The SAT is one of two standardized college admissions tests used in the U.S. – the other being the ACT. It is intended to demonstrate college readiness based on key skills like reading comprehension and analysis, computational ability, clarity of expression, and problem solving. The College Board, the non-profit group that designs and publishes the test, has conducted a series of validity studies demonstrating a correlation between higher SAT scores and higher first-year college GPAs, which suggests that SAT performance may indeed indicate college readiness. Other studies have indicated that evaluating scores in conjunction with high school grades offer a stronger indication of college success.
A Brief History
In the 19th century, admission to the nation’s top universities was far from standardized. Requirements, exams, and application processes differed widely from college to college. In 1900, presidents from 12 leading universities formed the College Entrance Examination Board, hoping to establish a universal way to determine whether an applicant was prepared for college. Thus was born the first standardized college admissions test: In 1901, these 12 colleges administered the College Boards to evaluate applicants’ college readiness.
Over the decades, the College Board experimented with different structures. They removed math, then added it back, then removed it, then added it back again; analogies were removed and replaced; vocabulary has been tested in different ways; and time limits and test length have grown and shrunk.
Despite these many changes, the SAT has survived for nearly 100 years. Nearly 2 million college-bound high school students take the SAT each year, and although there is a growing number of test optional colleges, most top tier colleges and universities require the SAT or ACT for admission.
When to Take the SAT
We recommend that most students first take the SAT by spring of junior year. This ensures that students will have addressed most of the test material in their courses and that they still have plenty of time for additional test prep and future test dates before they need to finalize their scores for college applications. The SAT is offered nationally every year in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. Review all of this school year’s SAT test dates and registration deadlines.
Test Breakdown
In the chart below, you can see a thorough breakdown of the SAT.
| Section |
Sub-Section |
Total Testing Time |
Number of Questions |
Content/Skills Covered |
| Evidence-Based Reading & Writing |
Reading |
65 Minutes |
52 multiple choice |
Reading, Vocabulary in Context, Understanding Charts and Graphs |
| Writing and Language |
35 Minutes |
44 multiple choice |
Grammar, Usage, Vocabulary in Context, Understanding Charts and Graphs |
| Math |
Calculator: Not Permitted |
25 Minutes |
15 multiple choice,
5 grid-in |
Heart of Algebra, Passport to Advanced Math, Additional Topics in Math |
| Calculator: Permitted |
55 Minutes |
30 multiple choice, 8 grid-in |
Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Passport to Advanced Math, Additional Topics in Math |
|
|
|
|
| Total Time: |
3 Hours |
|
|
SAT Test Sections
Understanding the details of the different SAT test sections is an essential piece of any SAT prep program.
The math section
There are two math sections: a 25-minute no-calculator section that includes 15 multiple choice questions and 5 grid-in questions, and a 55-minute section that includes 30 multiple choice questions and 8 grid-in questions and allows the use of a calculator.
The reading section
The reading section includes 52 multiple choice questions to be answered in 65 minutes. The questions are based on four passages and one set of paired passages, and at least one passage will be accompanied by a graphic like a chart, table, or graph.
The writing section
The writing section includes 44 multiple choice questions to be answered in 35 minutes. The questions are based on four passages, and at least one passage will be accompanied by a graphic like a chart, table, or graph.
How is the test scored?
To score an SAT, we first start by calculating the raw score for each section. Each correct answer gets one point, and each blank or incorrect answer gets zero points. There is no penalty for an incorrect answer.
In order to account for varying difficulty levels from test to test, the College Board uses a process called “equating.” The College Board expects more students to get more answers correct on an easier version of the test, which means the College Board anticipates a higher average raw score. To ensure fairness to students who take the test on different dates, the College Board will adjust scaled scores.
What’s a Good SAT Score?
A “good” score depends on how you define “good.” After all, if your goal is to earn admission to Yale, a “good” score will be significantly higher than it would be if your goal is to earn admission to the University of Connecticut.
To determine what a “good” score will be for you, you first need to decide on a handful of potential colleges where you’d like to apply. For each college, you should determine the median scores. The median scores tell us where the middle 50% of previously admitted students scored. If you know what your score is but don’t understand how you got it, you can read out post on Understanding Your SAT Score Report.
Scores across the country
Another way of deciding what a good SAT score is would be to look at national score data:
- Class of 2017 included 1.8 million test-takers
- 70% of test-takers took the essay portion
- Average Total Score: 1060
- Average Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score: 533
- Average Math Score: 527
Colleges That Don’t Require SAT Scores
A growing number of colleges don’t require SAT or ACT scores for admission. These schools generally fall into one of two categories:
- Test flexible: Schools that allow students to submit tests other than the SAT or ACT for admission (such as AP exams or SAT Subject Tests)
- Test optional: Schools that do not require test scores for admission
The University of Chicago made national headlines when it became the first top-ranked national university to drop the SAT or ACT as a requirement.
How Do Colleges Use SAT Scores?
SAT or ACT scores consistently rank among the most important factors in admissions decisions, just after grades and course rigor. Although some colleges are moving away from admissions tests, the vast majority of selective four-year colleges consider these test scores to be very important in the admissions process.
Preparing for the SAT
Success on the SAT requires many of the same fundamental skills necessary for success in high school, college, and beyond: the ability to read quickly and efficiently, analytical and critical thought, problem solving, the ability to effectively express ideas, facility with the English language, and the ability to interpret information presented both graphically and textually.
These skills take time to properly develop. There is no overnight trick that will teach a student to read thoroughly and quickly. 宝博体育 can help you score big with a personalized SAT prep program designed just for you.
How are the SAT test sections laid out?
TEST PREPIf you’re looking for some basic information on the different SAT test sections, we’ve got you covered. Directly below is a table summarizing the sections and format of the SAT. Further down, you’ll find more details about each section.
5 grid-in
SAT Math
There are two SAT Math sections: a 25-minute no-calculator section that includes 15 multiple choice questions and 5 grid-in questions, and a 55-minute section that includes 30 multiple choice questions and 8 grid-in questions and allows the use of a calculator.
Most of the questions on the math section fall into one of three categories:
A few questions fall into a fourth category, Additional Topics in Math, which includes geometry and simple trigonometry. Only about 10% of the questions on the test fall into this category. Learn more from the College Board here.
SAT Reading
The SAT reading section includes 52 questions to be answered in 65 minutes. The questions are based on four passages and one set of paired passages, and at least one passage will be accompanied by a graphic like a chart, table, or graph.
The passages include one literature passage, one passage from either a U.S. founding document or from the “Great Global Conversation,” one passage from social science, and two passages from science. Each passage or set of paired passages will have 500 to 750 words.
Reading questions are entirely multiple choice. Some questions are fairly straightforward comprehension-based questions while others require you to draw conclusions or make inferences. Every passage will feature questions that evaluate your command of evidence and your ability to discern meaning based on context:
Learn more from the College Board about the SAT reading section here.
SAT Writing
The SAT writing section includes 44 questions to be answered in 35 minutes. The questions are based on four passages, and at least one passage will be accompanied by a graphic like a chart, table, or graph.
The passages include one careers passage that discusses issues in major professional fields; one social studies passage from history, anthropology, psychology, political science, or sociology; one humanities passage that discusses literature or the arts; and one science passage. Each passage will have 400 to 450 words.
Writing questions are entirely multiple choice. Some will offer alternatives to an underlined portion of the passage, asking you to select the option that fixes an error or better suits the tone or style of the passage; others will ask whether certain additions, deletions, or revisions should be made; still others will ask about purpose, development, or organization.
In all, just under half of the questions on the SAT writing section will focus on Standard English Conventions, including usage, sentence structure, and punctuation. The remaining questions focus on the author’s expression of ideas, including the development of ideas, the organization of individual paragraphs or of the overall passage, and effective use of language.
Learn more from the College Board about the SAT writing section here.
Getting SAT Help
Preparing for each section of the SAT can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not sure which sections you’re weakest in. An SAT practice test can help you figure out where to prioritize your efforts. 宝博体育 offers a free test and has personalize options to help with your SAT prep.
Understanding Your SAT Score Report
TEST PREPWhen someone asks what you got on the SAT, you probably know what your total score is. You probably know your score for each of the two sections. But what about all the other numbers on the SAT score report? Let’s go through an SAT score report to look at what your SAT scores mean.
The total score ranges from 400 to 1600 points. It is the total of the section scores for Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing.
How much your total score counts will depend on the SAT score use policies at your chosen colleges. Some colleges look at the total score for a single test date; in this case, your total score is very important. Other colleges practice what’s known as “super scoring” – they combine section scores from across test dates to calculate your highest possible total score. If you’re applying to schools that look at the highest section (which means that they super score), then your section scores will matter more to you than your total score.
Underneath the total score are two percentile rankings. The Nationally Representative Same Percentile is based on a research study of students in 11th and 12th grade. It is weighted to represent all U.S. students in those grades, regardless of whether or not they would be likely to take the SAT. The SAT User Percentile is a bit more informative. It is based on the actual scores of students in the prior year’s graduating class. This percentile tells you how well you performed compared to other SAT test-takers.
If we look at this sample score report, we see that this student is in the 41st percentile among SAT users. This means that she scored better than 41% of SAT test-takers in the prior year’s graduating class.
Section Scores
There are two section scores: one for Math and one for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. These scores are particularly important when you’re considering applying to colleges that super score. Schools that have a “highest section” SAT score use policy will combine your highest section scores from across test dates. In this case, your section scores may well be more important to you than your total score.
The score report includes percentiles for each section as well. These percentiles are based on the same cohorts as the percentiles for the total score.
Test Scores
Test scores are reported from 10 to 40 for each of the three main subjects on the SAT: Reading, Writing, and Math.
You earn a raw score for each section of the test: one point for each correct answer and zero points for each blank or incorrect answer. The raw score is then converted to these scaled test scores. The conversion differs from test to test.
The test scores for Reading and for Writing are added together and multiplied by ten to get the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section score. The Math test score is multiplied by twenty to get the Math section score.
Cross-Test Scores
Cross-Test Scores are reported from 10 to 40. They show how well you performed on science and social studies questions that are embedded across all sections of the SAT. These scores really don’t reveal much about your academic performance, and colleges don’t generally look very closely at them
Subscores
These scores range from 1 to 15. They show how well you performed on specific types of questions. Colleges don’t look very closely at these scores, but these scores can be helpful if you plan on preparing to take the test again because they can help you identify strengths and weakness to better target your test prep.
Get Extra Help
Not quite happy with your SAT score yet? Taking advantage of an SAT prep programs like those created by 宝博体育 Education can help you maximize your SAT score.
Things to Know about Early Admissions for College
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSMost colleges offer some form of early admissions, and early application deadlines are just around the corner. Before you rush to submit early applications, consider all of your options.
Early Action vs Early Decision: What’s the Difference?
Early Action and Early Decision programs have similar timelines. Both have application deadlines that usually fall in October or November, and both usually provide students with a decision by January. What happens after you receive your admissions decision is the biggest difference between Early Action and Early Decision programs. If they are admitted, Early Decision applicants are obligated to enroll, but Early Action applicants are free to enroll elsewhere.
Under Early Action, students can:
Under Early Decision, students must:
Some colleges offer a third early admissions program known as Restrictive Early Action or Single-Choice Early Action. Under a Restrictive or Single-Choice program, students are not obligated to enroll if admitted, but they are limited to applying early to only one college.
Will Applying Early Help You Get In?
One of the biggest reasons a lot of students apply through early admissions programs is because they believe doing so will boost their chances of admission – but does it really help?
Let’s look at the numbers.
Early Decision by the Numbers
Nearly half of all selective four-year colleges offer an Early Decision program. At schools with Early Decision:
Overall, Early Decision applicants have an 12% advantage in admission rates.
Early Action by the Numbers
More than one-third of all four-year colleges offer an Early Action program. At schools with Early Action:
Overall, Early Action applicants have a 9% advantage in admission rates.
So…Does It Help?
The numbers suggest that applying early does give some advantage in admission – more so through Early Decision than through Early Action – but numbers aren’t everything. Although most schools have higher acceptance rates for early applicants than for regular decision applicants, there are other factors at play. For example, early applicants tend to include the most well-qualified students, making these applicants particularly attractive to colleges regardless of whether they apply early or not.
Regardless, applying early demonstrates increased interest in a college, particularly for students who apply through a Single-Choice Early Action or binding Early Decision program. Demonstrated interest is one factor among many that admissions officers consider when evaluating applications, so applying early can give you a slight edge on your applications. At highly competitive schools, that slight edge could well be the difference between admission or rejection.
That 14.5% admission rate for students who applied through Harvard’s early action program is still pretty low, but it’s a lot better than the 2.43% admission rate for applicants who didn’t apply early! The moral of the story: Check the numbers at the specific schools where you want to apply.
Who Should Apply for Early Admissions?
Early applications aren’t for everyone! You should think about applying early if you have already thoroughly researched your college options and finalized your grades and test scores. If you still hope to increase your test scores or if you need first semester grades to boost your GPA, your best bet is to wait until regular decision deadlines to submit applications. If you need help figuring out which is best for you, 宝博体育 has certified college counselors here for you!
Be sure to check out our post – Applying to College Early: Is It Worth It?
The SAT – A Basic Introduction to the Test
TEST PREPThe SAT is one of two standardized college admissions tests used in the U.S. – the other being the ACT. It is intended to demonstrate college readiness based on key skills like reading comprehension and analysis, computational ability, clarity of expression, and problem solving. The College Board, the non-profit group that designs and publishes the test, has conducted a series of validity studies demonstrating a correlation between higher SAT scores and higher first-year college GPAs, which suggests that SAT performance may indeed indicate college readiness. Other studies have indicated that evaluating scores in conjunction with high school grades offer a stronger indication of college success.
A Brief History
In the 19th century, admission to the nation’s top universities was far from standardized. Requirements, exams, and application processes differed widely from college to college. In 1900, presidents from 12 leading universities formed the College Entrance Examination Board, hoping to establish a universal way to determine whether an applicant was prepared for college. Thus was born the first standardized college admissions test: In 1901, these 12 colleges administered the College Boards to evaluate applicants’ college readiness.
Over the decades, the College Board experimented with different structures. They removed math, then added it back, then removed it, then added it back again; analogies were removed and replaced; vocabulary has been tested in different ways; and time limits and test length have grown and shrunk.
Despite these many changes, the SAT has survived for nearly 100 years. Nearly 2 million college-bound high school students take the SAT each year, and although there is a growing number of test optional colleges, most top tier colleges and universities require the SAT or ACT for admission.
When to Take the SAT
We recommend that most students first take the SAT by spring of junior year. This ensures that students will have addressed most of the test material in their courses and that they still have plenty of time for additional test prep and future test dates before they need to finalize their scores for college applications. The SAT is offered nationally every year in August, October, November, December, March, May, and June. Review all of this school year’s SAT test dates and registration deadlines.
Test Breakdown
In the chart below, you can see a thorough breakdown of the SAT.
5 grid-in
SAT Test Sections
Understanding the details of the different SAT test sections is an essential piece of any SAT prep program.
The math section
There are two math sections: a 25-minute no-calculator section that includes 15 multiple choice questions and 5 grid-in questions, and a 55-minute section that includes 30 multiple choice questions and 8 grid-in questions and allows the use of a calculator.
The reading section
The reading section includes 52 multiple choice questions to be answered in 65 minutes. The questions are based on four passages and one set of paired passages, and at least one passage will be accompanied by a graphic like a chart, table, or graph.
The writing section
The writing section includes 44 multiple choice questions to be answered in 35 minutes. The questions are based on four passages, and at least one passage will be accompanied by a graphic like a chart, table, or graph.
How is the test scored?
To score an SAT, we first start by calculating the raw score for each section. Each correct answer gets one point, and each blank or incorrect answer gets zero points. There is no penalty for an incorrect answer.
In order to account for varying difficulty levels from test to test, the College Board uses a process called “equating.” The College Board expects more students to get more answers correct on an easier version of the test, which means the College Board anticipates a higher average raw score. To ensure fairness to students who take the test on different dates, the College Board will adjust scaled scores.
What’s a Good SAT Score?
A “good” score depends on how you define “good.” After all, if your goal is to earn admission to Yale, a “good” score will be significantly higher than it would be if your goal is to earn admission to the University of Connecticut.
To determine what a “good” score will be for you, you first need to decide on a handful of potential colleges where you’d like to apply. For each college, you should determine the median scores. The median scores tell us where the middle 50% of previously admitted students scored. If you know what your score is but don’t understand how you got it, you can read out post on Understanding Your SAT Score Report.
Scores across the country
Another way of deciding what a good SAT score is would be to look at national score data:
Colleges That Don’t Require SAT Scores
A growing number of colleges don’t require SAT or ACT scores for admission. These schools generally fall into one of two categories:
The University of Chicago made national headlines when it became the first top-ranked national university to drop the SAT or ACT as a requirement.
How Do Colleges Use SAT Scores?
SAT or ACT scores consistently rank among the most important factors in admissions decisions, just after grades and course rigor. Although some colleges are moving away from admissions tests, the vast majority of selective four-year colleges consider these test scores to be very important in the admissions process.
Preparing for the SAT
Success on the SAT requires many of the same fundamental skills necessary for success in high school, college, and beyond: the ability to read quickly and efficiently, analytical and critical thought, problem solving, the ability to effectively express ideas, facility with the English language, and the ability to interpret information presented both graphically and textually.
These skills take time to properly develop. There is no overnight trick that will teach a student to read thoroughly and quickly. 宝博体育 can help you score big with a personalized SAT prep program designed just for you.
A Complete PSAT Guide: Everything You Need to Know
TEST PREPEvery October, schools offer the PSAT/ NMSQT to students nationwide. We get a lot of questions about this test, so to help, we’ve put together everything you need to know in this PSAT guide.
Who takes it?
The PSAT/NMSQT is typically offered to 11th grade students. Juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT compete for the coveted National Merit Scholarship (keep reading for more on the scholarship). While some schools may allow 10th grade students to take the October PSAT/NMSQT, most 10th graders will instead have the opportunity to take the PSAT 10 sometime in the spring.
What’s the difference between the PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 10?
You may have heard of an alternative called the PSAT 10. The PSAT/NMSQT and the PSAT 10 are the same test but are offered at different times of the year. The PSAT/NMSQT is open to 11th grade students and (depending on your school) 10th grade students and is used as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship. The PSAT 10 is open only to 10th grade students. Although some scholarship programs use the PSAT 10 to screen for qualified students, the test does NOT qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship.
PSAT/ NMSQT and PSAT Test Dates 2024/2025
PSAT/NMSQT Test Dates
PSAT 10 Test Dates
October 1–October 31, 2024
Schools may also choose to administer the PSAT/NMSQT on
Saturday, October 12, 2024, or Saturday, October 26, 2024.
(Note: For fall 2024 only, the PSAT/NMSQT will be offered on two
Saturdays to accommodate schools or students who
cannot test on October 12 due to Yom Kippur.)
between March 3- April 30, 2025
Why should you take the PSAT/NMSQT?
Many students take the PSAT/NMSQT for the opportunity to compete for the National Merit Scholarship and other scholarship and recognition programs. This is a great reason to take the test, but there are other reasons to sit for it, including:
What is the National Merit Scholarship?
The National Merit Scholarship program began in 1955. Since then, it has become known as one of the most prestigious academic awards a student can earn – and with good reason: Just a small percentage of test takers will become finalists in the competition.
The scholarship itself is worth $2,500, a relatively small sum considering the annual tuition at many selective colleges and universities; however, it is the prestige of recognition in the program that carries the greatest value. Any applicants who can boast National Merit Scholarship recognition gain an advantage in college admissions.
For more information on the scholarship program, visit the National Merit Scholarship organization’s website here.
How do you win the National Merit Scholarship?
About 1.6 million high school juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT each year. These students are screened for qualification for the National Merit Scholarship. To participate in the scholarship program, students must take the PSAT/NMSQT in 11th grade, be enrolled as a high school student and plan to enroll in college the fall after graduation, and be a citizen or lawful permanent resident intending to become a citizen of the United States.
Of the 1.6 million who are screened for qualification, about 50,000 students will earn scores high enough to qualify for recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program (about 3-4% of test takers). These high scorers will qualify as either Commended Students or Semifinalists.
Of the roughly 50,000 who qualify for recognition, about 16,000 will become Semifinalists. Semifinalists are chosen on a state-representational basis, meaning that they are the highest scoring students in each state. As a result, Semifinalists from one state may have higher or lower qualifying scores than Semifinalists from another state.
In previous years, to qualify as Finalists, Semifinalists must maintain high grades in all classes throughout all years of high school; take the SAT and earn scores that confirm the students’ PSAT/NMSQT scores; and submit an application, including an essay, by the designated deadline. About 15,000 of the 16,000 Semifinalists will qualify as Finalists. Students who are finalists in the class of 2021, you do not have to confirm your scores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is unclear what the policy will be in future years.
About 7,500 Finalists will be selected to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Selection is based on a variety of factors, including grades, test scores, academic rigor, the student’s essay, the school’s recommendation, and the student’s activities and leadership.
What if you don’t think you’ll win the National Merit Scholarship?
Take the test anyway. First, there are many other benefits to taking the PSAT/NMSQT. Second, there are other scholarship opportunities that you might qualify for. And finally, while being one of the 7,500 students who wins the National Merit Scholarship is a massive accomplishment, being one of the 50,000 who earn recognition in the program is also hugely beneficial in the college admission process.
What’s on the PSAT/NMSQT?
Like the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT includes a Reading Test, Writing and Language Test, and Math Test. There is no essay section on the PSAT/NMSQT. Most of the topics covered on the SAT are also covered on the PSAT; the test questions and test structures are remarkably similar although the PSAT will include fewer questions and reading and writing passages than the SAT.
The College Board includes practice PSAT questions to give you a clearer idea of what to expect from the test. For more thorough practice, consider contacting your local 宝博体育 Education center to schedule a diagnostic test.
How can you prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT?
Since the tests are so similar, your best bet for preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT is to begin your SAT prep a bit earlier than you may have planned. Preparing for the SAT will also prepare you for the PSAT because the content of the tests overlaps. A diagnostic SAT at your local 宝博体育 Education center can give you valuable testing practice while helping you to identify your strengths and weaknesses, which allows you to target your preparation to the areas where you need the most work.
What if long-term prep just isn’t an option?
Even if you’re reading this with the PSAT testing date just weeks away, there are still things you can do to boost your score:
AP Credit Policies at Top Colleges
COLLEGE ADMISSIONSAs you get ready to apply to college, you might wonder what will happen with all those AP exams you worked so hard to prepare for. Depending on a college’s AP credit policies and your scores, you might be able to knock out an entire year worth of college with AP credit, or you might be able to get a bunch of prerequisite or core courses out of the way.
The College Board lets you search the AP score policies of just about any college, but we’ve summarized the policies at top colleges for you here:
Each exam may replace one or two courses
A maximum of two history courses may be replaced with AP credit
Princeton AP policy available here
Credit toward graduation is offered only when the student activates Advanced Standing by earning at least 32 credits through AP exams, which requires a score of 5 on four to eight AP exams
Harvard AP policy available here
Some subjects confer placement in a higher course rather than credit
Decision to award credit is made at the end of the first year of residence and credits will appear on the student’s official transcript
University of Chicago AP policy available here
Credit only offered in certain subject areas
Yale AP policy available here
Each satisfactory AP exam score confers 3 or 6 credit hours
Columbia AP policy available here
Credit is only awarded for certain subjects
To earn credit for certain subjects, students must take the MIT Advanced Standing Exam
MIT AP policy available here
Credit not offered for all subjects
No more than 10 units in a given subject area or 45 units total may be awarded
Stanford AP policy available here
Placement offered in lieu of credit for some subjects
Not all subjects are considered
UPenn AP policy available here
Departments have different criteria for whether to accept AP courses toward the major
Duke AP policy available here
From the college: “Course credit and/or placement in an accelerated program is sometimes granted as deemed appropriate by department faculty.”
Students won’t know whether they receive credit until fall registration
CalTech AP policy available here (page 177)
Credit awarded for AP exams does not reduce the 35 credits required for graduation
Dartmouth AP policy available here
Exception: A 3 on Calculus BC is acceptable
Only specific subjects are considered
Johns Hopkins AP policy available here
Each undergraduate school determines how credit may be applied to degree requirements
Northwestern AP policy available here
Score of 3 to 5 required for placement, depending on subject
Brown AP policy available here
Final decision to award credit up to the appropriate department
Cornell AP policy available here
Where applicable, credit counts toward major
Rice AP policy available here
Exception: A 3 on Calculus BC is acceptable
Credit awarded may vary based on the student’s intended major
Vanderbilt AP policy available here
Exception: A 3 on Latin is acceptable
Notre Dame AP policy available here
Exception: A 3 on certain foreign language exams may confer credit if confirmed by coursework at the university
A maximum of 15 credits may be awarded for AP work, and credits do not apply to general education requirements
Washington University in St. Louis AP policy available here
Georgetown AP policy available here
These policies are all subject to change, so you should always check with the college you will attend to clarify their AP credit policies and avoid surprises!
On the Bright Side: My Tough School Fall Schedule
ON THE BRIGHT SIDEYou go to orientation, you get your school fall schedule, and…
It’s awful.
You didn’t get any of the teachers you wanted.
Your toughest class is bright and early in first period.
You got the worst lunch period, right in the middle of a class.
Your study hall period is right after all of your hardest classes.
It couldn’t be any worse. But take a deep breath – it’ll be okay. There are plenty of ways to cope with a bad fall schedule.
See What Can Be Changed
It’s possible – though not necessarily likely – that you might be able to make some changes to your schedule. It certainly doesn’t hurt to talk to your counselor about making some changes, but you’ll need to have some good reasons (and, no, “I hate mornings” is not a good enough reason to change your entire class schedule). Sometimes if you make one class change, your whole schedule will shift. So, for example, if you ask to be moved from an honors class into an AP class, you might end up with a schedule that makes you a bit happier.
Deal With What Can’t
If your schedule still stinks – or it can’t be changed at all – you’ll have to take it in stride. Remind yourself that it’s only temporary. Worst case scenario, you have a not-so-good schedule for one year. Soon enough, you’ll have different classes with a different schedule – and before you know it, you’ll be in college where you have a lot more control over which classes you take and when.
Practice Careful Time Management
Some scheduling nightmares will just require some creative time management. For example, let’s say you’ve got AP Chemistry first period. You’ll still be half asleep while conducting labs with finicky compounds – joy. First, you’ll want to make sure that you take care of all of your Chem homework and studying the night before; no cramming first thing when you’re still tired. Second, you might want to try to set your alarm a little earlier so that you can wake yourself up a little more thoroughly (do some jumping jacks, douse your face with cold water, or set up a caffeine IV line – whatever works for you).
Keep an Open Mind
Let’s say you got the teachers with the reputation for being really tough – the ones everyone in the grade ahead of you warned you about. Keep an open mind. Some of these teachers might end up being your favorites. Sometimes the teachers that most students don’t like are the ones who push you to new heights or open your eyes to a new field of interest.
And sometimes they’re not. Sometimes they’re just teachers you really won’t like. And that’s okay – consider it a life lesson. Sometimes you’ll have professors and bosses and coworkers you really won’t like either, but you’ll still need to figure out a way to deal with them.
Get Some Extra Help
But what if you got a teacher who has a reputation for just being a really bad teacher? That’s the worst – when you’ve got a subject you really want to learn and a teacher who just isn’t a good teacher. That’s when you get some extra help. You shouldn’t have to teach yourself AP US History, but if you got a brand new teacher who has no idea what he’s doing or a veteran teacher with a terrible AP exam pass rate, you might have to seek AP help outside of class. Consider getting a tutor who specializes in that subject, whether it’s an upperclassman who aced the AP exam or a professional like the experts at 宝博体育. Create a study group with some of your classmates so that you can commiserate and learn together.
Starting AP Classes off Right
HIGH SCHOOLAP classes are no walk in the park, so it’s important to take steps early in the semester to make these tough courses just a little easier. The more AP classes you’re taking, the more important it is to start the semester off on the right foot – if you fall behind in an AP class, it can quickly become next to impossible to catch up. Here are some of our best tips for starting AP classes off right.
Get a good test prep book.
AP exams are still months away, but a good test prep book gives you a lot more than some practice AP exam questions – the best prep books summarize key information in an easily digestible format. With the help of exam prep books, you can stay a step ahead of your class, and if you already have a basic understanding of the biggest ideas, you can pay more attention to the details.
Study thoroughly for every test and quiz.
It’s tempting to cram the night before a test or quiz to memorize just enough information to get the grade, but when you study this way, you’re not really learning everything you should be. Too often, you’ll end up forgetting everything you studied immediately after you finish taking the test, only to have to relearn all of that information again when you start AP exam prep. Save yourself the trouble by learning the material right the first time. Check out this past post for some science-backed study tips to help you make the most of your study sessions.
Don’t wait to ask for help.
If you start to fall a bit behind in an AP class, don’t wait to ask for help from your teacher, classmates, or a tutor. It’s tough to catch up in AP classes because they move at such a fast pace; the longer you wait to ask for help, the further behind you’ll fall and the harder it will be to get back to where you need to be.
Make sure you can balance your commitments.
It can be tough to balance the demands of AP classes with other classwork, extracurricular activities, and family obligations. Overextending yourself is a recipe for failure. When you register for your classes, carefully consider just how many AP classes you can reasonably handle.
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