Advanced Placement (AP): College Board & Testing Info

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Advanced Placement (AP) Courses & AP Exam Information:

The Advanced Placement program is a sequence of college-level courses taught in grades 10-12 by high school teachers with specialized training. AP courses require students to study content in a more in-depth and cognitively complex manner. Students can pay a fee to the College Board to take AP Exams in May. AP exam results are used to grant college credit and course placement based on student performance, according to the policies of individual colleges and universities. AP courses carry weighted grade points.

How to sign up for AP Exams at Anderson High School:

1. Join the AP Classroom

This step is done with the course AP teacher. Each section (period) of an AP Course has been assigned a particular "JOIN CODE." If you have not done this step, please see your AP Teacher. Do not use the code from someone else, as you may be registering for an invalid section. You must join each AP Classroom for each AP course you are enrolled in, even if you do not plan to take the AP exam in that course. 

Tip: Avoid using your school email; instead, use a personal email address that you check regularly.

  • If you are taking any AP classes, you MUST join that AP Classroom via your College Board (CB) account using the class code provided by the teacher. This step will also give the student direct access to AP course resources and assignment calendars. This step should be completed even if you do not plan to take the AP exam.
  • If you will not be taking the AP Course but will be taking the AP Exam, please contact the Campus AP Coordinator for the “EXAM ONLY JOIN CODE.” 
  • If you have not been able to gain access to your CB account or have been unsuccessful in creating an account, you will need to call the College Board Student Help Line at 888-225-5427.

2. Pay for the exam through Total Registration

  1. Pay for the AP Exam through Total Registration

Note that Step 1 & Step 2 must be completed by October 31st to secure the exam order. Payments made after the due date will result in a $45 late processing fee.

SAT, PSAT, & AP Accommodations

3. Applying for testing accommodations: Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)

College Board (AP, PSAT, & SAT) is not required to accept 504 Accommodation Plans utilized by the student’s campus, and may require a copy of a Section 504 plan nad additional evaluations to determine the student’s support needs.   

It is the responsibility of both parents and students to request College Board accommodations by the deadlines provided by the College Board.

If you are part of the national Free/Reduced Meal Program, you will get Free/Reduced Pricing for AP Exams. More information and instructions on how to apply for Free/Reduced meals can be found here. Free/Reduced Priced Exams are $21 per exam. To request the Free/Reduced Pricing, please select the option to request a waiver in Total Registration.

If you do not qualify for Free/Reduced Meals but would like financial assistance to help cover part of your exam fees, please fill out this Anderson Local Scholarship Form (https://bit.ly/AndersonAPscholarship) before October 25.

ACT

  1.  Register to test. Create an account or sign in. Online registration will require you to enter your high school code (440294) and indicate your accessibility needs. This must be done at least four weeks prior to the testing date.
  2. You'll receive an email that must be sent to your school official along with a completed Consent to Release Information to ACT (PDF) form. Complete the form and return it to Robin Spencer 
  3. After all these steps are completed, our school official will submit your request, along with the necessary documentation, to ACT. Please see Robin Spencer for questions or concerns 
  4. (email: robin.spencer@austinisd.org)

General Information - Anderson Honors & AP Courses

Honors Courses 
Academic courses that lead to Advanced Placement courses are referred to as Honors courses. Honors courses can be taken in grades 6-11. Emphasis is given to the skills and strategies students need to succeed in AP courses in the junior and senior years and in post-secondary education. Honors courses emphasize critical thinking, additional reading, research, writing, and as appropriate, advanced performance expectations.

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
AP (Advanced Placement) courses provide a college-level curriculum that is prescribed and accepted by the College Board. All AP courses carry weighted grade points. Students in AP classes are expected to complete more independent reading, writing, and problem-solving class assignments. After completing an AP course, students may pay a fee to the College Board to take the Advanced Placement Exams, which are held annually in May. Results of the exams are sent to colleges and universities designated by the student. Based on the student's scores and the university's course recognition procedures, college credit may be awarded.

What benefits do students receive from enrolling in AP classes?
Students who take AP courses will challenge themselves with college-level curricula, sharpen their academic skills, and learn to think critically and independently. Studies have shown that students who take AP courses are:
--Better prepared academically for college admission on all measures of ability and achievement;
--Better prepared to perform well over their four years in undergraduate work;
--Better prepared to be leaders and scholars at their chosen universities.

Weighted Grade Points for Advanced Academic Courses
All high school advanced academic courses, including Honors, AP, and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, carry weighted grade points, as they follow curriculum guidelines and expectations set forth by their respective academic organizations. Dual credit and college articulated courses also receive weighted grade points. Learn more about AP Courses HERE

I've taken AP tests... now what?

Check out the College Board's AP Credit Policy Search tool HERE - find colleges that offer credit or placement for AP scores
There are also search tools on college websites that can help determine the college credit earned for AP testing.  Some popular options are listed below:

University of Texas     
Texas A&M University
Texas State University
Texas Tech University
Baylor University
University of Houston
Rice University
University of Texas-San Antonio
University of Texas- Dallas
Southwestern University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Trinity University
University of Arizona
Arizona State University
University of Arkansas
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University
Louisiana State University - LSU
University of Mississippi
University of Alabama
University of Georgia
University of Florida
University of South Carolina
University of Southern California
Stanford University
Northwestern University
University of Colorado-Boulder
Colorado State University