I’m an international student from India who studies in a school that follows the CBSE curriculum.
I would like to know the relationship between the score I get on AP tests that I take on my college GPA.
From what I understand, a score of 4 or 5 on an AP test will probably grant me credit for college-level coursework.
So from the point of view of an international student, should I consider giving AP exams and earning a 3 or 4, or do the coursework during my first semester in college itself (assuming I will work harder in college and I will have better resources to perform better)? Meaning, suppose I am aiming for a ~4.0 GPA in college, is it advisable giving AP tests since I’m not sure whether I’m gonna do well in them?
Take the AP exams so that you have the option of taking advanced placement in college if the college allows that.
Assuming that you score high enough that the college allows advanced placement, try the college’s old final exams for the courses that you are allowed to skip. If you know the material well, skip. If you struggle with the material, retake.
AP scores are generally not counted by colleges as part of your GPA at the college.
Colleges deal with APs in different ways - look at some schools and see what their policies are. Some allow credit for classes, some allow placement into higher levels. Sometimes schools will let you take the final for placement (one school will allow you to get that grade for the class).
It is not a matter of the score you receive on the AP, it is a matter of mastery of the subject. If you decide you want to be an engineer and get a ‘3’ on the Calculus BC exam, giving you credit for Calc 1 in college, you may be unprepared or receive a lower grade in Calc 2. You might have been better off repeating Calc 1 in college. On the other hand, if you receive a ‘5’ on the Calc BC AP exam, you might go directly into Calc3 and do perfectly fine. It is very important that you have mastery in foundational courses.
On the other hand, if you take AP exams that give you credit for non-sequential items or items not in your major distribution (or a prerequisite) you should happily take the credit. Some typical examples for a STEM major are english, world history, languages, etc.
