What is AP Certification? What you need to know about Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program organized by the College Board that offers courses and exams equivalent to college coursework, allowing students to familiarize themselves with and deepen their college credits right from high school.

Established in the 1950s, the AP program helps high school students experience and get acquainted with the university learning environment right from the time they are in school. The AP program offers 38 courses in 7 areas: Arts, Science, English, History, Math, Computer Science, and Languages.

The AP exam is usually held in May each year. Students participating in the AP program will learn according to the curriculum and assessment standards of the undergraduate level. A good AP exam result will prove your student's academic ability, thereby helping you increase your chances of getting admitted and receiving scholarships from universities in the future.

The Advanced Placement certificate is for secondary school students from grades 10 to 12, suitable for those who want to try their hand at the university education program and orient themselves to a suitable field of study early. The AP exam assesses a student's ability and preparation before entering college and demonstrates a student's academic performance at the high school level.

AP Certificates for High School Students

Subjects who should participate in studying and taking the AP certificate exam include:

• High school students have the desire to participate in intensive learning and pursue their passion for their favorite major.

• Students need to be admitted to universities, graduate schools, and highly competitive scholarship programs.

• Students who want to complete their undergraduate program early. AP programs can help you complete some college credits in advance, allowing you to graduate sooner.

Increase your competitive advantage in university admission

AP certificates are recognized by most schools, giving you a competitive advantage in the college admissions process. A good AP exam result will demonstrate a student's ability to acquire knowledge at the university level, increase your chances of admission, and help you win valuable scholarships. According to the College Board, 31% of schools in the U.S. prioritize AP certification when considering students' scholarship applications.

Save costs and time

An AP certificate can help exempt you from taking some credits or basic college courses, which in turn will make you more likely to graduate sooner. Graduating early also helps to significantly save on study and living costs. According to studies, students who participate in AP classes at the high school level when entering college will have a much higher on-time graduation rate than students who do not have an AP certificate.

Helping students adapt to the university environment early

Advanced Placement helps students have early access to higher education, thereby preparing them well for future journeys and even increasing opportunities for career development in the future. When studying the AP program, students will have a clearer view of the field of study and the study program, orienting their passion from an early age. The program is also a premise for developing skills such as research, analysis, and problem-solving. This creates an opportunity for students to adapt better and easier when starting to enter the university environment.

4.1. AP exam fees in 2025

• The AP exam fee (except for AP Seminar and AP Research) held at U.S., Canadian, and DoDEA boards is $99 per subject.

• The AP exam fee (except for AP Seminar and AP Research) held at exam boards outside the U.S. and Canada is $129 per subject.

• The exam fee for AP Seminar or AP Research held at all exam boards is 147 USD/subject.

4.2. How to register for the AP exam

Around March every year, students who want to take the AP exam need to follow the list of AP exam locations on the official website of the College Board to download the sample and proceed. The AP exam organizer will have staff to support you in completing the procedures pay the exam fee, and provide information about the exam date, exam notice as well as other related issues to prepare for the exam.

4. 3. Exam location

Normally, the official AP exam locations will be announced by the College Board in March of each year. If you're looking to take an AP exam, check the College Board's website for the most accurate information. You should pay attention to carefully check the information and register at international schools or centers authorized by the College Board!

4.4. Exam time

The AP exam is usually held in May every year. However, the specific date, time, and schedule of the exam may vary depending on each region and organizer. The exam can last for about 2 weeks, and in July you can start receiving exam results.

4.5. AP Exam Content

Each AP test usually lasts about 3 hours and 30 minutes, depending on the specific subject. The exam usually has two main parts: Multiple Choice and Essay. Each section will account for 50% of the score. The questions will revolve around subject knowledge, and the ability to analyze and apply the learned knowledge to real-life situations.

Students participating in the Advanced Placement (AP) exam will mostly be guided by lecturers, providing reference materials including books, textbooks, review materials, and sample exercises. In addition, the College Board's website also provides detailed information about the exam structure, question templates, and reference resources.

Studying abroad is easy with an AP certificate with IDP!

Hopefully, the above article has helped you understand what the AP program is, the benefits of the AP certificate, and useful information about the Advanced Placement exam. If you are looking to study abroad, AP will definitely be your "ticket" to make your study abroad journey easier and more successful.

For completely free study abroad advice, don't hesitate to contact IDP for the fastest support. Coming to IDP, you will be answered with detailed information about the school, major, and place of residence that best suits your ability. IDP consultants will help you connect with prestigious partner schools in Australia, the UK, the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland, advise you on choosing the right major and course, support you in hunting for scholarships to study abroad from 30 to 100% of tuition fees, prepare study abroad documents, guide you to apply for a student visa with a success rate of over 95%.

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