AP Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is AP?
2. Why should I be interested in taking AP courses?
3. What are the AP exams?
4. How is the AP exam scored?
   
5. Which AP course should I take?
6. How do I register for the AP exams?
7. Why should I choose Excel Test Prep for my AP exam prep?

1. What is AP?

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) gives high school students an opportunity to take college-level courses and exams, and earn credit, advanced placement or both for college. The AP Exams are created by Educational Testing Service (ETS). ETS is paid by the College Board to create the exam. 

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2. Why should I be interested in taking AP courses?

By taking an AP course, you're letting colleges and universities know that you have what it takes to succeed in an undergraduate environment. AP courses signal to admissions officers that you've undertaken the most rigorous classes your high school has to offer. They see that you've challenged yourself with college-level course work and expectations, and have refined your skills to meet these expectations. In the increasingly competitive admissions process, this knowledge can be very valuable in making you stand out.

By taking an AP course, you aren't just distinguishing yourself in the college admissions process; you are also building the skills you'll need throughout your college years. Since AP courses give you the opportunity to get your hands on real college-level work while still in high school, you'll get a great idea of what to expect later on. 

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3. What are AP Exams?

The AP Exams are rigorous tests that are given at the end of every AP course. These exams are designed to test the student's knowledge as well as their ability to handle and retain college-level information. The exams are approximately 3 hours long and test material taught throughout the entire year. Each exam contains both a free-response section and a multiple-choice section, with the exception of the Studio Art (2D and 3D) exams.  If a student passes the AP exam, his or her AP course will count as college credit toward his or her degree.

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4. How are the AP Exams scored?
The AP Exams are scored by both AP teachers and college faculty. The multiple choice section is graded by computer, but free response questions are scored by thousands of college faculty and AP teachers every year. In each subject, a highly respected and qualified college faculty member scores for the free responses are combined with weighted scores from the multiple choice section. These raw scores are converted into final AP Exam scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. A score of 3 is typically considered as "passing."

While colleges and universities are responsible for setting their own credit and placement policies, AP scores signify how qualified students are to receive college credit or placement. Visit the AP Credit Policy Lookup at http://collegesearch. collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp to see specific colleges' guidelines on accepting AP scores for credit and placement.

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5. Which AP course should I take?
If you know what you want to major in at college, taking an AP course related to that major and earning a qualifying score on the AP exam can help you gain advanced placement out of introductory courses. Even if you take an AP exam unrelated to your major — or if you're not sure what you want to major in —AP courses can often help you place out of your colleges' general education requirements. Currently more than 90 percent of colleges and universities across the country offer college credit, advanced placement, or both, for qualifying AP exam scores. AP Courses are much more rigorous than regular high school courses, so be sure to choose a subject with which you are already strong. It also helps to choose a subject you are genuinely interested in; your genuine interest will make the coursework more rewarding.

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6. How do I register for the AP Exams?
AP Exams are hosted at the same schools that the courses are given. Call and ask your high school AP teachers about how to pay for and register for the AP Exams. If you are a homeschooled student or attend a school that does not offer AP, you can still take the exams by arranging to take the exam at a participating school. Call AP Services (at 609-771-7300 or 888-225-5427) no later than March 1 to get the names and phone numbers of local AP Coordinators. 

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7. Why should I choose Excel Test Prep for my AP exam prep?
Excel Test Prep has dedicated, specialized instructors that are experts in their respective fields. We also have a long record of maximizing students' scores and we will help you succeed in your AP Exams.
We use 100% REAL AP exams for practice. This way, there are no surprises for Excel students when they take their AP Exams.
Course materials includee heavily researched original material with tricks and tips to do well on the AP Exams.

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