Advanced Placements Classes - High School Opportunities for College Credit

Many high schools already offer advance placement classes for students planning to attend college, and those that don't are coming on board on an ongoing basis. These classes are a tremendous opportunity for students to obtain college course credit while still in high school.

How Do Advanced Placement Classes Work

Details will vary per high school, but basically the high school courses are designed to prepare students for an American College Board Exam on a specific subject. If a student passes the exam, they are eligible to receive equivalent college credit as if the course was actually taken in college.

Excellent attendance is usually required for the prep classes along with successful completion of all course work.

Fees Associated With Advanced Placement Courses

Typically, a fee is charged for the national examination. The test is normally administered by the high school AP (advanced placement) class instructor and the exam is administered at the end of the course.

Fees typically run around $75-$100 per exam. This is nominal when compared to the cost of taking the equivalent course in college when you consider the fee per credit hour along with book expenses, not to mention the time saved by completing college level courses while still in high school.

It is important to understand that not every student will pass these exams. The best advice is to attend all AP class sessions, study the material diligently, and complete all course work and required reading. The purpose of the class is to prepare students for the exam, so attending and paying attention are key factors for success on the advanced placement examinations.

Acceptance of Advanced Placement Course Credits

Since these are considered nationally accepted examinations, most schools will accept these scores for review and award of credit. It is advised to check with each institution individually to make sure the credits will be eligible for award.