The benefits associated with taking AP exams are really twofold. First, a satisfactory score (generally 3 or above) can earn you credit at most colleges, saving you tuition money and potentially shortening your time to degree. Second, taking AP courses (and exams) exhibits a willingness to engage in rigorous coursework and consequently improves a student’s admission prospects, as strength of curriculum is one of the most important factors in a college’s admissions decision.
Here is my video response to the question.
One of the benefits of taking AP exams is that if you score a 4 or 5 on the test, it might be considered for college credit, depending on the university you are applying to. But most of all, taking AP courses in high school will result in a stronger preparation for university courses. These courses make the student realize the importance of maintaining a schedule, and becoming organized in school related studies.
most highly selective college will not credit the students for taking AP exams so they can save money in college with less credit requirement. if you have time committment to other activities that you love and have passion for it. you may limited your time for AP exam just enought to show colleges that you can do the work if time allowed.
The advantage of taking an AP course in high school comes when you do well on the exam. Every school has a different threshold, but it’s worth trying for the right score. Colleges may award course credit without having to take the class on campus. Other schools may use it as a means of placement in the right level once you arrive on campus. The bonus is that it may allow you to sidestep some general overview type lecture class and get right down to the nitty gritty of the topic. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, take the test.
The advantages of taking the AP exams are less apparent in the admission process than they are when you arrive at school and are able to start in some advanced classes right away based on your performances on the exam. While the standards vary from school to school, strong AP scores can allow students to skip a lot of entry level courses and as well as satisfy prerequisites, and in that way allow them to jump right into the meat of the academic program. From an admissions perspective, while the AP audit that the College Board requires is intended to ensure an established level of consistency in AP course across the nation, nothing brings more credibility to your academic record than your actual test performances so they can buttress your record in a substantive manner.
– AP exams can get you a lot of college credit, which can either help you graduate earlier or give you extra time to take classes you want to take and not distribution requirements, because your AP exams can get you out of those. – APs are also harder, so they demonstrate to a college that you are willing to work and go the extra distance. Schools want to see that you took advantage of all the academic resources your school has to offer, so if they know your high school has an AP program and they see you took no AP exams, they think you prefer an easier ride, unless you have a good reason why you didn’t take them.
Many schools require students to take the corresponding AP exam in order to sign up for an AP course in the first place. For other schools, taking the actual AP exam following a course remains an option. AP exams are NOT INTENDED AS ADMISSION TESTS, though most competitive colleges do consider AP exam grades among other factors for admission, if they are available. Therefore, students who have the choice may want to consider how confident they are in their ability to do well before signing up for particular AP exams.
AP classes are great! These are highly rigorous courses taught at the high school that students can receive college credit for! Imagine starting college with 3 AP classes under your belt, and not having to take those courses in college. You could, for example, take an AP English class and skip your Freshman Composition class. Not only is this a source of bragging rights, but you can save time and money by lowering the number of general education courses you have to take at college.
This topic can be controversial, as educators have different opinions on the value of AP classes and exams. However, if you are aspiring to highly selective schools, a school transcript that shows you have taken many (10 – 12) AP classes throughout high school and scored high on the AP exams (4s and 5s).
There are many academic and economic benefits of taking AP exams in high school. Not only does the AP experience help to prepare you for college courses, but if you pass an AP exam, you can show colleges that you are ready for college-level work. In addition, many college accept certain passing scores on some AP exams for college credit — which means that you can enter your freshman year with some requirements already met! In some instances, students with many APs can finish college on an accelerated schedule. This can be a definite time and money saver!
High scores on AP exams are a good indication to colleges that you will be successful in college-level classes. Most schools will also grant undergraduate credit or waive certain requirements for up to a certain number of AP exams taken with a score of 3 or above. Look for a college’s policy on AP exams on their website to find out if taking the exams can earn you this advantage.
If you are taking an AP course you should definitely take the corresponding AP exam in May. The exam is scored 1-5. Most schools will give you college credit if you score a 4 or a 5. There are some schools who will also award credit with a 3 on certain exams. Taking AP courses and doing well on the exams can save you a lot of time and money. You may be exempt from taking some pre-requisites because of your scores and shave an entire semester or more off of your college career. This means paying less in tuition and graduating early!
College credit and you see first hand what a college course is like.
There are a variety of benefits to taking AP exams in high school.
Definitely, major benefits exist in taking AP courses and exams in high school. First, AP courses and exams signal your pursuit for academic rigor and your commitment to excel in college. With scores of 4 or higher, it shows your ability to handle college-level courses, which is an absolute positive on your college application. Second, passing AP exams with scores of 4 or higher can result in substantial saving in college expenses because several colleges allow students to exempt out of courses given their proven ability to master the subject. Third, taking AP exams, even if you do not score high, will provide valuable preparation for college level material early, allowing more familiarity with subjects and more confident in your ability. Consequently, the effort of performing well on the AP exams is a total win! You can save thousands of dollars, increase your admission chances, and get an early start on college level material.
Because AP courses are designed to be more challenging, they offer greater opportunities for students to prepare for the demands of university studies. This is also true, and perhaps more so, of the IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma program, which provides a broad spectrum of in-depth studies – developing to a high level the study, research, and presentation skills of students involved.
If a student does well (a 4 or a 5), colleges may waive introductory requirements, but not necessarily. The real benefit of taking the exams and getting a good score shows colleges students have met the rigor of the course expectations. It’s another piece of data that puts the student in a good light.
Because AP courses are more challenging, they offer greater opportunities for students to prepare for the demands of university studies. This is also true, and perhaps more so, of the IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma program, which provides a broad spectrum of in-depth studies – developing to a high level the study, research, and presentation skills of students involved.
Qualifying for college credit, saving big bucks in college costs, and enabling the student to concentrate on more electives w/o having to take every required course.
Qualifying for college credit which saves big bucks in college costs, and enabling the student to concentrate on more electives w/o having to take every required course.
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