AP (Grades 10-12)

The Advanced Placement Program® (AP) enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. The program consists of college-level courses developed by the AP Program that high schools can choose to offer, and corresponding exams that are administered once a year.

Fast Facts

• There are 38 AP courses in seven subject categories.
• Each AP course is modeled on a comparable introductory college course in the subject. 
• Each course culminates in a standardized college-level assessment, or AP Exam.
• AP Exams are given in May each year at testing locations all over the world.
• Schools must be authorized by the AP Course Audit to offer approved AP courses and use the AP designation.

Benefits

• Stand out on college applications. AP courses on a student’s transcript shows that they have challenged themselves with the most rigorous courses available to them. Success on an AP Exam shows that they are ready for college-level coursework.

• Earn college credit and/or skip introductory courses in college. Most four-year colleges and universities in the United States—as well as many institutions in more than 100 other countries—grant students credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP Exam scores.