest you talk to your academic advisor.

How to Get Into AP Classes in High School

So can everyone sign up for AP courses? If you're prepared and the school offers the program, generally yes. Here are the quick steps to sign up for the AP program.

Step 1: Decide what AP courses you want to take based on your interests, college major considerations, and academic strength.

Step 2: Check what AP courses are available at your school because depending on the size and resources of your school, not all high schools offer every AP subject. If the subject you want to take is not available at your school or your school doesn't offer an AP program, you can consider taking online AP courses.

Step 3: Talk to your academic advisor and teachers to discuss your academic goal and check the requirements for the AP program. For example, some schools may require you to take pre-calculus before you can take AP Calculus.

Step 4: Take the AP classes once you're ready. Make sure to stay on track as some AP classes are challenging. There are also a lot of AP resources you can get help from. For example, if you need help with math homework, there are different math solvers you can get instant help from.

Step 5: Talk to your teacher when you're ready to register and take the AP exams. Note that you should pay the exam fee to your school because you can't pay for it on the website.

Conclusion

The AP program offers high school students a great opportunity to get familiar with college academic materials. Students who complete challenging coursework with high performance can get college credits, advanced placement, and chances to get into a better college or university.

Deciding what AP classes to take highly depends on your interests, academic strength, and college plan or future career. It's important to consult with your teacher or academic advisor about getting into the AP program.

FAQs

What AP classes do high school juniors take?

Some common AP courses that high school juniors take are core subjects like English Literature and Composition, US or European history, Calculus, Biology, or a world language.

What AP classes do high school sophomores take?

High school sophomores tend to take easier AP classes like AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, AP Computer Science Principles, etc.

How many AP classes should you take?

Start with just 1 or 2 to see how you feel. Don't overburden yourself. Remember, quality is more important than quantity. Make sure you feel confident about the subjects you choose and the workload. Talk with your academic advisor before getting into any AP classes.

How to take AP courses online?

There are different options for taking AP classes online. The best option is to take online AP courses from your school's virtual program or state-sponsored virtual schools. Try not to take AP courses from third-party providers like Coursera because they are not officially approved by the College Board. Talk to your school to find out the best way to take AP courses online.

Is the AP course free?

The AP classes are usually free in most public high schools in the US as part of the standard curriculum, but there are additional costs for studying materials, or administration fees depending on the school. The AP exam is not free.

If you have more questions about AP courses, feel free to reach out.