The term honors course is a common label applied to courses, predominantly at the high school level, that are considered to be more academically challenging and prestigious.
Yes, colleges definitely care if you challenge yourself in high school by taking honors classes over regular classes. Admissions officers receive a school profile with your application that generally lists how many AP, IB, and honors classes your school offers.
Yes. Honors classes often boost your GPA by 0.5 points. Finishing with a 3.5 GPA in an honors course could equate to a 4.0 GPA in a regular course.
2. GPA. Again, this varies by school, but usually, AP courses are weighted an extra point, (so an A would be a 5.0 or a 4.0 scale), while honors courses are weighted an extra half-point (an A equalling a 4.5) or not weighted at all.
Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.
However, it's only when complete high school transcripts are sent to them. In the meantime, the admissions officers decide based on junior year grades or first-semester senior year grades. Having good second-semester senior year grades can secure one's admission.
In summary: In theory, a “B" in an AP or honors class is “better" than an “A" in a regular class, but many applicants to top colleges will have all A's in the top classes.
How do I calculate a weighted High School GPA?Step 1: Convert every letter grade to its respective points (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0.)Step 2: Add up all the grade points.Step 3: Divide the added grade points (step 2) by the number of class credits taken.
AP classes, however, are more challenging than honors classes. These courses cover information, teach skills and give assignments that correspond to college classes. High school students taking AP courses will be held to the same standard as college students.
Graduating with high honors in high school usually means qualifying for the honor roll, which can mean earning a certain GPA, usually 3.5 or higher; or you can graduate as the Valedictorian or Salutatorian.
Honors classes are just a step up from normal classes but AP is a college-level class and may count as a class taken off of the classes you will have to take in college. AP will only count for college if you make a 4 or 5 on the exam.
Honors classes are a step above regular classes. They are more in-depth on a subject and usually move at a faster pace. Additionally, they are more demanding in terms of preparation, time, and studying. Teachers typically expect more out of students when they are taking an honors class.