Hi! I've heard that there are college-level exams that high school students can take to earn college credit or skip introductory courses. Is that true? What are those exams called, and how can I find out more about them? Are they worth taking? Any insights are much appreciated.
Hi there! Yes, it's true that high school students can take college-level exams to potentially earn college credit or skip introductory courses. There are two main types of exams for this purpose: Advanced Placement (AP) exams and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams.
AP exams are associated with specific AP courses taught in high schools, covering a wide variety of subjects such as history, science, math, and languages. These courses are designed by the College Board and are meant to provide you with rigorous, college-level content while you're still in high school.
After completing an AP course, you can take the corresponding AP exam in May. A passing score on an AP exam (normally 3 or above out of 5, but sometimes 4 or 5 depending on the college) may allow you to earn college credit or bypass introductory courses in college. To learn more, you can visit the College Board's AP Central website.
CLEP exams, also offered by the College Board, are another avenue for earning college credit. These exams are available in over 30 subject areas and can be taken by anyone, not just high school students. CLEP exams can be a good way to demonstrate subject mastery and potentially shorten your time in college. To find out more about CLEP exams, you can visit the CLEP section on the College Board's website.
It's important to note that not all colleges and universities accept AP or CLEP credits, and even if they do, acceptance policies can vary widely. Before investing time and energy into these exams, research the credit policies of the colleges you're interested in, which can generally be found on their websites.
In general, taking these exams can indeed be worth it, as they can save you time and money by reducing the number of courses required once you're in college. Additionally, taking AP courses demonstrates to colleges your ability to handle rigorous coursework, which can be an advantage during the admissions process.
Good luck, and feel free to reach out if you have any more questions!
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