Advanced Placement, or AP, courses began in the 1950s and quickly became an opportunity for American high school students to take “college-level” courses while before going to college. Depending on how you performed on the AP exams associated with each course, you could even get college credit or skip ahead, bypassing entry-level classes for more challenging coursework once you were on campus.
Over the last few years, the value of AP courses and exams has been shifting. Fewer and fewer universities grant credit to incoming students for their high AP exam scores, and fewer and fewer universities are allowing students to skip 100-level courses based on those same scores. There are a number of reasons for this, but they aren’t all selfish and money-grubbing. One member of our team remembers her father telling her that skipping his freshman year writing seminar thanks to a high AP English score was one of his biggest college regrets. When she started her first year of college in 2011, skipping her freshman writing seminar wasn’t an option — even with her 5 on the AP Language and AP Literature tests. Partially in response, and partly out of frustration with how the AP curriculum pins teachers to a precise track, many high schools are even dropping AP courses entirely.
Despite these changes, AP courses do still provide value to students preparing to apply to college. AP courses are often the highest level a school offers. Excelling in the most difficult courses your schools is a way to help your application stand out, so taking APs can make a lot of sense. Self-reported AP exam scores for courses you took before senior year (most colleges do not require nor want you to send your official schools when you apply) also give colleges another quantitative metric to use when evaluating you. This is especially helpful for subjects that are not covered in the SAT or ACT, like languages.
But what if you want to take an AP test, but the course isn’t an option for you either because you are not able to fit the course into your schedule, or because your school doesn’t offer it?
You can take AP exams for AP courses you haven’t taken, but if you are considering this route, you have to tread carefully.
Even in this brave new world of the coronavirus, AP tests are still being given. Yes, they are shorter versions of the test and you are taking them at home, but we expect admission officers will look fondly at students who do well on their AP tests this year. And to especially reward students who go above and beyond by taking tests for the courses they weren’t enrolled in. It is important to note that we are not suggesting this for all students, and that you do not have to take AP tests to get into a top tier college. But, if you feel you fit into any of the categories below, perhaps taking an extra AP is something to consider:
CASE STUDY 1: AP English Language and AP English Literature
Taking the AP English Language and AP English Literature tests should be a no-brainer your school does not offer AP English, but you are a high-achieving student with a A- or better in English, you might want to consider taking these tests. Remember our team member we mentioned earlier? She went to a school that doesn’t offer AP English, but nearly every student takes the AP English tests — and she got a 5 on both. Prepare, study, take practice tests, memorize the test format, and you’ve got it.
CASE STUDY 2: Foreign Languages
If you intend to major in a language in college and there is a corresponding AP test for the language, you should be taking the test regardless of whether the AP level of the language is offered at your school. However, this assumes that you have pursued the language to the highest level that is offered at your school. If you haven’t, we’re curious as to why you think majoring in it is such a good idea.
Another reason to take AP foreign language tests is if you speak, read, and write in a foreign language fluently. If so, the test is fair game.
CASE STUDY 3: All other subjects
For all other subjects, such as Biology or US History, just to name two, choosing to take the AP exam without taking the course can be a risky decision. Why, you ask? Because AP English and foreign language AP exams rely (mostly) on a different system of learning than an AP Bio or Calculus test. If you don’t know a specific reference in AP English Literature, but you are well-read, a strong writer, and understand the test format, you can often work around it. If you don’t know a specific concept or process in a science or math AP, there’s no getting by it.
So, it is possible. But we don’t advise it unless you are able to work with a tutor, do extensive self-study, and have ongoing conversations with your teachers about what you are planning and what their concerns may be.
Remember, always go into an exam set up to succeed. If you aren’t willing to do the work to excel, that could be a good signal that taking the test isn’t worth it, and you should invest your time into other ways of showing that you are a solid applicant.
If you are searching for ways to stand out on your applications that go beyond grades and test scores, send us a note. We specialize in helping students shine.