Advanced Placement (AP) Tutoring
Taking AP classes has always been a great way for college applicants to stand out and exhibit their strengths and interests. However, getting a good AP grade is not easy at all, given that it is designed to be more challenging than non-AP subject classes. For colleges, this makes AP grades a good determinant of a candidate’s academic strengths and capabilities; for students, the higher-level content in AP may deter the decision to take it at all. Most candidates will find the AP challenging and a jump from pre-high school classes, but with an experienced AP tutor the steps to success are that much easier.
BartyED’s AP tutoring and test prep, offered online or in-person, involves carefully tailored one-to-one classes for students at all levels. Our expert AP tutors help candidates get good grades by engaging them individually, working together cooperatively until mastery is achieved. BartyED AP tutors work on consolidating knowledge alongside the syllabus, time management, and exam technique. Our AP tutors employ a holistic teaching style with a rigorous AP test prep tutoring program to ensure candidates build on their strengths.
BartyED’s intensive individualised AP tutoring has proven very successful, and has helped candidates attain the best results for all subjects. Contact us today to find out more about our AP test prep tutoring services and how our AP tutors can best help you on your academic journey.
For more information about our AP tutors, contact us today by email or by phone (2882 1017).
Find out more about the AP subjects we tutor:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AP?
The Advanced Placement (AP) is a US-based programme that consists of standardized high school courses that are roughly equivalent to undergraduate college courses. Unlike IGCSE or IB, the AP is not a requirement for candidates to obtain a high school diploma in the US. The AP is typically offered as a more challenging alternative alongside non-AP classes, for students aged 16 to 18 in an American secondary school or students hoping to study in the US. If you need support in one or more AP courses, consider AP tutoring with BartyED.
After completing an AP class, candidates typically take the AP exam for that subject. The AP is recognized by universities around the world, and may earn students credits and accelerated placement in college.
How is the AP scored?
Most AP exams scores will be weighted combinations of the scores of various components. These are usually the multiple choice and free response components, but some AP subjects have assessments that include other scored components. AP exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest.
The Chief Reader for each exam will decide on the grade boundaries for each year’s exam, which determines how the weighted composite scores are translated into the score of 1 to 5. This is to reflect a relative scale of performance which can be compared from year to year.
Our expert AP tutors will help familiarize you with the format of your AP exams and the content it covers, to help prevent you from encountering any unwanted surprises on exam day.
Should my child take the AP?
If your child’s school offers the AP, our expert AP tutors suggests it is worth encouraging enrollment. There are many advantages to taking more challenging classes: other than potentially giving your child an edge in the admissions process, AP courses make transitioning into college-level academia easier. If a college offers merit aid or scholarships, AP courses and exam scores usually helps a candidate’s chances of qualifying.
If your child scores a 3 or higher in their AP exams, they might receive course credits, advanced placement, or both upon arriving at college. AP policies vary from school to school, but the majority of colleges in the US (as well as universities in 40 other countries) grant credit and/or accelerated placement for AP exams. This means that if AP credit fulfills general education requirements, your child will be free to take further classes in their major subjects.
That being said, our AP tutors note that it is vital to consider whether your child will perform well in the exam. Along with the transcript and GPA, your child’s SAT/ACT score will have an enormous impact on admission chances, especially at more selective colleges.
This means that ensuring good performance on all fronts may be more valuable than nailing only the AP. It is therefore extremely important to consider your child’s past performance in the subject area, your child’s skills, schedule (e.g. extracurriculars), and GPA.
While some argue that a ‘B’ at AP level still looks better on a transcript than an ‘A’ in a general class, others argue that candidates should stay away from AP classes if they might lower their GPA. This is why many families consult academic counselors to plan the best way forward for their individual child. BartyED’s AP tutors has extensive experience counseling and advising students with this, in a holistic and personalised manner that will ensure your child perfects their college application.
What is the difference between AP and IB?
BartyED’s AP tutors report that both the AP and IBDP (International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, or just the IB) programmes offer challenging courses to high school students that may earn them college credit. However, they are quite different in their philosophies and goals. Essentially, the IB shows a candidate’s performance in all subject areas, while the AP programme allows candidates to exhibit their strengths selectively.
The AP programme was developed in the US to help high school candidates prepare for college by taking advanced courses, with no set programme or quantity. Students can take just one or even a dozen AP classes, depending on their school, schedule, and goals. On the other hand, the IB was developed in Switzerland as a diploma course, for which students take a certain number of subjects in English, Math, Science, Humanities, and Arts/Social Sciences.
The AP programme is focused on teaching specific content and testing knowledge through exams, and the test structure reflects this emphasis on meeting content goals. The IB has more emphasis on writing and developing critical thinking skills in various subjects as well as its compulsory components, which include the Theory of Knowledge course, Extended Essay (a long, college-style research paper), and extracurricular requirements.
The IB offers higher and standard level courses, and requires candidates to take three of each. AP courses are offered at a single level, though certain subjects, such as calculus and physics, have different course options. BartyED’s AP tutors note that the IB higher level subjects are considered harder than AP courses, so most colleges give credits for AP and higher level IB exams, but not all give credit for standard level IB exams.
What is the best way to prepare for AP exams?
According to our expert AP tutors, The best way to prepare for AP exams is to revise with past papers and supplemental resources. Since AP exams emphasise testing students’ knowledge of content, it is beneficial to revise alongside your syllabus and the AP Course and Exam Description.
Supplemental resources like AP test prep books and quizzes, as well as online resources such as Khan Academy, are also very useful. The AP Course and Exam Description will also clarify what exam skills to build based on the question types in the exam such as free-response, short answers, or essays.
To succeed in all parts of the AP exam, it is best to practice all question types as well as revising taught content. Another hugely helpful way to prepare is to get expert AP tutoring.
With the right AP tutor, exam prep is much easier. BartyED’s AP test prep tutoring services will help your child maximise scores and employ exam technique in the most efficient and effective way.
Our expert AP tutors have extensive experience and understanding of the exams, so we can speed up the prep process and make individualised study plans and revision strategies that best suit your child.