Where To Take AP Exams Outside Of School?

Most high school students worry about advanced placement exams because many schools don’t provide AP classes.

Especially in rural areas, students don’t have access to such classes. In such scenarios, they often look for answers for where to take AP exams outside school.

With the help of the AP course ledger and online options, students can take AP exams.

Let us discuss these options in detail.

How to Take AP Test if your School doesn’t offer AP Courses?

According to the Education Commission of the States, 77% of state schools have access to one or more AP courses. However, only some high schools offer the opportunity for AP exams.

Apart from this, some schools neither have AP courses nor provide the opportunity to attempt AP exams.

In situations like this, it is crucial to figure out ways to access an advanced placement course and appear for AP exams. Here are a few of them:

1. Search in the AP course Ledger

In total, there are 38 AP courses to date. AP Course Ledger gives you the updated list of schools that meet the standards of AP course audits.

The comprehensive list is searchable by country, state, city, school, and subject. The course list in the AP course ledger includes courses from 2007 onwards till date. The courses before 2007 are not a part of the list.

Search for a secondary school that is authorized to provide AP courses from this list if your school does not provide AP courses.

2. Reach out to the School as early as possible

If your school doesn’t conduct AP exams, go through the list of schools in the ledger and reach out to them.

Talk to the AP coordinator of any of the schools to find out if they allow students from other schools.

Do it as early as possible to avoid last-minute restrictions. Most schools have their deadlines and admission policies for taking outside students. The deadline is 15th November at most schools.

Once the school accepts your request, the AP coordinator of that particular school will tell you all the details about the AP exam registration. That includes the date, venue, reporting time, exam fee, and material.

Few schools accept requests after 15th November, which comes with late fees.

Better be proactive and find your options early rather than regret them later.

3. Enroll in remote learning

Many states provide virtual training or remote learning option for students at no cost. Others include the applicable fee for online AP courses in their regular fees.

The online school allows students to get the same academic rigor at the same level as the offline courses. They carry the same weight and have the same impact on college admissions.

However, there are specific requirements of these virtual training classes that a student should check thoroughly before enrolling.

Whether you take a free or a paid lesson doesn’t matter.

The important part is the school should offer what you are looking for and help you achieve good AP scores.

4. Take online AP exam prep course

There are AP exams, and then there are AP test Preparation courses.

AP test preparation courses are crash courses that familiarize the students with the test format and the type of questions.

The credit you earn in prep courses is less valuable than the AP college credit. Thus, it can not be a supplement for any AP exam.

However, introductory preparation courses are a good way to prepare for final AP exams.

5. Do self-study

In the age of google, numerous free reading resources and exam materials are available for students.

If your school does not offer AP classes, check out these resources and enhance your skills.

These study materials do not just explain a topic but also provide exercises and quizzes. It helps you to have a taste of what the future holds in AP exams.

There are short and informative daily AP videos created by AP teachers worldwide. Watch it anytime, anywhere, using your college board account.

How to make most of AP Alternatives

Okay, you know what to do if your college doesn’t offer the AP course you are interested in.

But how to make the most of the options that you have?

AP exams are expensive. They need hard work.

You cannot just enroll and hope that it works. Take these factors into account when choosing AP courses out of your school:

1. Make a wise decision

When you look for an online course or switch to self-studying, be practical about the not-so-supportive elements also.

Check the reviews from teachers, students, and others who share their experiences on similar choices.

Adjusting to a new learning mode takes time, but the decision is fruitful when you take it wisely.

2. Make a schedule

Your schedule should have extra space for AP exam preparation. It should not happen that the course and the practice both get out of sight, out of mind.

Create a timetable and set reminders.

Make it a habit to schedule your preparation related to AP classes and your regular schools separately. 

3. Look for an academic advisor

Academic advisors are those who ensure that student follows a workable plan which will help them to meet their educational goals.

Find an advisor who will keep track of your sessions and academic growth.

As a guidance counselor, they also help you with resourcing material from various state-certified academies via email. 

FAQs

1. Does the college board approve all online classes?

No, not all courses are college-board-approved. The ones not on the list of college boards charge you more to get college credit. Therefore, most students seek approval before deciding which class to enroll in.

2. Who creates the study material for the online AP classes?

The expert team of top colleges and university teachers creates the study material for online AP classes. The purpose is to ensure that every student gets access to relevant material which will help them to showcase their skills during college admissions.

3. What are the eligibility criteria for AP exams?

The eligibility criteria for the AP exam is that students must be less than 21 years of age. The students must be enrolled in a high school to take the exam. Also, those students who are in a high school but are registered at another test center are eligible. Students below ninth grade who have not yet enrolled in any high school but are ready for the exam can register for AP exams.

Anyone who does not meet these requirements needs to get approval from the college board via email. Only then can they register themselves with a test center.

4. What is a good AP score for college admission?

3- 5 is a good AP score for college admission. It attributes to 75% of the exam result.

Conclusion

Advanced Placement exams are the most optimal way to earn college credits and stand out during college admissions. AP exams require a lot of effort and hard work, but it’s worth it!

If the school doesn’t offer AP, look for options outside. Choose the one that matches your goal. Remember, taking an AP exam talks a lot about your capability to challenge yourself in your learning path.