how to take an ap test when your school doesn't offer the course

If your school doesn’t offer the exam you want to take, you’ll need to arrange to take the exam at a local school that does administer it. Your first step is to search the AP Course Ledger. The AP Course Ledger is the official, up-to-date, comprehensive list of schools that have passed the AP Course Audit.

Full Answer

Can I take the AP exam at my school?

You will have to arrange to take the exam at your school or, if your school doesn’t administer the exam, at a local school or testing center that administers it. See The AP Exam I want to take isn’t offered at my school.

How can I get into college with no AP classes?

Taking a course at a local college is one option for students who lack access to AP classes. AP courses aren't the only way to strengthen college applications. (Getty Images) Many colleges encourage future applicants to challenge themselves by taking rigorous courses in high school, such as Advanced Placement courses.

Do all high schools offer AP courses?

Many colleges encourage future applicants to challenge themselves by taking rigorous courses in high school, such as Advanced Placement courses. AP courses can help high school students prepare for college-level work, earn college credit and boost their college applications. But not every high school offers AP courses.

What happens if you pass the AP test?

If you pass the AP exam by scoring a 3 or above, you might be able to earn college credit or place out of introductory college classes. Can AP Tests Actually Save You Thousands of Dollars?

How do I take AP test if my school doesn't offer them?

Your first step is to contact AP Services for Students via our online form or call 888-225-5427 (toll free in the United States and Canada) or +1-212-632-1780. That office can give you contact information for local AP coordinators who may be willing to test outside students.

Is there a way to take AP classes outside of school?

You cannot take an AP class outside of school. You CAN, however, prep yourself independently by using youtube, prep books (I recommend Barron's), and other materials to take the exam in May which you can register for independently.

Can I take the AP Exam without the class?

According to the College Board, yes, you can take an AP test without taking an AP class. But if you decide to take an exam without taking a class, you might want to check out the College Board website for information about how the test is structured and what it tests.

Can Homeschool kids take AP tests?

Parents and students cannot order AP Exams directly. Students who are homeschooled, independent study, attend virtual schools, or attend schools that don't administer AP Exams will need to find a school where they can test.

Can you take an AP exam online?

In 2020 only, you can take AP Exams at home on a smartphone, tablet, or computer. We know that students all over the world are facing unexpected challenges because of the coronavirus (COVID-19). That's why we created a secure way for you to take AP Exams at home. Your health and safety are our top priority.

Can I take an AP test after high school?

If you opt to go this route, it is critical that you conduct research before your gap year to verify that you will have a place to test as not all high schools and online AP providers allow students to sit for AP exams after high school graduation.

What is the easiest AP exam?

The five easiest exams for self-study are as follows: AP Human Geography. AP Psychology. AP US Government and Politics. AP Comparative Government and Politics.

Can you take an AP class over the summer?

As noted above, you can take AP courses over the summer. You can take them online or in person, if you have access to a local school that offers AP courses in the summer. You can also take AP courses online during the traditional school year. Taking AP courses as a homeschooled student is an excellent idea.

What to do if your school doesn't offer the exam?

If your school doesn’t offer the exam you want to take, you’ll need to arrange to take the exam at a local school that does administer it.

When is the AP course ordering deadline for 2021?

Look for and contact schools as early in the school year as possible. Schools may have their own local deadlines and policies for receiving requests from outside students to test at their school, so you’ll want to give yourself as much time as possible to contact schools. Updates will be made to the AP Course Ledger for 2021-22 in November, so if you still need to find possible schools, you can check the Ledger again in November to see if any schools in your area were added. The exam ordering deadline for schools is November 15.

How to prepare for AP exam?

Consider an online AP course. You may be able to prepare for an AP Exam by taking an online AP course from an authorized AP provider. These classes are similar to the year-long AP courses offered at some schools, but they’re offered online by third-party providers. To find AP online providers, go to the AP Course Ledger and put “online” in the field for “high school name.”

Do you need a lab for science?

For the science exams, you’ll need access to a lab to prepare for the exam questions, which are based on experiences and skills that students acquire in the lab.

How to contact AP Services?

Here’s how. Your first step is to contact AP Services for Students at 888-225-5427 (toll free in the United States and Canada) or +1-212-632-1780 or apstudents@info.collegeboard.org. That office can give you contact information for local AP coordinators who may be willing to test outside students.

Can I register for AP exam if school doesn't offer AP courses?

Can I register for an AP Exam if my school doesn’t offer AP courses or administer AP Exams? Yes. You can’t order AP Exams directly, but you should be able to arrange to take exams at a nearby high school that administers AP Exams. Here’s how.

What to do if your school doesn't offer AP classes?

What to Do If Your School Doesn't Offer AP Courses. Taking a course at a local college is one option for students who lack access to AP classes. AP courses aren't the only way to strengthen college applications.

Why do colleges use AP courses?

AP courses can help high school students prepare for college-level work, earn college credit and boost their college ...

What are some ways to take advantage of dual enrollment?

3. Online college courses. Students can also take advantage of online dual enrollment opportunities from colleges, experts say. High school counselors may be able to help students find an appropriate online course, Latting says.

Why is it important to take challenging courses in high school?

By taking and succeeding in some of the most challenging courses available at their high school, students will show colleges that they took advantage of the opportunities they could, experts say.

How do admissions officers learn about high schools?

Another way admissions officers learn about high schools is through the school profiles submitted with a student's application. These profiles are written by the high school and contain information about its curriculum, average student test scores and more.

What does Hawkins do if no one is available locally?

If no one is available locally, Hawkins encourages students to broaden their search by looking for people and organizations online.

Do you have to enroll in an AP class to take the AP exam?

4. AP self-study. Students don't have to enroll in an AP class in order to sit for an AP exam. They can study on their own, though students have to be motivated in order to do this, Rosenshein Atkin says.

Can I take AP if I haven't taken AP?

Can I take the AP Exam if I haven’t taken an AP course? Yes. We recommend taking the AP course before taking an AP Exam—but it’s not required. We want to be sure homeschooled students and students in schools that don’t offer AP can take AP Exams.

Is AP research an exception?

Note: AP Seminar and AP Research are exceptions. In order to take the AP Seminar end-of-course exam and/or submit AP Seminar or AP Research performance tasks, a student must be enrolled in the AP Seminar or AP Research course at a school participating in the AP Capstone Diploma program.

Dual Enrollment Programs

There are lots of programs that allow high school students to take college level classes at community colleges or universities that count for both high school and college credit.

Take The AP Exam Anyway

You don’t have to take an AP course to take an AP exam. It will be a lot harder to get a desirable score, but if you’re driven there are lots of free test prep tools and apps you can use.

Take Honors Classes

Most schools have honors courses and even if you’re only choosing from regular classes there are some that are more challenging or academically enriching than others. Don’t shy away from courses like Physics, Calculus, or Marine Biology. Don’t be afraid to take some academically enriching electives either!

Study Hard

Make sure you’re getting good grades in the classes that are available to you.

Write a Great Essay

Okay so you didn’t take AP English, that doesn’t mean you can’t show off your great writing skills. Use your college application essay to highlight your writing skills and show admissions officers a side of you that your transcript doesn’t expose.

Make Your Weekends and After School Count

Colleges like well-rounded students so what you’re doing outside of school can also help you shine. It wouldn’t hurt you to get involved in some extracurricular activities or find an internship, job, or opportunities to volunteer!

Can you feel trapped by school administrative constraints?

Never feel trapped by a school’s administrative constraints. You can be the author of your own educational success by simply taking control of things like this. Good for you for asking this question!

Can I take AP classes online?

Yes. At my school I have AP classes as well as duel enrollment, however some chose to take AP classes during the summer or even during the school year . They can take the classes at nearby colleges or online. When and if they pass the AP test, the credits are transferred.

Can you take the AP test on a course?

YOU CAN TAKE the AP test on a course you’ve completed, whether it was taught as an AP Course… OR NOT.

Is 2 AP class good?

2 AP classes is fine. You will be able to get accepted to a very good university that is a good fit for you.

Do high schools have free online classes?

Yes, many states have free public online high schools, with most students just taking classes not offered by their “regular” high school, like AP classes. I taught a section of AP Economics a few years ago for Virtual Learning Academy in New Hampshire, for example.

Can I take the AP test independently?

Probably not, but if you learn the material independently then you may be able to find somewhere to take the test. Self study of the difference between your school course and the AP one is possible in some cases, and I know someone who sat a ton of exams for classes they never took any version of. Completely self studied. (I just taught myself the difference between honors and AP once, for a history class.)

Does MIT take AP classes?

Don't waste your time . MIT receives tens of thousands of applications from people who take ap classes, what will make you stand out is a specialization.

What percentage of high school students have AP classes?

For some high school students, course program options are limited. In fact, while the Education Commission estimates that more than 90% of students in suburban and urban settings have access to at least one AP class, that estimate falls to just 70% for students in rural settings. You might read about AP classes and wonder how you’ll ever stack up on your college application if your high school doesn’t offer these options. If this is you, don’t worry—there are many options out there for high school students who don’t have access to AP classes within their schools.

What is AP class?

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are a preferred route for taking on more challenging coursework. They allow college hopefuls to sample college level work, earn college credit, and boost the strength of college applications. But they aren’t always available.

How to learn about honors classes?

To learn more about honors classes at your school, check out your school’s course offerings and discuss them with a guidance counselor or trusted teacher. For more information about whether or not honors classes are right for you, don’t miss our posts Should You Take Harder High School Classes or Those You Know You’ll Do Well In? and Should I Take AP/IB/Honors Classes?

Why do you need to take classes in person?

In addition, taking a class in person will mean that you build important relationships with college professors. These mentors may help you to make decisions about your academic future and even eventually provide a recommendation for you, should you need one.

Is AP a prerequisite for college?

Luckily, AP classes aren’t a prerequisite for getting into a great college. There are many other options that demonstrate your academic prowess and may even show off your ability to create opportunities for yourself.

Do you have to live close to college to take online classes?

One of the great things about online college classes is that you don’t have to live in close proximity to the college in order to take the class. You should be able to browse online course catalogs at most colleges simply by going to their websites.

Is it better to take a class in person or online?

In-Person College Classes. Taking a college class in person is another great idea, and it has many of the same benefits of online courses. You’ll establish your academic readiness for college level work and you might earn credits that will ultimately cut future college costs.

What to do if you are homeschooled and don't take AP exams?

Your first step is to search the AP Course Ledger.

When is the deadline for homeschooling AP exams?

The deadline for exam ordering will be extended to March 12 for any homeschooled students unable to find a school to order an AP Exam for them by November 13. In early 2021, we will share details about a contingency testing option for students unable to test in a school.