AP Enrollment & Exams
What Level of Committment is Necessary When Taking an AP course?
By taking an AP Course at EJCHS, Empower, or JCHS, you are committing to the following:
- The time required to be successful in the course(s). AP courses require college level time commitments.
- Summer work which is often a requirement.
- Seeking additional assistance from your AP teacher when you need assistance.
- Taking the AP exam in May.
How/When Can I Enroll into AP Courses?
The enrollment process for Advanced Placement courses begins during the Fall semester. Students can be recommended by teachers for AP courses during the course request process; however, students may elect to register for an AP course as well.
Do AP courses have prerequisites?
Some AP classes have recommended courses you should take first—check the specific course page on the College Board website or look through the JCSS Program of Study for that information.
Your school may also have requirements for specific AP courses. Talk to your school counselor, school AP Coordinator, or a teacher to find out more.
What are AP Exams?
AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates in May each year.
Exams are typically 2–3 hours and include:
- Multiple-choice questions
- Free-response items such as essays, problem solving, document-based questions and oral response
What does my AP Score mean?
Your AP score shows how well you did on the AP Exam. It's also a measure of your achievement in your college-level AP course. This score will be used by colleges and universities to determine if they will grant you credit for what you've already learned, or allow you to skip the equivalent course once you get to college (this is known as advanced placement).
Your score is a weighted combination of your scores on the multiple-choice section and on the free-response section. The final score is reported on a 5-point scale as follows:
5 = extremely well qualified
4 = well qualified
3 = qualified
2 = possibly qualified
1 = no recommendation
"Qualified" means that you have proven yourself capable of doing the work of an introductory-level course in a particular subject at college. Many colleges and universities grant credit and placement for scores of 3, 4 or 5; however, each college decides which scores it will accept. To see college policies for AP scores, visit the AP Credit Policy Search.
In order to be considered for credit or placement, you must send your official AP score report to the college you're planning to attend.
Contact a school counselor for more information about AP or the courses offered at your child’s high school.