Who Is an AP Scholar?

You might think the term “AP Scholar” just refers to anyone who takes studying for AP exams really seriously. But it’s actually an awards program offered by the College Board. In this blog, I’ll go over what an AP Scholar is, what you need to achieve to become one, what it means to be one, and some tips on getting the award if it’s something you’re interested in. Let’s go over why you should take AP classes in the first place.

Advantages of taking AP Classes:

Your AP courses and tests bring you a number of advantages:

• College credit: AP classes give students the opportunity to earn college credit by taking the corresponding AP exam and scoring well on it. This can save students time and money in college by allowing them to skip introductory-level courses.

• Rigorous coursework: AP classes are designed to be challenging and rigorous, which can help prepare students for the academic demands of college.

• Improved academic skills: Taking AP classes can help students improve their academic skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving and time management. 

• Competitive edge: Having AP classes on a high school transcript can give students a competitive edge in the college admissions process, as it demonstrates a willingness to take on challenging coursework.

• Broaden knowledge: AP classes cover a wide range of topics in depth, giving students the opportunity to explore different subject areas and broaden their knowledge and interests.

• Another often-overlooked bonus is that you may receive special awards called AP Scholar awards.

Who Is an AP Scholar and what are AP Scholar awards?

An AP (Advanced Placement) Scholar is a student who has achieved a certain level of success on their AP exams. To become an AP Scholar, a student must meet certain criteria set by the College Board, which administers the AP program. There are several levels of AP Scholar awards, each with its own set of requirements. The College Board, which administers the AP program, offers several levels of AP Scholar recognition.

What are AP Scholar Awards:

The AP Scholar Awards are a series of prestigious honours given by the College Board to recognize students who have achieved outstanding performance on their Advanced Placement (AP) exams. These awards are a testament to a student’s academic excellence and dedication to learning, and they can be a valuable addition to college applications and resumes.

To be eligible for any of these awards, students must take the AP exams and score at least a 3 on each exam. Students who earn a score of 5 on an AP exam are considered to have performed at the highest level of achievement and are likely to receive college credit for their performance.

What does it mean to be an AP Scholar?

If you have an AP Scholar award, you can list it on resumes and college applications. It will signal that you did well on multiple AP exams. The designation will appear on your official AP exam scores, and you will receive a certificate in the mail the September following the time you receive the designation. Sadly, you do not get any money from this award, but it’s nice to have recognition of all your hard work! Of course, the higher-up your designation, the more impressive it is.

Tips to become an AP scholar:

• If you want to be an AP Scholar, at the most basic level you need to take AP exams! You also need to make an effort to score a 3 or higher on every exam you take, not just the minimum number for the Scholar designation you’re going for since lower scores will bring your average down and limit your ability to meet the score average requirements to be an AP Scholar.

• If you want to meet a certain level before you apply to college, you’ll need to take the requisite AP exams by the end of your junior year, so that you’ll get the award by your senior fall. However, my recommendation would be not to stress too much about the AP Scholar program. For one thing, when you get to the highest levels of the award, whether you get the award or not is somewhat outside of your control, since you can’t control how many AP exams other people take or what their average score is.
• If you get an AP Scholar award, great! But colleges will be able to see your complete AP score report either way, and they know which AP courses are most challenging. It’s better to take a rigorous course of study and not quite qualify for the next Scholar level than to front-load with content-light AP’s to get the award.

Apart from this, we have some general tips so you have a head start to becoming one:

1. Start preparing early: AP courses cover a lot of material, and it’s important to start preparing as early as possible. This can help you avoid cramming and ensure that you have enough time to thoroughly understand the material.
2. Attend classes regularly: Attending classes regularly is important to keep up with the course material and ask questions. This can also help you build a good relationship with your teachers, who can provide you with additional guidance and support.
3. Participate in class: Actively participating in class discussions and group activities can help you better understand the material and improve your critical thinking skills.
4. Practice regularly: Regular practice is essential to master the course material and develop the necessary skills to succeed on the AP exam. Take practice tests, work through practice problems, and review your notes regularly.
5. Utilise study resources: Use study resources such as textbooks, online resources, and study guides to supplement your learning and reinforce your understanding of the material.
6. Stay organised: Keep track of deadlines, assignments, and exams to avoid missing important dates and falling behind on your coursework.
7. Stay motivated: Remember why you chose to take AP courses and keep your goals in mind.

Criteria for the awards:

What “level” of award you are offered generally depends on three criteria:

1. Number of exams taken: To be considered for an AP Scholar Award, you must take at least three AP exams.
2. Exam scores: Your exam scores must be a 3 or higher on the AP exams you took.
3. Average score: To qualify for the AP Scholar with Honor or AP Scholar with Distinction awards, you must have an average score of 3.25 or higher on all AP exams taken.

You can receive the next “level” of award in subsequent years as you take more AP exams. In this table, I’ll lay out all the criteria for the different AP Scholar award tiers—the AP Scholar requirements, if you will.

What Are the Benefits of Becoming an AP Scholar?

While there might not be any monetary reward involved, you will receive a certificate commemorating the honour. Becoming an AP Scholar comes with a lot of benefits, so, here are some of the added bonuses:

1. College credit: Many colleges and universities offer college credit or advanced placement for qualifying AP exam scores. Being an AP Scholar demonstrates your ability to excel in college-level coursework and can help you earn college credit, saving you time and money.
2. Admissions advantage: Being an AP Scholar can also give you an advantage when applying to colleges and universities. Admissions officers often look for students who challenge themselves and excel in rigorous coursework, such as AP classes and exams.
3. Skill development: Preparing for and taking AP exams requires strong critical thinking, time management, and study skills. Becoming an AP Scholar indicates that you have developed these important skills, which can serve you well in college and beyond.
4. Scholarship opportunities: Yep! We said might. There are some exceptions; Some organisations and universities offer scholarships specifically for AP Scholars. For example, the College Board offers the AP Scholar Awards program, which includes monetary awards for students who qualify.

Overall, becoming an AP Scholar can help you stand out in the college admissions process, earn college credit, and develop valuable skills that will serve you well in your academic and professional pursuits.

To conclude, the AP Scholar awards are a series of awards given by the College Board for students who have gotten high scores on a number of AP exams. There are different “levels” of the award depending on the number of AP exams a student has gotten a high score on, their average AP exam score, and where they go to school.

If you want to be an AP Scholar, you’ll need to take AP classes and be sure to do well on your exams! However, I don’t recommend stressing too much about these awards — your time is better spent on other projects that will be more impressive to colleges.