The True Value of Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

High school students throughout New Jersey are preparing for the high-stakes Advanced Placement (AP) exams that will be offered from May 6th through May 17th.  These tests are offered at the culmination of AP courses – which are college level courses with curriculums written by The College Board – that often allow students to earn college credits while still in high school.

AP courses are offered in more than 30 subjects in Foreign Languages (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin and Spanish), Math (including Computer Science), History & Social Sciences (including Macro and Micro Economics), Art (including Music Theory), and Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Science). College Board statistics from 2017 cited that close to three million high school students took nearly five million AP exams, and the number reportedly rises each year.

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 states a requirement for AP courses, students are well aware that these higher-level courses, that indicate an ability to successful complete college level work, are viewed most favorably by college admissions staff.

Last year, about 28 percent of New Jersey high school students took one or more AP exam, compared to the national average of 23 percent. But locally, the numbers tend to be much higher. According to NJ Spotlight, an online news service, about 73% of students at Montgomery High School enroll in one or more AP course with 62% of these students passing one or more exam.  Both Bridgewater-Raritan and Hillsborough high schools reportedly have an enrollment rate of about 50%, with a passing rate of 38% in Bridgewater and 34% in Hillsborough. AP exams are graded on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) with a 3 considered to be the “passing” grade. However, the grade a student must earn to be awarded college credit varies greatly from one institution to another.  Some colleges award credit only for AP courses in which students earned a “5,” while other colleges will give credit for a score of “4” and even “3.”

The benefits are many for students willing to challenge themselves: AP courses give a welcome boost to a student’s weighted GPA, strengthen a student’s college application by demonstrating an ability to successfully complete college-level work, and can allow a student to earn college credits – ultimately resulting in a savings on tuition! 

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.