so I’ve started to look at international universities and Cambridge university in UK really interests me. On the website, it says US candidates must submit score of 5 from at least 5 APs. Do they mean 5 APs by senior year? Because if it is junior year, thats not possible because my school only allow students to take AP from Junior Year. I’ll be taking 3 APs next year by the way thanks to anyone who helps!
You don’t have to have taken a class to take the test.
If you are on track to fulfill the admission requirements by the end of your senior year, you would get a conditional offer of admission. Meet the conditions, get the spot. Don’t meet them, your offer gets rescinded.
SO IT IS ok if you have at least 5 APs by senior year right? and what is conditional offer?
You’re not admitted outright: Your offer is conditional to your meeting specific conditions spelled out in your “offer”.
Your AP’s have to be specific AP’s, and you need to get 5’s in the Ap’s they want. In addition, you’d likely have a written exam or an oral exam (called “interview” but it’s a misnommer) which goes MUCH more in-depth in the “course” (subject )you want to “read” (study). For Humanities/social Sciences, you’re xpected to have read a dozen books on the subject (look for freshman/sophomore syllabi at you local college). For sciences, just be ready to prove/demonstrate anything (proof-based for math). They’ll throw things at you until you can’t answer. Part of it is to see how far you can be pushed and how well you respond to stress.
If you apply for Oxford or Cambridge (Oct deadline, and your recommendation has to be in before you can submit!) apply to other good programs in that subject (deadline is January 15 and you can add 4 more through UCAS). Look for “university leagues tables” + .
The vast majority of students applying to university in the UK get ‘conditional’ offers. For UK students the usual path is: apply autumn/winter of final year of secondary school; get admission offer conditional on A level results in winter/early spring; sit A level exams in June; get results in August; start university in autumn. Students who have finished secondary school and are on a gap year apply with their final results and can thus get ‘unconditional’ offers; the same can apply to US students who have completed AP requirements before applying.
If you apply with results from (say) 2 APs, and will be taking (say) 4 APs senior year, your GC will ‘predict’ the scores that you will get on those exams. If you are offered a place it will be ‘conditional’ on receiving specific grades on specific tests (for example, 'conditional on receiving scores of 5 on 3 of the 4 APs, to include Calculus BC and Biology) (note that they get to decide what they ask for!). Also, cross-check your APs, b/c there are two tiers and they can choose to require more than the required minimum of 5 if some of yours are ‘b’ level APs- you can check [here](https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/entry-requirements/tariff/tariff-tables/966)). Finally, as @MYOS1634 points out, they are looking for mostly APs that are consistent with what you are applying to study. Applying to study (say) Biology with Calc, Bio and 3 humanities subjects is not going to go as well as applying with Calc, Bio, Chem, Physics and a humanity. For some subjects there are specific required APs (they list them on each subject page), and the rest of your APs should align as closely as possible to the type of subject (ie, if you are applying for English, Lang and Lit are obvious, but other essay based APs are going to strengthen your app).
Note that most subjects at Oxford and Cambridge* also have admissions tests, which are usually given in November of the year you apply, but some subjects at Cambridge (for example maths and physics) have an entrance exam (STEP) in June of the entry year. For November tests you will want to start figuring out your test site early- if there isn’t one near you your school can become a test site but it’s a hassle & takes a time. You must register by Oct 15 and there is only 1 test date (Nov for all but the STEP).
*as of 2017 entry cohort
You apply with your predicted grades, and if you get an offer, it will be conditional upon you achieving the standard offer (i.e. 5 in three APs). It is the same for UK applicants, we apply with predicted A-Level/IB/Pre-U grades. That’s why they have admissions exams.
What do you want to study and why are you looking at Cambridge/Oxford?
That probably should be answered first.