Are AP Tests a Substitute for AP Courses?
Your sights are set pretty high when it comes to academics: You have goals that center around admission to one of the top U.S. universities. Naturally, you want to do everything you can to set yourself apart from the increasingly stiff competition from your peers.
Where do advanced placement (AP) classes fall into this picture? What about advanced placement tests? Are AP tests a quick substitute for AP courses?
Let’s look at the answers to these questions so you can better understand how advanced placement classes and tests fit into your plans and make informed choices about your future.
What Are AP Courses?
Advanced Placement courses are college-level classes that you take while you are still in high school. They come in a wide range of subjects — everything from foreign languages and history to mathematics and biology — but not all schools offer every course.
At the end of an AP course, you take an exam that tests the knowledge you’ve learned over the course. Score high enough, and you can achieve college credit for the class.
Can You Just Take an AP Exam Without Taking the AP Course?
Yes, you can. If you’re a motivated student who is good at self-study, you can sit for any AP test you like without taking the actual course. This is a viable option for motivated students who want to branch beyond their school’s limited advanced placement offerings — particularly if you have a specific academic interest or talent in an area that isn’t otherwise covered.
This isn’t to say, however, that you should use AP exams as a substitute for actual AP courses. The value that you get from an advanced placement course goes far beyond mere additions to your transcript and college credit.
What Can You Get From an AP Course That You Can’t Get From the Exam?
No matter how much you excel at self-directed studies, there are some unique benefits to taking advanced placement courses that you cannot get any other way. Chief among them:
- You get a preview of the rigors of college coursework. Until you’re actually in college, it’s hard to imagine how the classes work and the ways that they can differ from high school classes. Successfully tackling an AP course can alleviate your fears about the academic challenges ahead.
- You will hone your college-level academic skills. AP classes require more reading, more studying, more writing and more critical thinking than the average high school class. You cannot hone those skills in a vacuum without instruction or feedback. Going through an AP course is one of the best ways to learn to handle the academic expectations you’ll face in the future.
- You gain an advantage in the admissions process. AP credit through exams may get you college credit, but AP coursework shows colleges and universities that you aren’t afraid to take on a challenge and can already handle college-level work. Having AP courses can also translate into college-specific merit scholarships and financial aid.
In short, successfully taking an AP exam does show that you’ve got self-study skills and knowledge of a particular subject, and it can get you college credit. However, taking an AP course shows that you’re genuinely ready to take on the rigors of university classes.
