Choosing which courses you’ll take in your next year of high school is tricky business. A lot of factors come into play. What subjects align with your interests? Which courses will stand out when admissions officers see them on your transcripts? Should you take honors-level courses? What about AP courses?
AP courses offer one enormous perk—earning scores of 3 or more on your AP exams may allow you to earn college credit! However, students taking APs often find that’s not the only benefit they offer. When it comes to applying to college, those scores can also provide valuable support for your high school GPA.
High school GPA has historically been one of the highest predictors of college success. That correlation still exists, but in recent years, studies indicate that average GPAs have increased nationwide, even though student content mastery has not, leading many to express concerns about grade inflation. Grade inflation hasn’t occurred at a uniform rate across all schools, though; variations in policies like unlimited retakes and late-work forgiveness, among others, mean that grading practices aren’t consistent across schools, districts, and course levels. For this reason, an A grade can represent very different levels of mastery depending on where and how it was earned. On top of that, there are more students receiving A grades, making it more challenging to differentiate student achievement and mastery at the upper end of the grading scale.
This is where AP scores are valuable; they provide standardized, externally benchmarked data for admissions officers and indicate the rigor of the courses you’ve taken. While grades are local, AP scores are national. Additionally, College Board studies show that AP exams are strong predictors of college success and are associated with higher college GPA, graduation rates, and retention. All of this means that while they won’t replace your grades, they can help explain them and differentiate your performance.
Your high school grades speak to your effort, engagement, and consistency of performance, while your AP scores speak to your content mastery and college readiness in comparison with other students nationwide. Together, they provide a more robust picture of your true abilities.
This doesn’t mean that it’s time to start skipping your English Lit 101 class or slacking off on that Algebra II homework. Schoolwork still matters! Colleges will notice whether your high school GPA is a 2.0 or a 4.0. They’ll also notice whether you took Honors Calculus or stopped at Algebra 1—rigor matters too.
This does mean that strong AP scores can add clarity to your performance, especially in an era of grade inflation, even if you only complete one or two exams.
It also means AP exams are worth serious, focused preparation, starting at least two to three months in advance of the test, whether you’re working with a tutor or prepping on your own. And if you’re taking multiple APs, be sure to have a comprehensive plan for how you’ll stay on track and manage your time.
Looking for help on your APs this year? ArborBridge’s expert tutors know the exams inside and out and can help set you up for success by reinforcing material your teacher is covering in class, providing detailed feedback on your school assignments, and supplementing your prep with additional readings, multiple-choice questions, and FRQs from previous years’ tests.
To start working with an expert AP tutor, contact us.
The recommendations above are general suggestions. If you have specific questions, reach out to our experts here. We’re happy to help in any way we can.
ArborBridge is the global leader in innovative, digital, one-on-one tutoring. With nearly a decade of experience teaching students online, ArborBridge supports students of all kinds: home schoolers, AP students, test preppers, and more. Our tutors specialize in creating personalized plans and in providing compassionate support for students and families.