AP

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program of college-level courses and exams for high school students, administered by the College Board. It covers dozens of subjects including Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Computer Science, History, and Languages, each with a separate exam scored 1–5. AP is not a requirement for college applications, but high scores (4–5) demonstrate academic depth and willingness to take challenging courses. Some universities grant credit or advanced placement for AP scores. For Chinese students, AP offers flexible subject selection—they can focus on strengths like Calculus, Physics, or Microeconomics—and abundant prep resources, making it a cost-effective way to strengthen US college applications, especially for students in the Chinese national curriculum. Note that AP is a set of exams, not a full curriculum like A-Level or IB; it typically serves as a supplement to applications and a source of college credit. Exams are held annually in May.