If you’ve ever wondered whether Advanced Placement (AP) is worth the extra work, you’re not alone. Parents often assume that taking an AP course means earning college credit, but that’s not how it works. The truth is that AP courses are only worth high school credit, it’s the AP exams that are worth “potential” college credit.
AP courses and AP exams are two completely separate things. Your teen can take an official AP course, they can take an AP exam, they can do both, or they can do neither. These are independent choices.
Taking an AP course gives your teen high school credit, just like any other course you teach at home. If your teen takes an AP course but does not take the AP exam, they are most certainly not earning any college credit. Only the AP exam has the potential to earn college credit later.
On the other hand, your teen can take an AP exam without taking an official AP course. Anyone can prepare for an AP exam in any way they like, and many homeschoolers study independently. If your teen earns a qualifying score on an AP exam, their college may award credit or advanced placement. Whether they get credit, advanced standing, or nothing at all depends entirely on the policies of the college they eventually attend. That is why we refer to it as potential college credit until a college accepts it.
You can’t list “AP” on a homeschool transcript unless it’s an official College Board approved course. That means either enrolling in an already-approved AP course or submitting your own homeschool course for approval. Many homeschool parents have successfully had their own curriculum approved, so don’t think you must take AP courses through a public or private high school. If your homeschool course is approved, you can proudly label it “AP” on your teen’s transcript.
However, AP exams are handled differently. Homeschool parents cannot administer AP exams at home. The College Board only allows exams to be given at approved high schools, and you must work with an AP Coordinator to reserve a seat for your teen. Some schools are cooperative and helpful, while others push back against homeschoolers. If that happens, you may need to contact several schools or even travel outside your city or state to find one willing to allow your teen to test. Start early, ideally in August or September, so you have plenty of time to find a testing location before the November ordering deadline.
So, is AP really worth college credit?
Sometimes yes.
Sometimes no.
It depends entirely on the college. Around 85 percent of colleges will award either credit or advanced standing for a passing score, usually a 3 or higher, but “advanced standing” doesn’t always save time or tuition. It may only allow your teen to start in a higher-level course without removing a degree requirement.
While AP exams can look impressive on selective college applications, most Homeschooling for College Credit families care more about graduating college affordably, not just getting in. If your potential target colleges accept both CLEP and AP, and award equal credits for both, CLEP exams are more bang for your buck (they are free and you can take them at home).
Still, if your teen enjoys a challenge or wants that “AP” recognition on their transcript, here is the full lineup of AP exams available.
Art and Design
- AP 2-D Art and Design
- AP 3-D Art and Design
- AP Drawing
- AP Art History
- AP Music Theory
World Languages and Cultures
- AP Chinese Language and Culture
- AP French Language and Culture
- AP German Language and Culture
- AP Italian Language and Culture
- AP Japanese Language and Culture
- AP Latin
- AP Spanish Language and Culture
- AP Spanish Literature and Culture
English
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
History and Social Sciences
- AP African American Studies
- AP Comparative Government and Politics
- AP United States Government and Politics
- AP United States History
- AP World History: Modern
- AP European History
- AP Human Geography
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Microeconomics
- AP Psychology
Sciences
- AP Biology
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
- AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
- AP Physics C: Mechanics
- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- AP Environmental Science
Mathematics and Computer Science
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Precalculus
- AP Statistics
- AP Computer Science A
- AP Computer Science Principles
Capstone Courses
- AP Seminar
- AP Research
We have a Homeschooling for College Credit AP page that explains how to inject AP into your homeschool.
