AP EXAMS

AP (advanced placement) is the designation for a college level course taken in a high school setting for which the student receives both high school and college credit. Any enrolled student can take AP exams even if they have not been enrolled in the AP course.

AP exams are offered in early May at local area high schools and students should contact the school by October of the school year they are planning to take the AP exam. LVCA does not currently administer AP exams or offer AP courses.

AP exams are scored on a scale from 1 through 5, with a “passing” score of 3,4, or 5. A student who takes a high school course and passes the AP exam in that subject may receive college credit for the course and the HS course title will change to read “AP”. A student who does AP course work through an online program like UCCP http://www.uccp.org/ , but does not pass the AP exam may still receive HS credit based on the work performed throughout the course but the course will be posted on the transcript as an “a-g” college prep course.

Please note that college credit for passing an AP exam is granted at the discretion of the enrolling college or university. Your student can check the college website to find out if they grant college credit for a passing AP exam score.

All ESs should encourage their college bound students to consider using AP texts and attempting the AP exams. This is a great opportunity for high school students to receive college credit while still in high school.

AP Exams FAQS

Can a student take the AP Examination if they haven't taken an AP course?

YES. The College Board urges students to study the kinds of skills and subjects outlined in the specific course description for each subject. This information forms the basis for the AP Examination. The best way to cover the material is in a yearlong AP course using a recommended AP text. However, some students may have studied the subject matter in depth on their own. These students may be able to perform quite well on the AP examination.

What if, as an ES, I am not sure a student is ready for an AP course and examination? What should I tell a student so that he/she can succeed?

Tell your student that they need to be willing to commit to working hard. These courses move rapidly and cover a lot of ground. Students must be motivated to study and learn at the college level. If the student is committed to completing AP curriculum and putting in the time to complete the assignments, they will have met a major prerequisite for success. They must also be able to do the work. Their record in earlier courses is the most obvious indicator of that ability.

How do my students sign up for the exams?

LVCA does not administer the AP exams at this time nor do they pay for students to take the exams. The student must contact their local high school district early in the fall for dates and times to sign up for AP exams. Remind your students that there is a cost for each exam as well as a nonrefundable fee per exam.