Are AP Courses Really Necessary?

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses, with the curriculum written by The College Board – the same folks who bring you the SAT exam – and offered to high school students. AP courses are offered in 36 subjects in the Arts, English, History & Social Science, Math & Computer Science, Science, and World Languages & Cultures.  AP exams are offered each May and students who score 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) are offered college credits by many of the nation’s colleges and universities.  Last May, more than a million students nationwide took close to 4 million AP exams.

Parents and students often ask, “Are AP courses really necessary?”  The answer is both yes and no – depending on the student’s ambitions and college goals.  When students apply to college, they are basically in competition with their peers.  Most colleges want a geographically well-rounded student body. So college admissions officers will compare all of their applicants from the same high school and favor those with the most impressive academic record based on SAT scores, GPA, and competitive course load.  While there is no college in the country that outwardly states a requirement for AP courses, students are well aware that these higher-level courses, that indicate an ability to successfully complete college level work, are viewed most favorably by college admission staff.

Last year, 28 percent of New Jersey high school students took one or more AP exam, compared to the national average of 22.8 percent. But locally, the numbers tend to be much higher.  At Montgomery High School, 59% of students took at least one AP course last year and enjoyed a 93% exam pass rate (of 3 or higher).  Bridgewater-Raritan High School had 46% of their students participating in the AP program with a 91% exam pass rate, and Hillsborough High School had 44% of their students participating with an 85% exam pass rate. 

Students who participate in the AP program take, on average, three courses during their high school years.  The most popular are: English Language & Composition, U.S. History, English Literature & Composition, Calculus AB, and U.S. Government & Politics.  Of course, there are some students who take ten or more exams – sometimes allowing them to complete a year of college before ever stepping foot on campus.  These students are definitely raising the bar for their classmates, making students think twice about whether or not AP courses are really necessary.

Susan Alaimo is the founder of SAT Smart. For the past 25 years, SAT Smart’s Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT, SAT, ACT, Subject Tests, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.SATsmart.com or call 908-369-5362.