<p>Hello,
Since I am thinking about applying for Harvard College, I know that it would mean that I need three SAT II(only two of which I have decided on) but I sort of heard about the AP? What is it and do colleges like it and/or prefer it over the SAT? Also is it possible for Intl to take the test, or just for US students? I don't know anything about the SAT, but at the moment, there isn't enough variety in the SAT II, that I have seen in the AP. Like I'd be able to take Human Geography in AP, but not in SAT II. So, anyways, I just wanted to know what you thought about it.</p>
<p>AP's don't replace the Subject Tests - even if you had 20 AP's you would have to take three SAT Subject Tests.</p>
<p>You should ask CollegeBoard if there are institutions in your area which offer the AP tests; generally they're offered in many countries, mostly at International/American schools.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Applicants must submit the results of the SAT I or ACT and three subject SAT IIs even if they submit the results of their school leaving exams.
[/quote]
AP exams are similar to A Levels - forget about them.
Harvard requires three SAT IIs. You can take some APs in addition to but not instead of the three required SAT IIs. I know that the choice of SAT IIs seems limited at first but it's not that bad. You can always take math and most likely a foreign language and then just pick a third one - science, literature or history, you will find one.</p>
<p>to B@r!um: the thing that really is gutting me is at the moment aside from bio and maths, I can't think of a single subj except french my native lang, at which i would get at least higher than a 650. I know that AP wont make up for the SAT. U mentioned that the AP are similar to A levels what exactly do u mean by that? Like is it mainly written answers or multiple choice?</p>
<p>1/2 and 1/2</p>
<p>APs are essentially equivalent to most other systems' finishing exams/board exams (for instance, the UK's A levels and India's CBSE and ISC esams); they can however be completed at any grade level depending upon the student and the school, and also give you college credit at many colleges. (enabling majors to be completed quicker/enabling double majors)</p>
<p>I think that b@r!um means that APs are similar to A-levels in terms of difficulty of Course (IMHO APs are much more easier than A-levels).</p>
<p>Yeah AP's are much easier than A-levels, but to my advantage (I plan on applying to the UK), UCAS awards the same number of points for a 5 in an AP than for an A in an A-Level. In the US they are mostly used for placement and credit, while in the UK they substitute the A-levels, and in the rest of Europe they sort of substitute the local final exams, such as the Swiss Matura or the French Bac (especially if you have an AP International Diploma, which is really made just for that).</p>
<p>I meant that the concept of APs (and to some extend the material) is similar to A Levels. You take a course and at the end of the year you take a central exam which meassures how much of the material you've grasped. APs are just easier to do well on than A Levels and cover less material (most APs are designed as one year courses).</p>
<p>Have you looked at the physics SAT? Imo that is one of the easier exams. The bulk of questions just asks for concepts and only very few questions involve calculations (you are not even allowed to use a calculator). It's convenient for self-studying when you have some aptitude for sciences.</p>
<p>I've dropped physics last year, because I thought it'd be too hard. I don't know. I'll check out the AP physics course content. K, still from anyone who's already done them, which AP aside from physics would you recommend?</p>
<p>Wait, are we talking about APs or SATs?
AP physics is completely different from SAT physics...</p>
<p>I was talking about AP physics, anyways how are APs different from SAT, are AP also multiple choice?</p>
<p>AP Physics has some multiple choice questions (to test breadth) and some open response questions (depth). Each section is 90 minutes long.
AP Physics is calculus-based and covers the material a lot more in-depth than SAT physics.</p>
<p>You can find the topic outlines here:
AP: <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/physics/ap-cd-physics-0607.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/physics/ap-cd-physics-0607.pdf</a>
SAT: <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/lc_two/phys/format.html?phys%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/lc_two/phys/format.html?phys</a></p>
<p>Anyways, no single university (not even Harvard) expects international applicants to take AP exams. You should rather focus on the SAT IIs.</p>
<p>And universities don't consider AP scores for admission that greatly (your marks as an Int'l applicant will be far more important)...</p>
<p>SAT 1 and 2 both are must for Harvard.AP can only give you advanced acceleration.It cannot substitute for any of the SAT.</p>