So for example if I take 3 AP courses in grade 11, and take those same 3 AP courses in grade 12 (but a grade higher? There are different levels of AP courses right?) , will it count as 3 or 6 AP classes? Or can you only take the same AP course once (ex: AP biology)? Sorry, I don’t know much about AP courses since my current school doesn’t offer any, so I’m switching to a school that does next year.
You only take an AP course once unless you do not pass and need to repeat the course for a better grade.
There are multiple levels of AP Physics and Calculus courses that can be taken over several years in high school, and college credit may be given for each. I’m familiar with the physics and calc series: AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism and AP Physics C: Mechanics. Or AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC.
If the course has the same name, eg AP Biology, you don’t typically take it again and you would not be granted additional college credit for doing so. The only exception I can think of might be something like AP Studio Arts.
When you get to your new high school you will probably meet with a counselor to plan out your courses. Be sure to let the counselor know that your old school did not offer AP but that you’re interested in them. The counselor can show you the typical paths and sequences for AP classes at that school.
There are two sorts of AP courses:
- courses that are the highest level of academic rigor, typically above honors, so the AP class replaces that class. Examples would include AP Physics1 (above Physics), AP English language (above honors English 11), AP US History (above honors history), AP statistics (above statistics).
- courses that are the end of a sequence and thus have pre-reqs. For instance, AP calculus requires precalculus honors as a pre-req, AP foreign language requires reaching level 4 in that foreign language as a pre-req, AP Chemistry requires standard or honors chemistry, AP physics C requires calculus and physics, AP Bio supposes a class in biology and a class in chemistry (although some schools incorporate content from these classes if it’s a local practice to allow students who don’t have one of the pre-reqs).
There are three levels of right in AP classes:
- AP lites : they’re a good introduction to an AP class or can be taken as a complement to a rigorous schedule. AP Human geography is specifically designed as a ‘gateway to AP’ class for freshmen and sophomores ans is often taken by good students who want a rigorous social science class (not offered everywhere). Environnental science (APES), Stats, Psych, CS Principles can be electives. Sometimes Cs Principles, APES, and AP stats are taken by strong humanities students who won’t/ can’t take the harder classes (AP Bio/chem and AP calculus).
- AP complementary courses: they’re very rigorous but should be taken in addition to your core classes, not replace them. They include AP CS A, Music theory, studio art, art history, AP seminar, government, economics.
- core AP classes: English language, English literature, foreign language, calculus, Physics1&2, physics C, bio, chem, us history, European history, world history.
Ideally you’d have a couple core APs and a total of 6-8 by graduation.
Often, top juniors take APUSH, AP English language, and perhaps 1 or 2 others (Physics1? Principles?), along with foreign language 4 and precalculus. However if you’ve never taken APs it may be too much so you may want to take 2, 3 max, focusing on your academic strengths and interests, making sure you have the pre-reqs if relevant.
Senior year, depending on how junior year went, take either AP calc or AP stats, and 2-3 others according to interests and strengths - or lighten up your schedule.