If you’re a high school student or about to begin high school, you may be wondering how to get ahead in college. One option to consider is taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses with CourseLeap. These courses can provide you with extra college credit and get you ahead of the curve!

Whether you are studying an international curriculum like the IGCSE, IB, or A Levels, or a national curriculum in India  such as the ICSE, ISC, or CBSE, you are eligible to take these courses and the final AP exams. However, before you decide to take up a specific AP class, here is a small introduction to the AP exams: 

1. AP courses were started by the College Board– the same American organisation that conducts the SATs.
2. AP courses prepare students academically for college level work, and provide them with the experience of an introductory-level college class while still in high school.  
3. There are 38 different AP classes to choose from including statistics, economics, calculus and maths.
4. Each year, millions of students across 120 countries take AP exams and send their scores to over 3,000 universities in 60 countries.
5. Unlike the SATs, the AP exams are multi-format achievement tests that consist of multi-choice questions (MCQs), free response questions and performance tasks for some subjects, such as the submission of a portfolio or a demonstration. AP exams are scored between grades 1 and 5 (with anything above 3 considered passing), and the scores obtained are valid for a lifetime. 

At CourseLeap, we are committed to offering academic solutions that not only enhance a student’s abilities but also enrich their academic portfolios. One such solution is undertaking AP Courses in areas of interest, and we highly encourage students to consider them. There are several reasons why AP courses are valuable to students:

1. AP courses can help students earn college credit, giving them a headstart and an edge over other applicants during the admissions process. By taking around 8 or more AP courses during their high school years, students can finish their undergraduate degree early because of their accumulated credits. For example, a high score in AP Calculus BC can allow students to skip directly to Calculus 301 in American universities, whereas students who haven’t taken the exam would have to start with Calculus 101.
2. The accumulation of AP credits can lead to significant savings on tuition fees. Some colleges allow students to earn college credits without paying college tuition if they score a 4 or higher. In some cases, this could even enable students to skip the entire first year of college, reducing not only their workload but also the entire cost of their college education by a quarter, including room, board, and living expenses.
3. AP courses can strengthen college transcripts since it gives more depth to a student’s academic profile. An AP class on a transcript signals stronger academic training – a characteristic most impressive to colleges. It demonstrates your ability to take on challenging courses as well as versatility as a student.

Students studying in an Indian national curriculum like ICSE or CBSE who want to apply to colleges abroad, should definitely consider signing up for these courses. A key reason is that American colleges have more faith in international curriculums when over viewing applications. Hence strong AP scores on your transcript would increase your credibility because they are highly reputable and recognised globally. 

Many ask the question of how many AP courses to take. Students in the  US aiming for top schools and universities can set a target of 10-14 AP classes over the course of high school. However, high school  students outside the US who are already part of another curriculum may consider setting a target of 3-4 AP courses alongside their non-AP curriculum. It is worth noting that achieving a score of 3 or higher in 5 or more AP Exams will  earn you an Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID). It is important for all students to strike a balance between their regular school academic load and other aspects of their profile development such as involvement in extracurricular activities, internships, conducting research, etc.

Students often have questions about what course to choose and how to know if they’re selecting the right ones. 

1. We recommend taking AP courses as early as the 9th grade. For students at this school level, AP Microeconomics, AP Environmental Science and AP Human Geography are some of the best options, because not only are they relatively easier than other courses, but students don’t need to have a background to start these particular subjects.
2. For older children, especially those who are looking to earn college credits, researching the different Advanced Placement subjects online and on the official College Board website is crucial. 
3. In general, students should typically pursue the subjects they are passionate about. However it is equally important to keep in mind the courses to further study in college. 
4. For instance if they wish to pursue engineering or computer science, taking AP Calculus BC is extremely advantageous. On the other hand AP Statistics is valued when undertaking majors in Business and Social Sciences (which includes economics), as well as STEM. AP Psychology not only opens doors to a Psychology major but many Social Science ones as well. 

At CourseLeap, we offer academic guidance and rigorous courses to help students select, plan and work through their Advanced Placement exams. 

Our offerings include:

Maths Courses: AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC

Non Maths Courses: AP Environmental Science, AP Microeconomics,     

AP Macroeconomics, AP Psychology, AP Biology, AP Human Geography, AP Computer Science, AP Physics 

Looking to participate? Contact Us to find out more about our cutting edge AP courses!