Advanced Placement (AP) courses let high-school students take university-level classes and certify them with an internationally recognised exam. They are a strong academic signal, especially for US and Canadian applications.
Impact on admissions
Selective universities ask whether a student "chose the most rigorous curriculum available". Seeing 3-5 AP courses on a transcript shows the admissions committee real academic ambition. Scores of 4 and 5 also earn course credit or placement at many universities.
Which APs should you choose?
- 2-3 core APs aligned with your intended major (e.g. Calculus BC and Physics C for engineering)
- One supporting AP in an area of strength
- A realistic total that will not crush your schedule
AP exams take place in May; starting preparation in autumn lets you digest the material properly. In our AP Academic Support Programme we work towards your target score with subject tuition, question practice and mock exams.