Are you a high school student, or are you about to begin high school? If yes, it’s important to know that Advanced Placement (AP) Courses are essential when looking for that extra college credit. 

Students studying IGCSE, IB, A-levels and any other national curriculum (ICSE, ISC, CBSE, etc) can sign up for these courses and give the final AP exams. However, before you decide to take an AP class for any subject, there are a few things you must know. 

1. AP courses were started by the College Board – the same American organization 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. With over 30 different AP classes to choose from, more than 30 million students sit for the final AP examinations which are conducted in the month of May. 
4. Unlike the SATs, the AP exams are achievement tests that consist of both multi-choice questions (MCQs) and free response questions that 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 believe in enhancing student abilities and adding diversity to their academic portfolio and this can be achieved by undertaking AP Courses in areas of interest.

We are here to help students make their choice and we encourage them to sign up for these courses for a multitude of reasons. 

1. AP courses can help you earn college credit. Some students take around 8 AP’s (although some may take up to 14) during their high school years and finish their undergraduate degree early because of their accumulated credits. AP courses can provide a headstart and an edge over other applicants during the admissions process. For example, if you sign up for AP Calculus BC and obtain a high score, in American universities you directly go to Calculus 301 in college, versus students who haven’t given the exam and have to start with Calculus 101.
2. The accumulation of AP credits can help save on tuition fees, because students would have already completed six months worth of college time. For some colleges, a score of a 4 or higher would allow them to earn college credits without paying college tuition. Several students have the ability to skip the entire first year of college this way, thus cutting not only their workload but the entire cost of their college education by one quarter – a huge saving on room, board, and living expenses as well.
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 because they can compensate for any academic deficiency. Since American colleges have more faith in international curriculums when over viewing applications, having good 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. For those aiming for the top schools and universities it is good to set a target of 10- 14 AP classes during the course of high school, where you can take 3-4 per year. This is obviously not applicable to each and every student since they must strike a balance between their regular school academic load as well as other important aspects of their profile development such as involvement in extra curricular 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 Psychology 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 who are looking at these courses to earn college credit in particular, researching the different Advanced Placement subjects online and on the official College Board website is crucial. 
3. Students should typically pursue the subjects they are passionate about and are seeking to further study in college. For instance if they wish to pursue engineering or computer science in the university they have in mind, 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 are here to help students figure out what course to take and walk them through the guidelines. There are several resources, tutors and reading materials on offer that will help them through their advanced placement course and pursue what they love. Our offerings include:

Math Courses

• AP Statistics 
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC

Non Math Courses 

• AP Environmental Science 
• AP Microeconomics 
• AP Macroeconomics 
• AP Psychology

Do not hesitate to approach us if you need help deciding courses or have any other inquiries so we can understand your needs. The appropriate team member will get in touch with you shortly.