Understanding how AP classes turn into college credit can be confusing. What even are AP classes in the first place? What is college credit? Does taking an AP always confer college credit? If not, are there other potential advantages to taking AP classes? This post will shed some light on what can be a daunting tangle of jargon and policy. 

What are AP classes?

AP stands for advanced placement, and AP classes are a selection of high school courses designed by the College Board (the same company that administers the SAT) meant to be equivalent in rigor to a typical introductory-level class offered at a four-year college or university. 

The College Board has designed about 40 AP courses that it places within seven broad categories: 

• the AP Capstone and Diploma Program, 
• Arts, 
• English, 
• History and Social Sciences, 
• Math and Computer Science, 
• Sciences, 
• and AP World Languages and Cultures. 

Some examples of AP classes include AP English Language and Composition, AP United States History, AP Statistics, AP Chemistry, and AP Spanish Language and Culture, among many others. 

At the end of all AP classes, the College Board administers some sort of assessment—usually a timed exam—to evaluate each student’s achievement in the course, and it awards students a score between 1 and 5 based on how well they perform on the assessment. A score of 1 means “not qualified,” while a score of 5 means “extremely qualified.” 

What is college credit?

College credit is a measure of a student’s progress towards obtaining a degree. Though systems vary, colleges and universities often require students to earn 120 credits to receive an undergraduate degree. Under such a system, a student who has earned, say, 60 credits is halfway to obtaining their degree. 

What are the benefits of taking AP classes?

Taking AP courses can have up to three potential benefits:

• Earning college credit. Students who take one or more AP classes in high school may be eligible to receive credit upon commencing a program of study at a college or university. A student’s eligibility depends on two factors:
  • The college or university must offer credit for the AP classes a student has taken. Not all colleges award students credit for having taken AP courses, and even those that do may not offer credit for every AP class (e.g., one might extend credit to students who have taken AP Biology but not to those who have taken AP Calculus BC). The College Board provides this tool for looking up schools’ AP credit policies. 
  • A student must score above the cutoff on their AP exam. Colleges and universities will only award credit to students who score above a certain threshold on the cumulative assessment the College Board administers at the end of the school year to evaluate students’ achievement. Usually, students scoring a 4 or a 5 will be eligible to receive credit, and in some cases students scoring a 3 may also be awarded credit. The College Board’s AP Credit Policy Search may tell you what the minimum score required to receive credit is at your college or university. 
• Earning advanced placement in college. Students who take one or more AP classes may be eligible to receive advanced placement upon commencing a program of study at a college or university. In other words, those students might be allowed to skip an introductory college course and access more advanced courses right away. This can save students time, perhaps permitting them to pursue a double major or take part in an internship, study abroad, or another special program. 
• Demonstrating academic potential in high school. College admissions officers strongly prefer applicants who they believe capable of handling the workload at their respective institutions. Indeed, the most recent survey of colleges belonging to the National Association for College Admission Counseling reveals that high school grades in college prep courses and strength of high school curriculum are two of the top three most important factors in admissions decisions. Thus, earning high grades in AP classes can be one of the best ways to earn admission to your dream school.  

Conclusion

Hopefully, this information has helped to demystify AP courses. If you or your student is currently enrolled in an AP (or few) and would appreciate assistance with staying on top of their work, Academic Approach offers support with AP courses. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch!