If I take an AP course, do I have to take the corresponding AP Exam? – AP Students (2024)

FAQs

If I take an AP course, do I have to take the corresponding AP Exam? – AP Students? ›

No, taking an AP course does not mean you have to take an AP exam. You can take the class during high school and opt out of the test, especially if you don't believe you'd do well on it. Taking AP classes can be a great way to show academic rigor, even if you didn't take the end of year exam!

While we recommend taking the AP Exam after taking an AP course, it is not required by College Board.

If a student is registered to take more than one regularly scheduled AP Exam at the same time, you'll see an alert (a bell icon) next to the conflicting exams for the student in the student roster in AP Registration and Ordering. You may switch one of the student's conflicting exams to late testing.

The curriculum is designed to prepare students for the AP exam, which assesses their mastery of college-level material in a specific subject. On the other hand, the AP exam is a separate test that takes place in the first two weeks of May.

We recommend taking the AP course before taking an AP Exam—but it's not required.

Passing an AP exam has many benefits: you may receive college credit, it may help you win an AP Scholars award, and it may add to a larger picture of your academic success that can help you get into colleges. Failing an AP exam won't grant you these advantages, but doesn't carry any additional weight beyond that.

An Ivy League hopeful might take 3 to 5 AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools, 2 to 4 would be enough. Senior Year: Take more APs in core subjects and additional subjects, again being careful not to overburden your schedule and to leave time for college applications.

Junior Year

Depending on what kind of school you want to go to, you should be taking between 3 and 5 AP® classes this year. You will need to manage your time well, however, as you also need to study for the SAT® or ACT® during this time.

Generally speaking, a 2 is not a good AP score, as it is not considered a passing score by the College Board. If you get a 2 on your AP exam, it might be better not to submit that score to the colleges you're applying to.

How many AP exams is too much? ›

College counselors recommend that students strive to take 5-8 AP classes throughout their high school career, especially if they are interested in attending a highly-selective institution such as an Ivy League college. That said, you shouldn't feel pressured to take more AP classes than you can comfortably manage.

If you decide to skip it, the main consequences would be the loss of the opportunity to earn college credit and possibly a loss of money if you've already paid for the exam. Colleges will not see that you registered and then skipped the exam, so it shouldn't have an impact on your college applications directly.

Okay, Seriously, Which AP Classes Are the Hardest? United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.

Potential to Earn College Credit

In addition to earning college credit, students who score well on AP exams can often skip introductory classes, allowing them to move more quickly into coursework for their major.

If you decide to skip it, the main consequences would be the loss of the opportunity to earn college credit and possibly a loss of money if you've already paid for the exam. Colleges will not see that you registered and then skipped the exam, so it shouldn't have an impact on your college applications directly.

There is a cancellation fee.

The College Board charges $40 for any AP cancelled after their test-ordering deadline of November 15, however, this doesn't apply to courses starting after November 15, such as one-semester AP courses taken in the spring.

APs are more “labor intensive” and require more hours and deeper understanding of subjects and coursework. In addition to rising to the challenge of college level work, students must keep pace with the class to adequately prepare for the exam. Catching up in an AP is extremely difficult.

Some students graduate from college early because of the credits they earn in high school through AP. This saves them money in tuition. Many colleges recognize that your AP scores demonstrate that you already know the material in certain courses they offer. So they'll let you skip those courses.