AP Question?

Question

If I take an AP course which the only one I'm elegiable to take this year is AP Biology as an elective. If I take it will it count towards a science credit in college or a Biology credit? As if it's a biology credit what determines that you are going to take biology in the first place to use that credit? I was thinking it was just a regular science credit but was not sure. Please provide some insight on AP classes I'm new to this and this year is the first year I'm elegiable for these and the next 2 (Jr. & Sr.) will open up another good 10-12 that I can try for.

Does any one have experience with the tests and are they that hard for a soph?

Answer 1

It depends on the college you will attend. Some colleges allow the APs (depending on what they were and how you did on the exams) to count toward credit (ie you take fewer courses to graduate, can graduate early, etc.) Others (like Williams College) just let you bypass certain basic courses and start at a higher level...but you still have to take x number of courses per semester and to graduate (ie no graduating early based on AP credits.)

Regardless, it is good for the colleges to see that you are challenging yourself by taking AP classes as you're able.

My freshman-in-college son took two AP courses as a sophomore and got 5s on both tests, but he's an exceptional student. My current junior-in-high school took AP Euro in 10th grade and got a 5, and he generally has to work much harder than his brother. Net/net, you are probably going to do fine if you put in the time and effort. I suggest you get the Barron's or Princeton Review guidebooks for the AP test and read up on them as you prepare throughout the entire winter/spring semester at school.

Best of luck to you!!!!

Answer 2

Just taking the AP course is not enough, you have to pass the AP exam which is administrated separately. You can pass an AP class and get the credit for high school but fail the exam and not get the college credit. The credit would be for biology or general science, depending on the college you attend. Normally it would be Biology. If you pass the exam , even if you do not NEED biology, it would count as science credits towards graduation no matter what.

Answer 3

I took AP Bio as a Senior in HS and recieved 4 credit hours of biology credit for my general education requirement at my university. Biology met a requirement for my general education AND for a program (psychology) requirement which I needed to graduate from my college. I took about 4 AP classes in HS, out of which I recieved college credit for two- Bio and Psychology. I remember spending a lot more time studying for the Bio than the psych one. It's definitely a LOT easier to learn if you really process the information as you learn it (ie- read the book, make diagrams, flash cards, anything that works for you) and then go back and study old things you've learning during the year instead of waiting until the end of the semester before the AP exam to actually review everything. Good luck!