AP Exams: What is the Deal?

AP, or Advanced Placement, exams are right around the corner (the first one is May 6th) for many of your children, but I get a lot of questions about their importance, structure, and scoring.

There are 34 AP courses offered by the College Board, and AP scores range from 1-5 . Scores of 4 or 5 often earn students college credit and/or exempt them from requirements in college. AP tests are 3 hours (without special accommodations), and though many students send AP scores to colleges, few colleges require AP scores for admission. Schools with AP classes will host AP exams at school during May. Students in AP courses almost always expect to take the AP exam at the end of the year, and many of these courses specifically prepare students for the test, giving students practice sections from past tests and going over strategies in class.

Students who attend schools without AP courses still may choose to take AP exams (often at school). Many of our Trinity and Spence students, for example, choose to take AP exams at school, though they do not technically take AP courses. These students take practice sections with us and sometimes work with tutors in April to go over strategies.

The tests differ in structure and difficulty, and some courses do a better job preparing students than others. If you have any questions about this year’s AP exams, give us a call at 646.638.3504!