AP® Exam Prep
Choose between Trinity Scholar one-on-one tutoring and small group class by experts in the AP Exams.
Choose between Trinity Scholar one-on-one tutoring and small group class by experts in the AP Exams.
Get on the path to AP exam success
A top score on your Advanced Placement exam can earn you college credit and a leg up with college admissions. With years of experiences, Trinity Scholar has your back as you prep for your AP exams. Our one-on-one tutoring or small group class options help you prep smartly.
Contact us today to find the right study package for you.
A top score on your Advanced Placement exam can earn you college credit and a leg up with college admissions. With years of experiences, Trinity Scholar has your back as you prep for your AP exams. Our one-on-one tutoring or small group class options help you prep smartly.
Contact us today to find the right study package for you.
AP FAQs
1. What is AP?
AP is the abbreviation of Advanced Placement. The same as SAT, AP is administrated by College Board. Contents in AP are equivalent to the knowledge students will learn in their freshman year, therefore, those who pass the AP tests are potentially eligible to receive credit from their university (different universities have different standards). NOTE: taking AP courses is not a prerequisite for attending AP tests.
Along with GPA, SAT, TOEFL scores, and extracurricular activities, AP test scores are one of the elements universities will look into while reviewing your application. In short, taking AP tests can provide you with multiple benefits: receiving credit from university (usually scores above 4), getting familiar with college level knowledge, and standing out during the college application process.
Along with GPA, SAT, TOEFL scores, and extracurricular activities, AP test scores are one of the elements universities will look into while reviewing your application. In short, taking AP tests can provide you with multiple benefits: receiving credit from university (usually scores above 4), getting familiar with college level knowledge, and standing out during the college application process.
2. AP Subjects
There are two parts in each test: 1. The first part is usually multiple choices. 2. The second part is usually free response questions. Different tests may have different ways of testing. Students should decide on which tests to take based on their own needs.
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Math and Computer Science
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3. What are the scores I should expect to get?
You can score from 1 to 5 in AP tests.
5=Excellent
4=Good
3=Pass
2=Barely Pass
1=Fail
Generally, students who score 3 or above are considered to be qualified. However, to receive credit from college or to look impressive on your college application, you will need to get a 4 or above. AP courses are independent of AP tests. Taking the corresponding AP course is not a prerequisite for taking the AP test. However, it is highly recommended to take an AP course before the actual test.
5=Excellent
4=Good
3=Pass
2=Barely Pass
1=Fail
Generally, students who score 3 or above are considered to be qualified. However, to receive credit from college or to look impressive on your college application, you will need to get a 4 or above. AP courses are independent of AP tests. Taking the corresponding AP course is not a prerequisite for taking the AP test. However, it is highly recommended to take an AP course before the actual test.
4. How do AP courses help me?
American high schools have strict standards and multiple prerequisites for AP courses. Take math for example, from Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Pre-Calc, Calc AB, to Calc BC. If you want to take Calc BC, you’ll have to reach a certain score on Calc AB or Pre-Calc. Therefore, if a student can reach a "pass" level on certain AP® subjects, it means that the student has a decent level of understanding of the subjects.
Reaching and selecting the highest level of AP courses during high school have two practical benefits:
1. Enhance GPA
2. Direct proof of academical understanding
Let’s talk about how AP scores affect your GPA first. Whether or not AP scores can enhance your GPA depends on how each high school calculates GPA.
Generally, there are two ways to calculate GPA: weighted and unweighted. If weighted, full GPA for normal courses is 4.0, honor courses is 4.5, AP courses is 5.0. In this case, it is likely that students can boost their GPA with AP scores. We all recognized the importance of GPA in the college application review process. This is why many students take AP courses even if it more difficult and time-consuming to learn.
If unweighted, the highest GPA you can get is 4.0 no matter what classes you take. In this case, there seem to be no advantages to take AP courses which are harder. But, we have to realize that college application reviewers don’t just look at your grades but also what courses you take during high school. Furthermore, universities have their own GPA calculator. Therefore, in both cases, there are definitely benefits you can get from taking AP courses.
Reaching and selecting the highest level of AP courses during high school have two practical benefits:
1. Enhance GPA
2. Direct proof of academical understanding
Let’s talk about how AP scores affect your GPA first. Whether or not AP scores can enhance your GPA depends on how each high school calculates GPA.
Generally, there are two ways to calculate GPA: weighted and unweighted. If weighted, full GPA for normal courses is 4.0, honor courses is 4.5, AP courses is 5.0. In this case, it is likely that students can boost their GPA with AP scores. We all recognized the importance of GPA in the college application review process. This is why many students take AP courses even if it more difficult and time-consuming to learn.
If unweighted, the highest GPA you can get is 4.0 no matter what classes you take. In this case, there seem to be no advantages to take AP courses which are harder. But, we have to realize that college application reviewers don’t just look at your grades but also what courses you take during high school. Furthermore, universities have their own GPA calculator. Therefore, in both cases, there are definitely benefits you can get from taking AP courses.
5. What are the benefits of getting good grades on AP tests?
Get credits, graduate earlier, and save a huge amount of money! In general colleges, you can get credit by scoring just 3 on your AP tests. In top universities, they usually ask for a 4 or above. In some schools, especially liberal arts colleges, they do not allow credit transfer with AP scores. These liberal arts colleges give students with high AP scores permission to skip certain entry-level classes and go for higher level classes instead.
**Notice: Although getting credits from your university with AP scores has multiple benefits, in normal circumstances, we don’t recommend students who are accepted to top universities to do so.
Reason 1: Courses in top universities are more difficult. If skipping entry-level classes with AP scores, it can be a struggle to get good grades in higher level classes, which can dramatically affect your GPA and your graduate school application.
Reason 2: Resources in top universities are invaluable. Skipping those entry-level classes can mean giving up opportunities to work with prestigious professors or accessing other amazing resources at your disposal as a university student.
**Notice: Although getting credits from your university with AP scores has multiple benefits, in normal circumstances, we don’t recommend students who are accepted to top universities to do so.
Reason 1: Courses in top universities are more difficult. If skipping entry-level classes with AP scores, it can be a struggle to get good grades in higher level classes, which can dramatically affect your GPA and your graduate school application.
Reason 2: Resources in top universities are invaluable. Skipping those entry-level classes can mean giving up opportunities to work with prestigious professors or accessing other amazing resources at your disposal as a university student.
6. AP courses and college application
In a survey of AP influence on college applications by College Board, it indicates that 85% of the schools prefer students with AP test scores. But, that doesn’t mean that with good AP scores you can for sure get into top universities, just like top universities reject multiple applications with full ACT or SAT score each year. Most top schools focus more on your willingness to challenge yourself. Therefore, we recommend you to take at least a few AP courses if your high school offers them.
7. How do I pick my AP subjects?
No school asks for AP scores as a requirement, and AP scores will only give you a better chance of getting accepted.
Pick the ones related to your interests or potential future major so they can be helpful in your future planning. But remember, most American colleges prefer to recruit students with a diverse range of interests and strengths. Try to strike a balance between the two and you will be in good hands.
If you take the tests for college credit, AP scores can help you reach your goal. Generally, if you score 3 or above on AP tests, many schools will give you credit for the corresponding subject. But, in many competitive universities, they require a 4 or even 5 for students to receive credit. However, the content of the AP are mostly based on knowledge covered in high school. Before registering for the exam, make sure you measure your understanding of each subject.
Pick the ones related to your interests or potential future major so they can be helpful in your future planning. But remember, most American colleges prefer to recruit students with a diverse range of interests and strengths. Try to strike a balance between the two and you will be in good hands.
If you take the tests for college credit, AP scores can help you reach your goal. Generally, if you score 3 or above on AP tests, many schools will give you credit for the corresponding subject. But, in many competitive universities, they require a 4 or even 5 for students to receive credit. However, the content of the AP are mostly based on knowledge covered in high school. Before registering for the exam, make sure you measure your understanding of each subject.
Recommended Strategy
- Start planning for the selection of AP courses and tests at the beginning of high school.
- For local Taiwanese students, we recommend taking Chinese Language and Culture, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, and/or Physics.
- As mentioned above, for local Taiwanese students who go to high school in Taiwan, taking AP tests and receiving high scores are proof that you are excellent in certain subjects, willing to challenge yourself, and becoming a more competent applicant.
TrinityScholar offers hassle-free registration service so you'd concentrate on the prepareation!
How do I register for the AP exams in Taiwan?
The AP exams take place in the first and second week of May. The whole duration of the 34 tests is two weeks. Students studying at international/ American/ bilingual high schools in Taiwan can most likely register and take the AP exams at their own schools. However, there are bilingual and local high schools in Taiwan that don’t offer AP exams at their schools, for these students, you have to be extra careful of not missing the deadline for registration.
AP exams have changed their registration process and deadline. Starting on August 2019, all registrations must be done by October a year ahead (previously, the deadline was in March of next year).
Each year, there are around 3-4 test sites in Taiwan that offer AP exams to students not from their school, however, these test sites change each year depending on the school’s classroom capacity. There are only 1-2 test sites in Taiwan that offer AP Chinese Language exam. AP exam fee can range from $4500-8000 depending on each school. You have to contact the AP test centers in Taiwan one by one to check out the subjects and seats.
Starting in 2019, students will receive an AP CODE from their AP test site, and students will have to register by themselves through their College Board account.
For any questions or help in registration, please contact Trinity Scholar. We reach out to all schools in Taiwan yearly to get the most updated list of available AP test sites, not only that, we provide registration services for students who would like to register for the AP exams.
AP exams have changed their registration process and deadline. Starting on August 2019, all registrations must be done by October a year ahead (previously, the deadline was in March of next year).
Each year, there are around 3-4 test sites in Taiwan that offer AP exams to students not from their school, however, these test sites change each year depending on the school’s classroom capacity. There are only 1-2 test sites in Taiwan that offer AP Chinese Language exam. AP exam fee can range from $4500-8000 depending on each school. You have to contact the AP test centers in Taiwan one by one to check out the subjects and seats.
Starting in 2019, students will receive an AP CODE from their AP test site, and students will have to register by themselves through their College Board account.
For any questions or help in registration, please contact Trinity Scholar. We reach out to all schools in Taiwan yearly to get the most updated list of available AP test sites, not only that, we provide registration services for students who would like to register for the AP exams.