WHAT IS THE AP PROGRAM? BENEFITS OF STUDYING AP

AP program, also known as the Advanced Placement program, includes courses and exams for high school students with good academic standing. The program is recognized at most prestigious universities, and more and more students have registered for the program. Why does AP receive so much attention?

1. What is the AP?

1.1. Advanced Placement program structure

AP – short for Advanced Placement, developed by the College Board (the organization that organizes the SAT test very familiar to Vietnamese students), is a popular program in the US and Canada for high school students from grade 10 to 12. AP is not a required standard curriculum, but rather advanced classes (AP classes) for students with good academic results, so it’s very suitable for those who want to try their best with higher education and career aspirations for themselves.

AP program consists of 38 courses with 7 main subject groups:

• • Capstone Diploma Program
  • Arts
  • English 
  • History and Social Sciences
  • Math and Computer Science
  • Sciences 
  • World Languages ​​and Cultures

Each AP subject will need to study for 1 year. Typically, students enrolled in AP program will choose a certain number of subjects to study, usually 2 to 3 subjects related to their chosen field. The knowledge, exercises or skills required by AP are equivalent to the first year university level. This helps students get acquainted and have the opportunity to earn college credit right from high school.

There is no uniform curriculum for AP exam preparation, teachers will decide how to teach and use AP course materials only as a reference.

See also: Typical subjects in Advanced Placement program

1.2. Advantages of AP certificate

• • Highlight academic records

AP is very popular in the US, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited in your study abroad options and destinations. AP scores are also accepted as admission criteria by most universities and colleges in more than 60 countries around the world. In addition, achieving high scores in AP exams is also a proof that students have academic ability, highlights academic records, and significantly increases the likelihood of receiving scholarships. According to College Board, 31% of schools in the US prioritize AP certificates when considering students’ scholarship application.

• • Save cost and time

Students with good results on the AP exam will also be exempted from some college credits. This helps you and your family cut down on tuition. Besides the cost, the time to study at university is also significantly saved. According to research, students who take AP courses in high school when going to college will have a 62% higher rate of graduating on time than students who do not take AP.

• • Adapting to the university environment faster

AP helps high school students have early access to college-level education, thereby well-preapred for the journey to college and even graduate school later. When studying, students will have a clearer view of the field and study program in the future. Therefore, you can easily pass the stage of adapting to the university environment.

1.3. AP Score Scale

AP exam is held once a year in May and June. There are a total of 11 question types for the AP exam. Usually, an AP test will include 2 formats. AP will be scored on a scale of 1 – 5 with 3 as a passing score, with the following specific assessment:

2. Why do so many students choose to take AP classes?

2.1. Important when studying in the US

If you get AP certificate, your chance of getting into top foreign universities is very high. According to a study by College Board, 85% of universities and colleges in the US prioritize students who have studied AP in high school.

2.2. It is possible to register as a private candidate

If the IB program requires students to attend and take the exams at a school that offers IB, AP allows all students to register as private candidates. Those who study at schools that do not teach AP or even those who practice at home have the opportunity to attend. This is also one of the main reasons why many students are interested in AP.

2.3. Deeply differentiated subjects in the direction of industry basis

In addition to being a fundamental preparation when entering the university environment, AP also plays an important role in providing effective academic and career aspirations. Unlike other international programs, AP courses are segmented towards a very specific industry base. For example, in Economics, if IB and A-level only have Economics, AP has two courses: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Similarly, IB and A-level have only one Physics subject while AP divides up to 4 courses: Physics 1, Physics 2, Physics C: Mechanics and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.

See also: What is specialized English?

3. How many AP subjects are enough?

Unlike the IB program that has a clear number of subjects and modules, AP does not have a minimum or maximum number of subjects that students can choose. Therefore, choosing how many AP subjects to study is a concern of many students.

The number of AP courses you need to take will vary depending on the university you plan to apply to. The more prestigious and competitive the school is, the more AP courses it will require. Thus, new candidates can demonstrate their ability and readiness to a high academic environment. Here are the number of AP courses required by quality ratings of US schools:

• • Top 10 schools: require 10 to 14 AP courses
  • Top 20 schools: highly appreciate candidates studying 7 to 12 AP subjects
  • Top 50 schools: priority is given to students who have completed 3 to 5 AP subjects
  • The rest of the schools: only require students to complete 2 to 4 AP subjects

4. Conditions for studying the AP program in Vietnam

Students enrolled in the AP program will find it difficult, especially for students transitioning from the basic program to AP or private candidates, because of the large amount of specialized vocabulary and terminology. Therefore, good English ability is a prerequisite for students to be able to follow this program.

A good level of secondary education is necessary. As an advanced placement program, a heavy load of knowledge is inevitable. Those with limited academic ability are not only at risk of getting bad grades, but also affecting their university applications.

In addition, high reading comprehension and analytical thinking skills are also required for AP students.

5. How much AP score is high enough to earn credits?

Increased college admission and credit exemption are major advantages that attract students to take AP classes. However, just studying and taking the exam is not enough, you need to get a high enough score to achieve the above.

• • Score 4-5: prioritized by schools in the admissions process, AP subjects are converted and credits exempted when entering university.
  • Score 3: schools will consider admission and some schools may accept to convert into credits.
  • Score 2: not accepted by universities, unless the corresponding academic year quota is not enough and cannot be converted to university credit.
  • Score 1: considered failing the AP exam.

See also: AP course

6. International schools that teach the AP program

Realizing the importance of the AP program as well as the desire for their children to be accepted by prestigious universities in the US, parents are increasingly paying attention and looking for schools that teach AP.

Currently in Vietnam, there are only a few international schools authorized by the College Board to train and organize AP exams. The AP programs at these schools have a specific and consistent curriculum based on College Board standards. Modern equipment and facilities are also one of the outstanding advantages of these schools. The following is a list of schools that offer AP programs:

6.1. In Ho Chi Minh City

• • International School Ho Chi Minh City – American Academy (ISHCMC – AA)
  • Saigon South International School (SSIS)
  • The American School (TAS)
  • Asian International School (AHS)
  • EMASI International Bilingual School (EMASI)
  • Wellspring Saigon International Bilingual School (Wellspring HCMC)

6.2. In Hanoi

• • Wellspring Hanoi International Bilingual School (Wellspring Hanoi)
  • Concordia International School Hanoi (Concordia)
  • Gateway International School (Gateway)
  • St. Paul American School Hanoi (St. Paul)

Intertu Education is currently enrolling AP program courses (AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP World History, AP Human Geography, AP Psychology…). If you have any questions about AP exam preparation, please contact us directly, via email or hotline for free advice.