AP Exams Explained

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSES AT SIS

SIS currently offers twelve Advanced Placement (AP) courses. These are college-level courses that are especially rigorous and challenging. In May students can take a standardized exam that is administered nationwide to all students who have self-studied or who have taken that particular course for credit. Because these exams emulate college-level exams, they can be very challenging.

AP courses can be very important in the college application process.  Many American colleges and universities grant credit for incoming students who earn passing grades on the standardized exams. This means that students can go to college having already completed credit toward their college degree. Scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being the best, 3, and 4 are passing, and 1 and 2 are not passing. 

Many high-level colleges require a score of a 4 or 5 in order to earn college credit for a particular course. Colleges post these requirements on their websites in an AP credit chart.  Advanced Placement courses thus can be an inexpensive way for students to earn college credit.  This not only saves money, but also allows the student to test out of introductory-level courses in college that may be part of a general studies requirement. This can open up their time and schedule to higher-level courses and allow students to graduate from college early.
    
Advanced Placement courses and exam scores can also help strengthen a student’s college applications.  College admissions officers often look for students who have taken the most rigorous course load in high school, and AP courses are generally considered the most challenging.

Students who want to self-study should discuss their options with the school counselor. AP exams can be challenging and should not be undertaken without a genuine interest in the topic or with a specific plan in mind. It should be noted that self-studying for an AP exam is not a requirement or necessarily recommended by the SIS administration.