Next week, students across the country will sit for the Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Administered by the College Board, AP courses and their accompanying exams have long been regarded as benchmarks for students’ college preparedness, offering a more standardized metric by which to assess a student’s academic skillset. Yet, given that some elite private schools have retired AP courses in favor of faculty-designed advanced and honors classes, many students and families are left wondering whether AP courses truly matter on a student’s college admissions profile. Is it still worth it for younger students to enroll in AP courses or sit for AP exams? Do these exams still carry weight on college applications?
Do AP scores still matter for college admissions?
In short, the answer is yes—on the whole, AP exam scores still matter to Ivy League schools and other top colleges. Securing a high score on these exams can not only benefit applicants in the admissions process, but also save students significant time and money in their collegiate career. Here are the top three benefits of excelling on AP exams:
1. AP Scores Benefit Applicants in the College Admissions Process
While AP classes and exam scores are certainly not a deciding factor in elite college admissions, they still play a significant role in elevating a student’s application profile. For admissions officers reading thousands of applications, AP scores provide a standardized metric of academic performance across schools and states. A 5 on AP Chemistry or AP U.S. History signals a student’s objective mastery of complex topics in a student’s intended discipline. Particularly in today’s competitive college admissions landscape, top colleges are placing renewed emphasis on objective metrics as they evaluate students’ profiles, an emphasis which extends beyond just the ACT and SAT. For students applying in this admissions cycle, Yale made the groundbreaking move to allow students to submit Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam scores rather than the ACT or SAT to fulfill their standardized testing requirement. NYU is test-optional, but they have upheld a similar policy of allowing students to submit 3 AP Exam scores rather than the ACT or SAT should they choose. These policies could indicate that other schools may follow suit, making the AP exams all the more critical for students’ applications.
2. AP Scores Can Be an Indicator of Students’ Future Success
Standardized metrics such as the SAT, ACT, and AP tests are more than a flashy number on a student’s application—they can be compelling indicators of students’ success once in college. For instance, last year, Dartmouth reinstituted their standardized testing requirement, noting that “high school grades paired with standardized testing are the most reliable indicators for success in Dartmouth’s course of study.” Recent research confirms these findings, with studies confirming that standardized test scores are more effective at predicting student success than GPA alone. The AP tests similarly correlate to students’ collegiate success. Research shows that even lower scores of 1 and 2 correspond to higher likelihood of four-year college enrollment, readiness for college coursework, and increased academic performance over time.
3. AP Scores May Allow Students to Bypass Lower-Level Coursework
Beyond admissions, high AP scores can translate into significant academic and financial benefits once a student matriculates. Depending on the institution, AP scores may allow students to test out of introductory courses, fulfill general education requirements, or even graduate early—potentially saving them thousands of dollars in tuition. Even at schools such as Brown University, where AP courses are not accepted as substitutes for introductory courses, they can allow students to qualify for higher-level courses earlier in their college careers, providing increased opportunities for students to expand their skillset and dive into advanced coursework.
For more information about AP exams and how to prepare for them, check out Command Education’s comprehensive guide!
Which top schools accept AP exam scores for credit?
While policies may vary depending on the particular AP tests accepted or the scores that correlate to college credit, hundreds of colleges accept AP exam scores for college credit in some capacity. Some of the top schools in the nation that offer college credit for AP exams include:
- Columbia University: Columbia accepts AP exams with scores of 4 and 5 for credit in some subjects. The amount of credit awarded varies by subject.
- Cornell University: Cornell accepts AP exams with scores of 4 and 5 for credit in some subjects. The amount of credit awarded varies by subject.
- Duke University: Duke accepts AP exams with scores of 4 and 5 for credit in some subjects. The amount of credit awarded varies by subject. Students can also use credits to enroll in more advanced courses if prerequisite requirements have been met.
- Dartmouth College: Dartmouth accepts AP exams with scores of 4 and 5 for credit in some subjects. The amount of credit awarded varies by subject.
- Harvard University: Harvard accepts AP exams with scores of 5 for credit. The amount of credit awarded varies by subject. Additionally, these exams can allow students to qualify for Advanced Standing.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): MIT accepts AP exams with scores of 5 for credit in some subjects. They also allow students to skip introductory-level courses in some subjects with scores of 4 or 5.
- Stanford University: Stanford accepts AP exams with scores of 4 or 5 for credit, permitting up to 45 quarter units of credit toward the undergraduate degree. The amount of credit awarded varies by subject.
- Princeton University: Princeton accepts AP exams with scores of 4 and 5 for credit in some subjects.
- Yale University: Yale accepts AP exams with scores of 5 for credit (with the exception of AP Calculus BC, for which students can earn credit with a score of 4 or higher). The amount of credit awarded varies by subject.
- University of California, Berkeley: Berkeley offers a particularly generous AP policy, accepting scores of 3 or higher for credit in many subjects. Requirements vary based on the school to which you apply.
- University of Pennsylvania: While UPenn does not allow students to use credit to waive General Education requirements, they do allow students to receive credit toward their major or enroll in advanced courses on the basis of their AP scores.
- University of Chicago: UChicago accepts AP exams with scores of 5 for credit (with the exception of AP Calculus BC, for which students can earn credit with a score of 4 or higher).
What should students do if their school doesn’t offer APs?
First and foremost, students should note that they do not need to take an AP course in order to sit for the exam. Given the benefits of AP exam scores for both the application process and college coursework, it may be strategically beneficial for students to study and take the AP exams independently if their school does not provide them. However, only students who have the time, motivation, and resources to self-study and score highly on APs—without sacrificing the quality of their grades in their high school courses—should consider this path. It is also smart for students to self-study for AP exams in subjects that they align with their academic strengths and intended majors.
If this option is not possible for a student, there are other ways to demonstrate their academic skillset to colleges—and potentially earn credit in the process. Students should always strive to enroll in the most challenging courses offered at their high school, particularly in their field of interest. While this will not necessarily translate into college credit, it will convey a student’s intellectual curiosity, academic rigor, and willingness to challenge themselves in the classroom, all of which will reflect positively on them in the application process. For students seeking college credit, dual enrolling in classes at a community college or local university might allow students to show their skills while bypassing general education requirements in their first couple years of collegiate study.
Originally published on Forbes.
