What is an AP Exam?

The AP Exam, which stands for Advanced Placement, is defined as an exam that provides entrance to universities in many countries of the world.

The AP exam provides entrance to universities in many countries of the world. It has become a part of the education system in nearly sixty countries. Advanced Placement is a system applied in the university preparation process of college and high school students.

The AP program has many advantages. A student who gets good grades on AP exams can be exempted from those courses when they start university. In this way, the number of courses that students have to take if they decide to do a double major is greatly reduced.

The AP system provides an opportunity for academic preparation and development before university. AP exam questions are seriously prepared and applied by both university professors and high school AP teachers.

AP tests are university-level exams in specific subjects and are administered in May after a student completes an AP course taken in high school. At many colleges and universities, a high enough score will earn the student college credit. In some cases, earning college credit can mean a lower university tuition bill overall.

What do APs test specifically?

Similar to the SAT Subject Tests, there are AP tests that cover a range of topics, from Biology to European History to Music Theory. There are currently over 38 AP test options, but few high schools offer classes in every subject.

Complete List of AP Topics

  • AP Art History
  • AP Biology
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Chinese Language and Culture
  • AP Comparative Government and Politics
  • AP Computer Science A
  • AP Computer Science Principles
  • AP English Language and Composition
  • AP English Literature and Composition
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP European History
  • AP French Language and Culture
  • AP German Language and Culture
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP Italian Language and Culture
  • AP Japanese Language and Culture
  • AP Latin
  • AP Macroeconomics
  • AP Microeconomics
  • AP Music Theory
  • AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
  • AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
  • AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics
  • AP Psychology
  • AP Research
  • AP Seminar
  • AP Spanish Language and Culture
  • AP Spanish Literature and Culture
  • AP Statistics
  • AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
  • AP Studio Art: 3-D Design
  • AP Studio Art: Drawing
  • AP U.S. Government and Politics
  • AP US History
  • AP World History

How is the AP exam scored?

AP tests are scored on a scale of 1 to 5. While every college is different, most schools will not accept AP scores for credit unless you receive at least a 4.

Score AP Credit for College

Taking Advanced Placement exams could be your ticket to earning college credit before you even step foot on campus. Many schools will give you college credit for a 3 or higher on an AP exam, but policies vary. Here’s how to find out if your scores earn AP credit.

Which colleges accept AP credit?

A college’s AP credit policy will determine the minimum score to earn credit for a particular exam, the amount of credit awarded, and how the credits will be applied. At some colleges, AP scores transfer directly to credit hours. At others, your exam scores allow you to “opt out” of certain course requirements, even if they don’t give you actual college credit. For example, Brown University doesn’t accept AP scores for course credit, but does allow students to place in upper-level classes with their scores!

How many points do you need for each AP Subject?

Colleges typically look for a 4 (well-qualified) or 5 (extremely qualified) on the AP exam, but some may give credit for a 3 (qualified). These scores mean you’ve proven you can do the job in an introductory college course. Of course, colleges often have different minimum scores for different courses.

 AP Score MeaningEquivalent college course gradeDoes this score receive AP credit?
5highly qualifiedAGenerally
4QualifiedA-, B+, BGenerally
3QualifiedB-,C+,CMaybe
2Probably qualifiedNoneVery rarely
1Not qualifiedNoneNone

How do I register for AP tests?

Whether taken after you enroll in a course or after you study on your own, AP exams can be a huge boost to your college application and academic readiness. By registering for the exam, you are showing that you have put in the time and effort required to prepare for these rigorous assessments.

AP tests are administered by The College Board, which also administers the SAT. However, not all AP exams are offered at every school. If you have an AP Coordinator at your school, talk to them directly about registering.

If your school does not have an AP Coordinator, you should call AP Services no later than March 1 to get contact information for the AP Coordinator closest to you. You can find the AP Services number on the College Board website.