All about Advanced Placement (AP)

In addition to the SAT, a student can appear for Advanced Placement exam to enhance his/her chances of admission to US universities and colleges. The AP program offers college level courses just after XI standard, thus providing one year benefit to the students. It is a subject test like SAT Subject Test, however, the syllabus of AP is of college level and is meant for students with high academic excellence.

Each year, College Board offers a number of AP exams on most core subjects. There are a total of 37 topics offered under the AP program and a student is free to choose any one of these subjects. The AP subjects include Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, etc. Every exam has both a multiple choice and a non-multiple choice sections. The subjects being currently offered by USA UnivQuest for the AP exam can be referred in the FAQs section on AP.

Advanced Placement (AP)

AP students are more likely to graduate from college in four years, whereas it is longer for others.

AP helps students qualify for scholarship. Most universities (31%) give credit to AP experience while determining the student’s qualification for a scholarship.

FAQs - AP

(A) Related to Exam - Format / Structure, Subject(s), Syllabus, Exam Date, Time Duration, etc.

1.	What are Advanced Placement (AP) tests ?
	Advanced Placement Exams are standardized exams to access the higher level academic preparedness of an aspirant in a particular subject. AP is designed to check how well you've mastered the content and skills of the course - a successful score could even earn you credit and advanced placement in college.
2.	How does the AP examination and scores help a student to seek admission in top universities and colleges across the world, besides US institutions ?
	Besides relief in academic duration and placement at most colleges and universities in the US, more than 40 other countries admit students based on AP scores. At many of these institutions, you can earn a full year of college credit with a decent AP score. You are advised to refer to the list of these countries on the College Board website.
3.	What are the advantages of taking AP exam?
	By taking AP Exams one gets an opportunity to earn college credit and placement. Most colleges and universities in the US grant credit and placement for qualifying AP scores.
4.	What is the difference between the SAT Subject Tests and AP?
	SAT Subject Tests are based on high school syllabi and reflect a student's readiness to take college-level courses in specific subject areas. And, AP exam checks a student�s college-level knowledge, skills, and abilities. AP Exams cover more advanced topics with a greater depth in comparison with SAT Subject Tests. Though SAT Subject Tests and AP can be taken by high school and senior school students (X, XI, and XII Standard students in India), admission to universities based on SAT score is only after a student completes XII Standard. Whereas, admission to universities based on AP score is advanced. For example, if a student clears the AP exam when in XI standard, he will be eligible for university admission (at the graduate level) the moment he completes XI standard, thereby saving one academic year.
5.	Which AP Exam should I take? How many subjects are under the AP program?
	There are 34 exams to choose from. A student is free to choose any of these subjects/topics.
6.	What is the format of AP Exams?
	Most of the AP Exams are two to three hours long. The first part of the exam consists of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), while the second part has Free Response Questions in the form of essays, solutions to given problems, spoken response, and etc. But not all AP Exams are pencil-paper exams.

(B) Related to Eligibility Criteria, Exam Dates and Number of Attempts

7.	What is the duration of an AP Exam?
	The total duration of an AP Exam varies from two to three hours. You are advised to refer to the College Board website for more details.
8.	When can I take AP Exams?
	AP Exams are offered once a year in May. Your AP Coordinator would notify you of the exact exam starting time. You can also take a look at the current exam schedules for days and dates on the College Board website.
9.	How many times can I repeat an AP Exam?
	You can take an AP Exam each time it is offered (AP Exams are offered once a year in May). Your grade report will include your grades for all the AP Exams you have taken, including yearly "repeats" of the same subject exam. You may refer to http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ap/about/dates, for more details.

(C) Related to Scoring and Result

10.

What is the grading system for AP?

AP exams are graded each summer by qualified teachers in the respective subjects. Exam grades are out of five. While AP Exam questions are significantly more difficult than those of the SAT, the grading curve is easier. Each exam has its own curve but generally 75% accuracy will earn a five. A three is considered to be "passing". While each college has different standards, scores of three to five are usually good for gaining college credits at public state universities. More prestigious colleges and universities in US only award credit for scores of four or five, and the "elite" institutions usually demand fives.