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While spring may feel unimaginably far away, we wanted to draw your attention to an important date that’s coming up soon: the November 15 deadline to register for AP exams. 

If your student is enrolled in a course for which their school intends them to take an AP in May, there’s no need to additionally register. But while many elite schools do not explicitly tailor their courses to the AP curriculum, the concepts tested on these exams are within reach for motivated students. Whether your child’s school offers official AP exams, offers a hybrid curriculum in non-AP courses, or has never mentioned the test at all, keep reading for clarity about how to succeed on these exams—and why they matter.

Why take an AP exam?

The short answer: apart from constituting course credit at some colleges, AP scores play an important factor in admissions decisions. Due to the wide variation in grading standards and course rigor, particularly after the academic disruptions of COVID, admissions officers look to APs as an objective measure of how well a student has mastered key concepts. Indeed, AP exams are one of the few remaining independent measures of student achievement at the subject level. A recent report by the College Board indicates that two-thirds of admissions officers look to AP scores as evidence of a student’s preparedness for college. But AP scores don’t just demonstrate mastery of a subject—they also show initiative and an appetite for academic rigor, which admissions officers frequently cite as distinguishing factors in their decisions. Going the extra mile to excel on the test—especially if your student isn’t enrolled in the AP course and if the AP course is relevant to your student's intended major—can be a powerful differentiator for strong students looking to leap ahead of the pack. 

Who should take an AP?

If your student is enrolled in a subject for which an AP exam is offered (see a full list of exams here), consider registering for the exam, no matter what. There is no penalty for failing to sit the exam, so students are free to register now and evaluate the difficulty of preparation closer to the deadline. Unlike other standardized tests, there is no obligation to report AP scores on any college application—they can only help, not hurt. Late registration is not possible, so if in doubt, register.

Common choices include U.S. History, English Language and Composition, English Literature, Calculus, and the physical sciences. The brand-new Pre-Calculus AP is a great choice for students not yet ready to sit for a Calculus exam, or whose math pathways won’t eventually lead them through AB or BC Calc.

How should my student prepare?

Though students’ existing coursework will usually prepare them to tackle the concepts tested, without tailoring their plan of study to the content and structure of the test, they will stand little chance of scoring as high as possible. Even the strongest classroom teachers working from an AP curriculum often don’t “think like the testmaker,” nor do they design their own assessments in accordance with the College Board’s scoring rubric. It’s critical that students study exactly what the graders are looking for, so they know to provide it on test day.

Working with a tutor who can help them quickly master the curricular idiosyncrasies and unique expectations of AP graders will help ensure their knowledge translates to a high score on test day. We recommend taking a multiple-choice diagnostic 3 months before the exam to assess remaining gaps relative to the planned curriculum, followed by targeted support for strategy (particularly on the written portions) and efficient study.

How do I register?

In almost every scenario, your school should have a designated AP coordinator who can assist with registering to take the exam at school. If your student is interested in taking an exam that isn't offered at school, the school coordinator can also assist in finding an alternate location. The deadline for schools to order testing materials is November 15th, so be sure to contact your school ASAP to ensure your child has a testing spot.

If you have any questions about whether a specific AP is right for your student—or about making a plan of study that sets them up for success with minimal impact on their other obligations—please do not hesitate to reach out.