Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered in 278 Minnesota high schools to prepare students to take exams offered by the College Board. This program gives students the opportunity to take college-level courses while in high school and is one of several college prep options available to Minnesota high school students. During 2008-09, 30,392 students took 49,497 AP examinations. Of all Minnesota AP test takers:
- The number of students taking the AP exam increased 10 percent from 27,605 in 2008 to 30,392 in 2009.
- The number of exams taken increased 12 percent from 44,281 in 2008 to 49,497 in 2009.
- Thirteen percent of test takers were students of color an increase of 16 percent from the previous year, from 3,267 to 3,782.
- More women than men took AP exams; 54 percent compared to 46 percent.
- AP exam grades of 3 to 5 were achieved on 31,740 exams; an increase of 13 percent from the previous year.
- Minnesota students took 36 course-specific AP exams.
75 Percent of Exams were in 10 Courses
| Rank | AP Exam | Number of Exams | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | History: United States | 6,260 | 13% |
| 2 | English Literature & Composition | 5,493 | 11% |
| 3 | English Language & Composition | 4,825 | 10% |
| 4 | Calculus AB | 4,776 | 10% |
| 5 | Statistics | 3,290 | 7% |
| 6 | Psychology | 2,929 | 6% |
| 7 | Government & Politics: United States | 2,626 | 5% |
| 8 | Biology | 2,405 | 5% |
| 9 | History: World | 2,307 | 5% |
| 10 | History: European | 2,281 | 5% |
About the AP
The College Board administers the Advanced Placement (AP) exam. Most students study for the AP exam by taking year-long AP specific courses offered through their high school. AP exams can also be taken by any student who has taken strong courses or studied in-depth on their own. AP coursework is available online through a variety of private education companies. The exams are optional. More students may take AP courses in high school then sit for the exam.
An AP grade of at least 3, on a scale of 1 to 5, is an indicator of an ability to do successful work at most colleges. Some colleges will grant new entering freshmen college credit if they obtain certain grades on their AP exams. Policies on granting college credit vary by college. The Minnesota Department of Education prepares a guide on the credit policies for AP exams.
