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How to Prepare for the AP Exam

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What is AP?

AP stands for Advanced Placement. AP courses are called as college-level AP courses. High-school students can have a head start and explore more knowledge otherwise remain unexplored in high school. In addition, through Advanced Placement Test, students have the opportunity to earn credit or advance standing at most of the nation’s colleges and universities.

Why take AP?

A student can learn more in high school and have an opportunity to have a head start and standing out, which help his or her college admission process, in the same time the student can explore a variety of knowledge and find out his or her interest, which may lead to the student’s future path.

AP Courses

AP programs have 37 courses and exams across 22 subject areas, while a student home high school may only offer some of them. If the student is interested in enrolling in an AP course, please talk to an AP teacher or the AP Coordinator about the course the student is interested in.

AP Exams

If the student’s school offers AP, contact the AP Coordinator to register for the exams. Usually the AP Coordinator will order the necessary materials, collect registration fees, and let the students know when and where to appear for the exams.

Guidelines
The AP Exam does not require a student to take an AP course before taking an AP Exam. An exam can be repeated in a subsequent year. In such cases, both grades will be reported unless the student request that one be withheld or canceled.

Grades
AP Grade Reports are sent in July to the college or university the student designated on his or her answer sheet, to the student, and to his or her high school. Each report is cumulative and includes grades for all the AP Exams taken, unless the student have requested that one or more grades be withheld from a college or canceled. Visit AP Grade Reporting Services.

Great reference for preparing AP exams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a student take the AP Examination if the student has not taken an AP course?
Yes. Because most of the high schools only offer some of the AP courses, if a student has studied well and prepared well, he or she can take the AP exam and may get good grade.

If a student does not get a good grade on an AP Exam, will it hurt his or her chances for college admission?
It is said that if the AP test taker receives AP grades of at least 3 should be fine.

How many times can a student repeat an AP Exam?
Since AP Exams are offered once a year in May. A student only can take it when it is offered. A student’s grade report will include all grades for all the AP Exams taken unless canceled or withheld.

How much time does an AP Exam take?
Most of the exams take two to three hours.

Should a test taker guess?
Because the AP exam has penalty for wrong answers, however, if the student has some knowledge of the question and can eliminate one or more answer choices, guessing from among the remaining choices is usually to take the advantage of it.

What to bring on the exam day?

  • Several sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers for multiple-choice answer sheets
  • Black or dark-blue ballpoint pens for free-response questions
  • School code, may get on site if at home school
  • A watch
  • Social security number
  • An AP-authorized calculator for taking an AP Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Physics, or Statistics Exam
  • A ruler for taking an AP Physics Exam.
  • A photo I.D.

    • When will a student find out if he is eligible for an AP Scholar Award?
    If the student is an AP Scholar Award recipient, his or her school will be notified in the fall after the May administration. After that time, grade transcripts that the student request to be sent to colleges will include the scholar designation.

    Prepare for Advanced Placement Test, and wish you get a high AP score!