5 Reasons to Take an AP Course and Exam
You’ve probably heard from an older sibling or an upper-year classmate how hard AP courses and AP exams can be.
There are challenging course assignments, extra study sessions, and exam strategy prep times…it takes some serious dedication, especially if you are taking multiple AP classes!
And yet, over 2 million students wrote more than 4 million AP exams in 2021. Here are 5 reasons why students consider taking AP courses:
1. Earn high school credits
You earn high school credit for each AP course you take and get a passing grade on. So instead of waiting to take courses in college or university, you can learn the material earlier in high school.
2. Boost your GPA
Normally, schools report grade point averages (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. If a student achieves a top grade of A, that is equivalent to a 4.0. Since AP courses cover more difficult concepts than a regular high school course, some schools will give students a weighted GPA for the AP courses they take.
Meaning that instead of using a 4.0 GPA scale, they may use a 5.0 GPA scale to grade an AP course. For students who excel in their AP class, this weighted GPA will help boost their overall GPA when taking into consideration all the courses they take.
3. Make your college application stand out
Taking and passing an AP course shows prospective colleges and universities that you are serious about post-secondary education. Good AP exam scores (4 of 5) can further show the admissions office of your academic potential, especially if these scores were in subjects related to the major you are hoping to study.
But don’t worry if you didn’t get a good score on the AP exam, many colleges said that a low score will not hurt your application as long as your coursework and GPA in other courses qualifies you academically.
4. Earn college credits
Many colleges will recognize good AP exam scores as an indication that you understand the concepts in the corresponding intro-level college course. Often, a score of 3 or higher will earn you college credits and you can be exempt from taking those intro-level courses when you enter college, saving you tons of money; however, the minimum score required for you to earn a college credit this way depends on the college and subject.
5. Jumpstart your major and career
Taking an AP course will help you build key foundational knowledge and skills you need for a specific major or career you are planning to pursue. Instead of waiting for college to learn about what you’re interested in, you can start making those connections to these topics in high school via an AP course.
College Board created this interactive search that helps you connect AP courses with its relevant majors and career paths.
If you’re now convinced of the benefits of taking an AP course, you might want to check out the post Everything you need to know about AP in 2022, which includes AP course and exam registration information, along with the AP exam schedule in 2022.
Read more about AP and exam preparation:
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