AP Exams
AP Exams
AP (Advanced Placement) Exams are standardized tests offered by the College Board (USA) that assess college-level knowledge in high school. Scored on a scale of 1 to 5, they can:
Strengthen your college applications (especially for US, UK, Singapore, Canada, etc.)
Earn you college credits or advanced placement in universities
Showcase academic rigor and interest in specific subjects
You can take AP exams even if your school does not offer AP classes — self-study is allowed!
📍 Where and When to Register for AP Exams? Who conducts AP Exams in India?
AP exams in India are administered by Authorized AP Test Centers (mostly international schools like Prometric, DPS, Pathways, etc.) under guidance from the College Board.
Registration Opens
Usually in October
Registration Deadline
By mid-November (for May exam)
Late Registration (with extra fee)
Nov–Mar (varies by center)
Exam Dates
First 2 weeks of May (standard across the globe)
Check: https://international.collegeboard.org/students/ap/taking-ap-india
Identify a Test Center in your city from the College Board list.
Contact the center directly — they manage your registration, fee payment, and exam logistics.
Create a College Board account at myap.collegeboard.org
Join the appropriate AP course (code provided by test center).
Pay exam fees (approx ₹10,000–₹13,000 per subject)
Recommended APs
AP Calculus AB or BC
Required or highly valued in Engineering/Math/Comp Sci programs
AP Physics 1 / 2 / C
Useful for Engineering, especially US/UK/Canada unis
AP Chemistry
For Chemical Engg, Biotech, Biochem, Medicine
AP Biology
Strong for pre-med, life sciences, biotech
AP Computer Science A
Great for CS or IT pathways
AP Microeconomics
Core subject for Business, Econ, Finance
AP Macroeconomics
Often paired with Micro; universities value both
AP Calculus AB/BC
Required for quantitative finance, economics
AP Statistics
Good for data-heavy fields
AP English Language and Composition
Helpful for English-medium colleges; essay-focused
AP Psychology
Great for psychology, liberal arts, education
AP World History / US History / Human Geography
Strong for international relations, history, social sciences
AP Art & Design (2D/3D/Drawing)
Required for design/art schools like RISD, Parsons, etc.
Most competitive universities value 4–5 AP exams, but even 2–3 with scores of 4 or 5 can boost your profile.
APs are not mandatory, but they show your academic passion and rigor beyond school.
AP Course Descriptions & Practice Questions: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org
AP Daily Videos (free lectures)
AP Classroom (once you're registered)
Princeton Review AP Series
Barron's AP Series
5 Steps to a 5
Khan Academy – Excellent for AP Calculus, Physics, Biology, US History
Heimler’s History – Amazing for AP World, US History, Gov
Bozeman Science – Great for AP Bio and AP Enviro Sci
edX (AP courses from MIT, Berkeley)
Coursera – Subject-aligned courses
APPrepPro.com – India-focused online AP coaching
Use official Past Year Questions (PYPs) from College Board
Princeton/Barron's full-length mock exams
UWorld for AP – offers question banks & detailed solutions
Wanting 5/5 score
August–September (8–9 months before exam)
Balanced prep with school
Start by November–December
Self-study 1–2 exams
Begin by January latest for May exam
Time needed: 2–4 hours per week per subject + full mocks from March onwards.
US: Almost all top universities (MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Georgia Tech)
UK: Some top unis accept APs in place of A-Levels (LSE, UCL, Edinburgh)
Singapore: NUS/NTU consider APs for international applicants
Canada: UBC, Toronto, Waterloo give AP credit
India: AP scores are not officially used, but can enhance profile in interviews or for international branches
Choose APs that align with your future major.
Prioritize quality over quantity — 2–3 high-scoring APs > 5 average ones.
Use APs to show depth: e.g. take both Calculus BC and Physics C for engineering.
APs can sometimes waive first-year college courses, saving you time & tuition abroad.