Every year, tens of millions of high school students across the United States take Advanced Placement courses. AP courses, unlike Honors or College Prep classes, provide students with college credit that they can apply towards their undergraduate degrees. AP courses follow the structure of a regular high school class with two notable exceptions: AP courses are more rigorous and culminate in a final assessment at the end of the year, the AP Exam.
Why are AP classes important?
A student who takes and passes multiple AP classes will be more prepared for college success than a student who sticks with less-challenging high school courses. AP classes teach students the higher-order thinking skills that they will need to thrive in the fast-paced college environment. Since AP courses provide students with college credit, they’re also a wise investment. A student who takes 10 AP classes across their junior and senior year can save thousands of dollars in tuition costs!
Finally, and most significantly of all, taking AP classes makes students strong candidates for competitive institutions, such as UC schools, private universities, and Ivy League institutions. It is near-impossible to get into a strong school without strong AP scores, especially as competition continues to increase.
Which AP classes can Thinque Prep help with?
In total, there are 38 different AP classes available in high schools nationwide. While it’s rare for a single high school to offer all 38 classes, there are some that every high school offers. These are also the ones we can help with!
AP English Language and Composition
AP English Literature and Composition
AP European History AP Human Geography AP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics AP Psychology
AP United States History
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
AP Computer Science AP Computer Science Principles
AP Statistics
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
AP Physics 1
AP Physics 2
AP Physics C
AP Spanish Language and Culture
What AP classes should I take? The answer to this depends entirely on your personal college goals. Our AP exam tutors in Aliso Viejo are experts at determining what AP classes will best help you towards your college goal, whether its UC, Private school, or even school abroad.
Do you need tutoring to succeed in an AP class?
This is a great question! The short answer is “yes, in over 90% of cases.”
All AP exams are scored on a scale from 1-5. In order to receive college credit for an AP course, a student has to receive a score of 3 or higher. Generally, the most common score on an AP exam is a ‘3.’ A student who scores a 3 on an AP test will certainly stand out more in their college applications compared to their peers who didn’t take any AP classes. A student who scores a 4 or 5, on the other hand, will stand out even more than a student who scores a 3! Generally speaking, the higher the AP test scores, the more competitive the student
There are certainly students who score 4s and 5s by themselves, without any outside coaching. Oftentimes, however, these students are outliers. The reality is that studying for a 3 on the AP test takes a lot of time, which can be challenging, since students also have to juggle their coursework, extracurriculars, and college applications. Thus, devoting enough study time to get a 4 or a 5 is unrealistic for many students.
Thinque Prep’s AP exam tutors in Aliso Viejo can drastically cut down the amount of time students need to study in order to get that 4 on the AP Literature test and that 5 on the AP Calculus test. In half an hour, our experts can quickly identify a student’s weak spots and build a personalized study plan. This same process would take weeks of trial and error for a student studying on their own. Simply put, Thinque Prep’s experts can give students a level of individualized attention that one won’t find in the public or private school system.
Of course, there’s more to AP success than subject-matter knowledge. Preparing for the AP exam requires two skills that high schools demand but don’t teach: motivation and time management. Every March and April, the internet is full of countless posts from AP students who have waited until the last minute to prepare for their exams. Studying the night before the AP exam is never a good strategy. Thinque Prep’s AP exam tutors are experts in teaching students how to manage their time so that they don’t fall victim to procrastination or inefficient studying. In addition, our experts draw upon the most scientifically sound pedagogical methods to ensure that students retain the motivation necessary to accomplish their highest potential.
In Conclusion
Students who want a decent score on the AP test, and don’t mind the extra hours of studying, can probably do without tutoring. On the other hand, students who want an exceptional score should strongly consider private coaching.
Thinque Prep’s AP exam tutors in Aliso Viejo specialize in serving students in our community, including (but not limited to) Aliso Niguel High School, Dana Hills High School, Tesoro High School, Capistrano Valley High School, San Clemente High School, California Preparatory Academy, and San Juan Hills High School.
Interested in learning more? We’re always a call and a text away!
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