Sac State / UC Davis MESA Center
 
Advanced Placement Program

The Advanced Placement Program developed and maintained by the College Board, is a college level curriculum taught to academically prepared students in high schools concluding in taking the college-level AP Exam. After passing the AP Test students at colleges and universities that accept AP test recommendations can receive college credit/units and even be exempt from taking specific courses. Universities vary in how they accept AP exam scores so students should check how school credit policies will process AP scores. To enroll in an Advance Placement course and/or register to take the AP Exam students should meet with an AP teacher or AP coordinator in their school or school district. The University of California though UC College Prep Online offers online AP courses. All students that wish to take an AP test should meet with a AP coordinator or teacher at their high school or district.

AP Test Fees and Waivers

The basic fee to take each AP Exam is $84. Some schools may require that the student's family pay this fee. The College Board offers fee reductions available for economically disadvantaged families. In California, eligible students in a school district that applied for the Advanced Placement Test Fee Reimbursement only have to pay 5 dollars. There are also fees for other Grade Reporting Services.

AP Test Grading

Grading on the AP Exam is scored on a 5 point scale. Multiple choice sections are scored by computer and free-response sections are scored at the annual AP Reading. These two scores form the composite score. The College Board uses a technique called equating that compares past exam scores and the current year's exam scores to find the level of difficulty of the exam and what the composite score range for each grade should be. A score higher then 1 on the scale is recommended as qualified or possibly qualified by College Board standards. University policies will determine how AP scores are used.
5 Extremely well qualified
4 Well qualified
3 Qualified
2 Possibly qualified
1 No recommendation.

Advance Placement Subjects

In 2007-2008 there are 32 Different Advance Placement subjects available throughout different schools in the United States. Not every AP courses will be available at each high school.