What You Should Know About Online AP® Classes

July 28, 2022 byConnections Academy

5 min to read

Online High School Student working on her laptop

Advanced Placement® (AP®*) courses are the perfect way for students to get a head start on college while still in high school. By taking AP courses, high school students, and sometimes middle school students, have the opportunity to boost college applications, nurture critical-thinking skills, and rigorously pursue a subject they have a particular talent for or special interest in exploring.

There are some things to keep in mind when reviewing the available courses at your school, including what you should know about the differences and similarities of traditional classroom AP courses and AP courses online.

What Are AP Courses?

AP courses are rigorous college-level courses developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization that helps students transition to higher education. AP classes can range from art history to calculus and are based on your child’s school course offerings. These courses help students prepare for the national AP exams. Depending on the student’s scores and the college or university they will attend, AP exams can count toward early college credit.

Can You Take AP Classes Online?

You can take an AP course online and there are very few differences between taking AP courses online or in a brick-and-mortar classroom, yet you should be aware of these differences.

In-Person and Online AP Classes Require Syllabus Approval

In order for an AP course to be approved, the syllabus must be submitted and approved by the College Board regardless of if it was done online or in-person. In a traditional school setting, the AP course teacher submits the syllabus. However, in an online school setting, the curriculum department submits the syllabi for all AP courses in each subject offered. In this instance, all online teachers use the same approved syllabus.

Flexibility to Determine AP Course Prerequisites

In terms of prerequisites, each traditional and online school makes its own rules. While the College Board has recommendations for prerequisite courses, each school has the flexibility to decide which prerequisite courses it will require a student to pass before they may take an AP course.

In-Person AP Exams

It is possible for AP tests to be administered by online schools, but this is uncommon. While the College Board grants traditional schools the ability to administer AP tests, online schools are not granted this privilege automatically. Many online students are generally referred to local brick-and-mortar schools to take these exams.

Which Students Should Take an AP Course?

This depends on the individual. Students can start considering taking AP classes as early as middle school, but there are some things to take into account no matter what stage of education a student is in.

Middle School Students and AP Classes

Middle school students can start preparing for high school AP courses by considering their personal strengths and interests. If a middle school student has a particularly strong interest in a certain subject, then they can talk with school counselors and teachers to determine which classes will provide an academically rigorous foundation.

AP Classes for High School Students

High school students should look into AP course options by speaking with their school counselors and teachers during their freshman or sophomore years. They will be able to answer any questions a student may have about prerequisites, which courses are offered, and which classes may be ideal for their interests. The goal should be for a student to take honors and AP courses in areas in which they can maintain an “A” or “B” while also achieving high grades in his or her standard classes.

A student researching online AP courses.

Why Should High School Students Take AP Courses?

Students who take AP courses often have an advantage when it comes to college admissions, for several reasons:

1. Focus on Their Subject of Interest

By taking advantage of the most rigorous courses in a particular subject area, the student will likely demonstrate to college admissions advisors that they have already started pursuing extra coursework in their area of interest.

2. AP Classes Can Mean Higher Test Scores

Many students earn higher scores on SAT and ACT exams after completing AP courses. The critical-thinking, analytical, reading, and writing skills that are developed in AP courses can help a student achieve higher standardized test scores.

3. AP Classes Are Typically Weighted

Instead of the typical grading method in which an “A” earns four points, an “A” in an AP course may earn five points. This allows students to achieve GPAs that are higher than the traditional 4.0 average. Grading scales are determined by each school site, so students should check with their counselor.

4. Secondary School Report for College Apps

College applications often contain a Secondary School Report, which is completed by the school counselor. This provides insight into the high school community, including where the school is located, the types of courses offered, the passing grade at the school, the highest GPA in the class, and more. If a school is offering a large number of honors and AP-level courses, then colleges will expect students from that school to have taken advantage of some, but not all, of the more rigorous courses.

5. Potential to Save Money on College Tuition

Students may be able to complete some first-year college classes by taking advantage of AP courses and placing out of some college requirements. Not only does this save money, but also the students’ time to pursue what interests them in college.

Whether your student is taking AP courses online or in-person, there are many benefits to partaking in these advanced courses while in high school. Accelerated learning opportunities like Advanced Placement, honors, and NCAA eligible courses are offered at online schools like Connections Academy®. And students are supported every step of the way with dedicated college counselors and individualized support from teachers, staff, and Learning Coaches.

*AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.