Advanced Placement FAQs

The Advanced Placement Program provided by the College Board is gaining popularity among students because it allows students to take up intro-level college courses while in high school. This is a great addition to their college applications since it proves that the student can take on college-level academics while in school.

Students can opt to take as many courses as they can while focusing on their high school academics, extracurricular activities, and ACT/SAT exams. This gives them extra credit in college and also helps prepare them for college by familiarizing them with the educational style in colleges beforehand. The importance of this course makes confusion and questions regarding it plentiful. This page deals with the most frequently asked questions regarding AP courses.

Advanced Placement FAQs

What is the eligibility criteria to enroll in AP courses?

All high school students are eligible to take AP courses. Some courses might have some prerequisites that the student might have to meet. Some schools might require students to clear a placement test before enrolling in the AP course. The correct information can be found by contacting their school.

Is it necessary for the students to take the AP courses to take the AP exam?

No, students don't need to take AP courses to take the examination. They can take the examinations independently, though it is recommended that they enroll in the courses considering the difficulty level of the subjects they plan to take.

Are AP tests administered online or on paper?

Some of the AP tests are going fully digital in 2025, while some others will be administered in hybrid mode. Some sections in hybrid mode will be administered online, and others will be administered on paper-pen. Some tests will remain unchanged and will be administered only on paper, but the College Board is moving them to computer-based formats in the future. To check how each test is administered, please visit the official page here.

Can the Digital Tests be taken at home?

No. The tests can only be taken at their school or an authorized test center.

What is the cost of an AP exam?

Registering for the AP exam costs $99 per subject in the U.S., U.S. territories, Canada, and DoDEA schools. Students will have to pay more than $129 for centers situated abroad. The College Board also offers a Capstone Diploma course with a fee of $146, which does not include the four extra AP courses students will have to take to complete the course. The courses that the student is taking must be applied for and paid for separately.

What is the eligibility for a fee waiver?

The eligibility for availing of a fee waiver is as follows-

• The respective school/district must participate in the Community Eligibility Provision.
• Schools must individually determine the student’s eligibility for a fee reduction.
• Once the student is declared eligible for a fee waiver by the College Board, they receive a $36 fee reduction per subject from the College Board and an additional $9 waiver from their school while applying for AP exams.

How many times can a student retake the examination?

Students can retake the examination every year if necessary. All their scores will be included in their score report unless the student has specifically requested to withhold or cancel a few of their scores.

Can homeschooled students take the AP exam?

Yes. Homeschooled students are required to contact the nearest school that administers the AP exams. Students can then apply at the said school depending upon their deadlines and policies for receiving external applications. The schools that administer AP exams can be found here.

Is the duration of the digital exams different from the paper and pencil exams?

No, the time duration allotted to the exam and the different sections will be the same for both digital and paper and pencil exams. The only difference will be in the questions requiring students to draw graphs and figures. In the digital exam, students must answer questions about the graphs and figures provided instead of drawing them themselves.

What are the popular AP courses chosen by the students?

The top 5 AP courses chosen by students are AP English Language and Composition, AP United States History, AP English Literature and Composition, AP World History: Modern, and AP United States Government and Politics.

What is the benefit of taking AP courses?

After completing any AP course students are interested in, students get extra credits when applying to a university or college. Colleges require students to meet certain prerequisites before enrolling in a course with them, and the AP courses are aligned to meet those prerequisites. Nearly all universities in the US and Canada grant university credit to candidates who meet the qualifying exam requirements, and their results are accepted in 60 other countries.

What if the student fails the AP exam?

There is no pass or fail score in AP. The College Board considers three an average AP score. If students feel they did not get a good score, they can cancel or withhold their score from being sent to the institutions. The student will not earn college credits for that AP test, but it will not affect their GPA. The student can re-enroll and retake the test next year if they want or drop the course altogether.

What are the devices used for the Digital Exam?

The exams are to be conducted on desktops or laptops that have Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebooks. Students can also take the exam on shared devices and iPads.

What is the AP score required to earn college credit?

AP exam students are graded on a scale from 1 to 5, and 3 is considered an average score. Different colleges require different AP grades, which can be found on their official website. It is recommended that students aim for a score greater than 3.

What is the procedure for sending scores after the test?

Students will be given the option of choosing the schools and colleges to which they want their test scores sent during the examination. Students can also send their scores to different schools through their College Board account for an additional fee.

When will the scores reach the designated colleges?

The schools and colleges assigned to receive the score reports during the examination will receive them within a month. Students can choose whether to send their score reports through the standard delivery or the rush delivery system if they are sending additional reports. The standard delivery will reach within 7-14 days and cost them $15 per report, whereas the rush delivery will reach within 5-9 days and cost them $25 per report.