Step up to the challenge and get the opportunity to prepare for college-level courses and to get college credit at the fraction of the cost of a college course. The Advanced Placement Program® is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Students not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases they also earn college credit while they are still in high school.
The below Advanced Placement courses are offered at Sequoyah High School. Click on each one to view the course description and any possible prerequisites.
Have a question that is not answered below? Ask it here.
What is College Board?
College Board is the for-profit corporation that created and operates the global Advanced Placement program (you may be more familiar with their other programs, the SAT and PSAT).
What is Advanced Placement?
An Advanced Placement course or AP for short is a class taken in high school that is designed like an introductory college class. The program gives students access to rigorous college-level work in the high school setting. It is called “Advanced Placement” because successful students have the opportunity to “advance” their “placement” in future college classes by scoring well on their AP Exams. Taking an AP exam in a specific subject and passing with a certain score can count for college credit. This college-level-curriculum-in-high-school and the possibility to achieve college credit are two elements that set the AP program apart from Honors and other rigorous-content high school classes.
Why should I take an AP Course?
These are the top-5 reasons: Chance to earn college credit, upper-level placement, or both. Chance to reduce tuition costs. Chance to graduate in four years or less. These potentials may allow students time to study abroad or double major. Chance to qualify for achievement recognition like AP Scholars with “Honors” or “Distinction,” which can strengthen your college admission portfolio. According to College Board, “85% of selective college and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions.”
When and what is an AP exam?
The AP Exam is designed and offered by College Board to measure the degree of college-level mastery students have achieved after completing an AP course. AP Exams are typically held in May and the schedule is carefully prescribed by College Board a year in advance. The Exam schedule can be found on the AP page of the school’s website. The official AP Exam is given at the school but not in the teacher’s classroom. To ensure a secure and unbiased test, AP teachers may not obtain a copy of the Exam nor are they allowed to proctor the Exam. The rules and regulations regarding seating, proctoring, what students may bring and not bring with them are all determined by the College Board.
How many colleges offer credit for AP grades/test scores?
Most colleges and universities will give you credit for AP courses if you meet the AP exam scores required by that institution. Check with the school(s) you’re applying to or use this College Board tool, to see what their requirements and parameters are to submit AP scores for credit.
What score do I need in order to get college credit?
Many schools will accept a score of 3 or higher, but some of the more competitive universities require scores of 4 or 5. Be sure to check with your college of interest and on this College Board tool .
How do I submit my exam scores to the college(s) I’m applying to?
When you take the test you will be able to designate the schools you want to receive your scores. Additionally, through The College Board website, you can create an account and view your scores.
Does the AP Exam score factor into a student’s AP course grade & GPA?
No. The score the student achieves on the AP Exam is not reflected in the high school course grade. The AP Exam, produced by College Board, is separate from the student’s “class grade.” In fact, since the AP Exam scores are not released until July, the teacher cannot use the student’s AP Exam score to roll into his/her class grade.
