About AP (Advanced Placement)

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Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement courses help you improve your writing skills, sharpen your problem-solving abilities and develop better study habits - all of which are vital to your success later in college. In AP classrooms, you'll engage in intense discussions, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively.

Advanced Placement by the Numbers

  • A successful score on an AP Exam is a widely recognized sign of college-level achievement.  In fact, more than 90 percent of four-year colleges in the United States and colleges in more than 60 other countries give students credit, advanced placement or both on the basis of AP Exam scores.
  • Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a bachelor’s degree in four years or less. In fact, taking just one AP course and exam increases those chances by 1.5 times. Students taking two or more AP courses and exams are twice as likely to complete a bachelor's degree in four years or less.
  • The 5-year college graduation rate for students who earn an AP Exam grade of 3, 4, or 5 is approximately 30% higher than the rate of students who do not.
  • The National Association for College Admission Counseling found that the single most significant factor in deciding college admissions is success in rigorous college preparatory courses.

AP Participation at Ridgeland

  • Ridgeland Honors Academy currently offers 17 AP courses that span the disciplines of English Language Arts, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages.
  • 202 Ridgeland students are currently enrolled in an AP course.
  • 295 AP exams were administered in May 2023.

AP Registration Information

Taking Advanced Placement exams is an important part of all AP courses. Scoring well on an AP exam can often earn students college credit, saving a significant amount of college tuition costs.

The cost to take each AP exam is $97 or $53 for those on free/reduced lunch.  Those exams are registered for in November for year long classes and February for semester classes.  If there are any questions regarding registration, contact Dr. Ryan Bandy atryanbandy@walkerschools.org. Any registration not paid or any cancelled exam must pay a cancellation fee.

AP Testing Instructions

After the exam has begun, students will not be admitted to the testing location. Make sure you arrive 15 minutes before your testing time. Students will not be allowed to leave the testing location until the end of the scheduled testing time.

You should bring the following items to the exam:

  • Several sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers for all multiple choice answer sheets.
  • Pens with black or dark blue ink for completing areas on the exam booklet covers and for free-response questions in most exams.
  • A watch (Smart watches are not permitted.)
  • A calculator with the necessary capabilities if you are taking an AP Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, or Statistics Exam.
  •  Layered clothing in case the testing room is too warm or cold.

You should not bring the following items to the exam:

  • Cell phones, e-readers, MP3 players, smartwatches, or any other electronic devices – if possible LEAVE THEM IN YOUR CAR!
  • Books, compasses, white out/correction fluid, dictionaries, highlighters, or notes.
  • Rulers and straight edges unless noted above.
  • Computers (except as approved for students with disabilities) or calculators except as noted above.
  • Watches that beep or have an alarm, or smartwatches.
  • Portable listening or recording devices (even with headphones) or photographic equipment.
  • Clothing with subject-related material.
  • Food or drink (snacks will be provided during testing breaks).

Finally, visit the link below to familiarize yourself with the exam security information.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exsecurity.html

AP Score Reports

Students who take AP Exams will receive their scores online. In order to access your scores in July, the most important thing for you to do now is sign up for a free College Board account. Go to AP Online Scores for Students to get an account. (https://apscore.collegeboard.org)

AP Scholar Awards

The AP Program recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through AP courses and exams with the AP Scholar Awards. Although there is no monetary award, each award-winning student receives a certificate, and the award is acknowledged on any AP score report that is sent to colleges after the award has been conferred. AP Scholar Awards are added to students' online score reports in late August. If you earned an award, you will receive a notification of the award by email. Award certificates are sent by mail in September.

AP Scholar Awards come in different levels and types.

AP Scholar: Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

AP Scholar with Honor: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Distinction: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

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