AP Exams and College Now Credit

Students in AP US History and AP Government have the option of earning college credit in two ways.

Students may take the AP exam in May. They need to register near the end of March. The fee is around $90. The CV Career Center has the specific details and publicizes them in the school bulletin.

Students who earn a score of 3, 4, or 5 (on the AP 5-point scale) earn credit from most colleges. To see whether the colleges your student is considering attending award credit for AP tests, contact the registrars at those schools.

The AP tests are very hard (especially the AP US History exam) and not all students should take them, but a good score is one way to show college admissions officers that your student is ready to do college-level work. This could make a difference at selective colleges.

In addition, for AP US History only, I will raise grades for students who pass the AP exam. A score of 3 is worth a 7% boost in the grade for both semesters. A score of 4 is worth a 10% boost in the grade for both semesters. A score of 5 earns an A for both semesters.

The College Now program allows students who earn an A or a B in either AP US History or AP Government to receive college credit from Linn-Benton Community College. There is a one-time fee ($25 in years past) for participation in the College Now program. AP US History students can earn nine hours of transferable college credit; AP Government students can earn three hours of transferable college credit.

I will register students for College Now in September. Students who decide later to participate may be able to do so by contacting the CV Career Center.