Are Advanced Placement Courses Really Necessary?

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses offered to high school students. There are currently 38 AP courses in the Arts, English, History & Social Science, Math & Computer Science, Science, and World Languages & Cultures, although not all are offered at all high schools. The curriculum for each of these courses is written by The College Board – the same folks who bring you the SAT exam – and there is an exam for each course in May.  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, close to three million students nationwide took more than 5 million AP exams, and their scores were reported to more than 3,300 colleges and universities.

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 successful complete college level work, are viewed most favorably by college admission staff.

According to the most recent report by NJ Spotlight, 28 percent of New Jersey high school seniors pass (with a score of 3 or higher) one or more AP exam by the time they graduate.  But locally, the numbers tend to be much higher.  At Montgomery High School, 66% of students took at least one AP exam and enjoyed a 94% exam pass rate.  Bridgewater-Raritan High School had 46% of their students participate in AP testing with a 95% pass rate, and Hillsborough High School had 38% of their students testing with an 89% 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, U.S. Government & Politics, World History, Psychology, and Calculus AB.  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 AP courses increasingly popular with the college-bound crowd.

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.