Advantages of Taking Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

AP exams are college-level tests managed by The College Board (makers of the SAT). Students may take tests in one or more subjects; a comprehensive list of all available AP courses and tests is available at collegeboard.com. About 90% colleges in the United States offer credits, advanced placement, or both based on AP exam scores. Students take AP exams in May and receive their scores in July. Unlike the SAT or ACT, AP exams are not directly related to college admissions, since schools do not require that students take them. AP brings the college experience to your high school with the opportunity to earn college credit at thousands of universities. The tests are offered in 34 subjects, which range from biology, statistics and psychology to art history and studio art drawing.

The Benefits of Taking AP Exams

1. Strong boost for college application: AP is a factor used by many colleges when evaluating candidates for admission as the colleges look at the highest level of classes offered in School. If the school is offering AP classes and student has not taken any of the AP classes then colleges might not consider those students. The colleges think those students are not prepared for the academic challenges. Having this advantage will help you stand out from the crowd when you apply to colleges. With an AP Exam, you’re showing colleges you’re persistent, resilient, and willing to work hard.
2. Overall GPA can be higher: A student’s grade point average (GPA) often gets a boost from AP classes, which are more rigorous. Since high schools usually give a lot of credit to AP classes, getting an A or B in an AP class will raise your student’s GPA more than getting the same grade in a regular class. Depending on school policy but usually 5 points
   are added to the subject if it’s a AP class.
3. Prepares early for the college academics: AP classes and exam preparation introduces student to the college level academic challenges. You will develop lot of valuable skills like notes taking, time management etc. in the AP classes This eases your transition from being a high school student to a college student.
4. Graduate early and save money: Students who take the AP exams for their AP classes may earn college credit. AP exams are graded on a scale of 1 to 5. If a student score 4 or 5 on the AP test, it can count toward their college credits. The students get ahead in their first-year requirements as they can skip lot the per-requisite subjects. Therefore, students can graduate early and or move to the master program early too. There is a possibility of saving almost a year tuition.
5. Increases the chances of College Merit scholarship: Colleges provide the college merit scholarship to the admitted students. Those scholarships are usually on the basis of student’s GPA. If the students take the AP classes and get the score of 4 or 5 their GPA increases the profile gets stronger. Those students have high probability to earn the merit scholarship from colleges.

Around 31 percent of colleges and universities take into account the AP coursework of students when deciding which students will receive scholarships.