Your Guide to AP Tests and College Admissions
AP (Advanced Placement) courses and tests can be a worthwhile investment for the college-bound, but not every student has access to them at their school. We look at what to do in that scenario and how AP classes factor into college admissions.
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We often get asked “Do AP classes/tests even matter? Do colleges even care about them?” The short answer is yes, but we’ll use this blog to do a deep dive into what college admissions departments are looking for academically, how AP classes and test scores factor into that, and what to do if your high school doesn’t offer AP courses.
Do AP Classes Help You Get Into College?
AP (Advanced Placement) classes can help you get into college as part of an overall strategy to show academic excellence. When it comes to college admissions, particularly at elite schools, you want to show that you have challenged yourself to the extent possible at your school and that your coursework is driving towards a specific academic goal (usually your intended major). AP classes are a great way to do this if they’re available to you, but they’re not the only option. We’ll go into the others below.
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Can You Take an AP Test without Taking the Class?
Yes, you can take an AP test without taking a specific AP class. It may require more independent study on your part, however, and deciding to do so should be weighed against multiple factors, such as:
- Time and Energy: Balancing preparation for the AP test with other academic and extracurricular commitments is crucial. Overloading at the cost of other impactful activities may not be ideal.
- Score Usefulness: If the AP score supports college credit or advanced placement in college, it could have long-term value.
- School-Specific Requirements: Some colleges may weigh AP scores heavily in admissions, especially for specific programs, while others place less emphasis on them​.
Let’s play out two potential scenarios. Your school offers an Honors Macroeconomics course, which you are enrolled in, but does not offer macroeconomics as an AP course, nor does it facilitate the corresponding test.
Scenario One: You intend to enroll as an anthropology major. Your school offers AP Biology, which you are taking, and Honors Advanced Chemistry, which you’re also enrolled in. You know your top choice school likes to see AP scores, but you also know that economics will not be required as part of your major or core curriculum (sometimes called GenEds). In this scenario, it likely would not be worth the time and effort to pursue the AP test in macroeconomics. It could be helpful, however, to take the AP Chemistry test independently.
Scenario Two: You intend to enroll as an entrepreneurship major. Your school does not offer any AP classes, but your top choice school allows you to earn credits if you score a 4 or 5 on the AP test, and counts it as macroeconomics (rather than a general credit). Given its relevance to your major, and the fact that you will otherwise need to repeat macroeconomics in college, taking the AP Macroeconomics exam could be an excellent choice. The remaining determining factor is whether or not you have the time and energy to devote to independent study.
The bottom line is that the value of taking an AP test independently varies greatly. You’ll need to determine if it’s necessary to achieve your academic goals. And if you’re unsure, working with a guidance counselor or college admissions coach can help you make the right choice.
How To Take AP Test Outside of School
Currently, to take an AP test outside of your school you’ll need to find a local school that’s proctoring the exam and reach out to their AP coordinator to enroll for the test. You’ll generally want to do this by mid-November of the school year in which you plan to take the test. You can see the full guidelines here. Starting in May 2025, 28 AP tests will go fully digital, which may open up some alternatives going forward.
There are also several reputable providers of online AP courses, including Apex Learning and Florida Virtual School, which are recognized by colleges and universities. This would allow you to take the course and the test, and require less self-led study, though it would remain independent study.
How Much Do AP Tests Cost?
AP tests taken in the US typically cost $99, but what you’re charged largely depends on your school, or the school where you are taking the test. You can apply for financial aid and get a reduced fee through College Board and some states offer additional funding. Your school’s AP coordinator or a guidance counselor will be able to provide you with the most useful information, as well as help you fill out any necessary paperwork for financial aid.
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What If My High School Doesn’t Offer AP Classes?
If your high school does not offer AP classes, or they only offer a few that are hard to get into, you have options. The main focus should be on proving academic excellence and a continued commitment to a specific goal (often an intended major) and AP classes are not the only way to do that. Additional options include:
- Enrolling in dual enrollment or college-level courses.
- Pursuing honors or IB courses if available.
- Engaging in rigorous independent study or research.
You can also choose to simply communicate context to schools in your college applications. Clearly explain your school’s offerings and how you’ve maximized the opportunities available to you. Guidance counselors can also mention the lack of AP offerings in their recommendation letters.
If you’re truly set on taking AP exams as your path to showcasing your academic potential to universities, you’ll need to follow the guidelines we provide above to register for the intended exams. You will also need a targeted, focused approach to studying the material, either through self-study, private tutoring, an online course, or all three. If your school offers a class on a specific subject, just not the AP version, taking the class and using an additional study guide to make sure you’re covering all the important topics for the AP exam could work. A diagnostic test is also a great way of determining what you know and what needs more study.
Are AP Classes Worth It?
AP classes are worth it for many students as they’re a great way to prove to colleges and universities that you have the academic “chops” to succeed in higher education. They are well-regarded since they use a standardized test to assess how well students have learned and can apply the concepts taught in these courses. AP exams are typically seen as a strong measure of academic achievement and some schools offer college credits for students who earn specific scores.
Do AP Test Scores Help College Admissions?
Strong AP test scores (4s or 5s) can prove academic success and show that you can handle high level coursework in subjects related to your prospective college major, which could greatly significantly improve your chances in competitive college admissions. It is important, however, that they are accompanied by an overall picture of strong academic performance. For instance, AP scores are sometimes cross-checked with grades in the corresponding classes. A student with high grades but low AP scores may raise questions about grade inflation, while consistent performance in both areas builds credibility. It is also worth noting that admissions officers evaluate AP scores in the context of what is available at the applicant's high school. If a school offers many AP courses, admissions officers may expect strong candidates to have taken a challenging number of them. Lastly, AP scores will not make up for a weak application: you should have a cohesive narrative, clear goal, and well-written application supporting your academic performance.
Do Colleges Look at AP Test Scores?
Most colleges and universities look at AP test scores when available. Doing well on the exams can help your admissions chances and showcase mastery of the subject(s). If you have done poorly on an exam, you can request that College Board (the designers of AP tests) cancel the score. It will then be permanently deleted from your record and not sent with any other scores you choose to send to colleges.
How to Send AP Test Scores to Colleges
You can send AP test scores to colleges and universities through College Board’s online score reporting system. You are allowed to send one “scorecard” free of charge once a year in the year you took an AP exam. You can select which school gets the free report when you take the exam(s) or anytime before the decision deadline (typically mid to late June). Additional scorecards can be sent at any time for a fee of $15/report.
When it comes to Advanced Placement (AP) courses and tests the goal should always be to use them to prove academic achievement. While not necessary for college admissions, they can be extremely helpful, especially if you aim to get into an elite university, and earn you college credit.
We encourage all university-bound high school students to begin mapping out their academic journey in 9th grade to provide them the greatest opportunity. Our BluePrint college admissions program provides guidance for every year of high school and strong support for key moments, such as essay writing time. Learn more about the program and how it can benefit you here.
