Fostering academic excellence and biblical virtue to equip students for lives as local and global Christian servants.

TPS AP Courses – Top Scores for College Credit

Students who complete TPS AP courses and follow our study guidance can expect to achieve their individual goal score (3, 4, or 5, depending on the student’s college goals) on those AP exams and get those credits from their college.

What makes TPS certified AP courses superior among the various AP course options available for homeschool and independent students?

  • Highest scores¹. TPS AP students earn the highest AP Exam scores each year so they gain the most competitive rankings with colleges and earn the most widely useful college credit.
  • Individual goals met. TPS uniquely helps you identify and accomplish your individual AP exam score goal (3, 4, or 5) for each course and exam.
  • Flexible scheduling. TPS AP courses are engaging live classes which may also be taken with modified attendance or by recorded classes (i.e., without live attendance) for students with schedule or time zone conflicts. (See below for details.)
  • Direct college credit. Some TPS AP courses are also eligible for direct college credit without taking the exam.
  • Accredited. TPS provides an accredited transcript to report your certified AP course to your colleges and scholarships.
  • Certified
    • Accredited College Board Level 1 AP course provider
    • NCAA approved
    • California A-G approved
  • Biblical worldview. TPS AP courses combine top scholarship with an uncompromised biblical worldview.

Compare these features and results anywhere — you will not find them all anywhere else.

¹ TPS 2016-2023 AP Exam Scores: > 50% 5 (top score), > 70% 4 or higher, > 90% 3 or higher. Percentages consistent for each individual year 2016-2023.

How does TPS Flexible Scheduling work for AP and college dual credit courses?
  • When you enroll in a TPS AP or TPS College course, you have the option to select Recording Only.
    • TPS will review your enrollment and approve you for Recording Only (i.e., no live attendance) if you are academically prepared for the course but have a schedule or time zone conflict.
    • If you have a schedule conflict that will limit your attendance but will still allow you to attend regularly (e.g., you must miss one day each week of a two-day course), you may contact TPS to make this flexible arrangement without selecting Recording Only.
    • We keep track of Recording Only enrollments so we can manage live class sizes for attending students.
  • The Recording Only option is not available for a few select courses that require significant graded class participation for course credit.
    • These include spoken language courses (e.g., French, Spanish) and discussion-based courses (e.g., High Scholars, College Creative Writing).
    • For these courses, if you have a schedule conflict that will limit your attendance but still allow you to attend at least half of the live classes, please contact TPS to obtain our authorization in writing prior to enrolling for the reduced attendance enrollment for credit.
Why take AP exams — why not just get credit for the AP course?
  • Most colleges use good AP exam scores to allow you to gain specific credits and skip specific courses. No college gives credit for the AP course without the AP exam.
  • Competitive colleges use AP exam scores as part of academically ranking their stronger applicants. AP courses without the exam are considered like any other high school course on your transcript.
  • AP exam scores validate a transcript and make it stand out from a large pool of similar transcripts. AP courses without AP exam scores do not stand out in a positive way, and may even weaken a transcript in a competitive group.

Many AP course providers will tell you that AP courses without AP exams are beneficial or even “just as good”. This is entirely incorrect. Don’t take anyone’s word for this — ask your prospective colleges.

How high do my AP exam scores need to be?

This depends on your individual goals. Higher scores are better (of course). Scores of 3 are usually sufficient for some credit, but that credit may be in a course for non-majors that may provide no specific benefit for you. Scores of 4 or 5 are required by more competitive colleges or are more likely to satisfy in-major credit requirements. You must check with each college of interest to find their specific scores and credits requirements — every college is different.

The College Board provides a database of participating colleges that offer credit for AP exams, including the specific credits offered. You can use this to set your individual AP exam score goals and plan your AP courses.

AP Credit Policy Search

A good general strategy is to plan your AP courses and exams across all four years of high school so that you are targeting 4/5 scores in the courses where you want to stand out as most competitive, and earning scores of at least 3 in the others. Therefore:

  • Take AP courses and exams suited to your demonstrated academic grade level in the subject area. Start AP courses and exams as early as you can do well, but not ahead of your own readiness to earn the scores you need for the colleges you want.
  • Take the harder and more important AP courses and exams later (grades 11 and 12), when you are more prepared and will likely earn a higher score.
  • Do not take so many AP courses in any year that you may have to skip the exam or significantly risk scores of 2 or below. This would likely weaken your application.
  • Do not try to take harder AP courses and exams earlier (with less foundation and readiness than you could have later) in order to “lighten” your junior or senior year. This makes you less competitive because it lowers your AP exam scores on the exams you care about most, and because competitive college application reviewers will downgrade an application that reflects a decline in academic level or workload in upper high school.
Do all certified AP courses teach you the same material to prepare you for the same exam?

Definitely not. AP course certification requires the syllabus to be reviewed by the College Board. The certification does not review or endorse the actual content, instruction, or assignments. The certification does not consider the exam preparation effectivenessTPS AP courses are unique in their effectiveness and success rate for helping students accomplish their individual AP exam score goals (and for their biblical worldview).

Which is better: AP course or dual credit college course?

We get asked this often because we offer both with equal priority.

  • Advantages of AP Courses
    • AP exams are more universally recognized for credit by colleges than transfer credits from other individual colleges. This is especially useful if you are not sure where you want to go to college and you want maximum credit opportunity.
    • Colleges post their AP credit potential (i.e., what credits they provide or waive for scores of 5, 4 or maybe 3 on each exam) on their web site, so you don’t have to petition for credits to be accepted from another college.
    • AP exam scores are standardized (unlike transcript grades from high schools and colleges) and respected, so good AP scores generally carry more weight than good grades on a college application.
  • Advantages of Dual Credit College Courses
    • No AP exam preparation.
    • No single exam score to determine your credit potential.
    • If you know what college(s) you want to consider, you can check in advance to see if they will accept the credits from the dual credit college course(s) you might take.

If you know what college(s) you plan to consider and can be sure your colleges will grant or waive the specific credits you want for your dual credit courses, then the college course in high school is a great option. But if you want the strongest transcript and the widest acceptance of your credits — and if you’re ready to work for a 4 or 5 score on the AP exam — then the AP course that also prepares you for the exam is the better option.

Here is more discussion on considerations for choosing college dual credit courses.

What are good AP courses to take first (before grade 11)?

A strong grade 9 and higher student should consider:

Strong grade 10 and higher students should consider:

What certified AP courses does TPS offer and which ones have direct college credit?

Below is a list of AP courses offered by TPS. Where applicable, the corresponding dual credit college course is listed too. With each course, there are specific considerations for choosing that course. Some of this information is surprisingly hard to find elsewhere and provides answers to questions we are frequently asked about each course. TPS offers enough AP course options, preparation, guidance and support that every diligent high school student can boost his transcript with AP credit and exam scores.

  • AP Art History
    • Available from TPS as AP exam preparation or direct college credit (or both). Students choose in the beginning of the course whether to pursue just the direct college credit option (standard high school course workload) or do the additional work (approximately two additional hours per week) for the AP option.
    • Direct college credit option is one college semester of content that provides direct (no AP exam required) dual credit with a transcript from Belhaven University for ART 215 (3 credits).
    • Full AP option is more content and work to prepare for the full scope of the AP Art History exam. (The AP option also provides the direct college credit.)
  • AP Biology
    • College Board requires both high school Biology and Chemistry as prerequisites, and so this course is usually taken in grade 11 or 12.
    • AP exam requires significant laboratory experience so the AP Biology course has extensive lab component.
  • AP Calculus AB
    • Available from TPS as AP exam preparation or direct college credit (or both).
    • Direct college credit option is one college semester of content that provides direct (no AP exam required) dual credit with a transcript from Belhaven University for MAT 207 (3 credits).
    • AP option is same content but student prepares for and takes the AP exam to seek credit through the college application process.
  • AP Calculus BC (AB Full)
    • Available from TPS as AP exam preparation or direct college credit (or both).
    • Direct college credit option is one college semester of content that provides direct (no AP exam required) dual credit with a transcript from Belhaven University for MAT 207 (3 credits).
    • This course has the additional unique option that if a student takes the AP exam and scores a 5, he is eligible for direct dual credit with a transcript from Belhaven University for MAT 207 + MAT 208 (6 credits).
    • Student taking the exam must wait for exam results for any direct credit. Student may not apply for MAT 207 prior to exam results then MAT 208 after exam results.
  • AP Calculus BC (AB Review)
    • This one-year course covers only the Calculus BC material that starts after Calculus AB. Available only to students who completed Calculus AB in a prior year.
    • This course has the additional unique option that if a student takes the AP exam and scores a 5, he is eligible for direct dual credit with a transcript from Belhaven University for MAT 207 + MAT 208 (6 credits).
    • It offers no direct college credit without the AP exam or for scores lower than 5.
    • Student taking the exam must wait for exam results for any direct credit.
  • AP Chemistry (currently not offered)
    • College Board requires high school Chemistry as a prerequisite, and so this course is usually taken in grade 11 or 12.
    • AP exam requires significant laboratory experience so the AP Chemistry course must have an extensive wet lab component.
    • TPS previously offered this course and even had amazingly high scores for a time. However, due to the extensive wet lab experience that is supposed to be part of this course, colleges asked us to reconsider the academic value of this course outside of the lab. Even with a high AP score, many colleges would prefer that this particular hands-on course be taken on campus in a full lab, and may be reluctant to give credit for it.
    • Students considering this course should check with their preferred colleges, and may find that they don’t stand to gain much from the significant time and money they will spend on trying to take it at home.
  • AP Comparative Government and Politics
    • Strong analytical and essay skills required. Suitable for strong grade 10 and up.
    • Standout option for a student pursuing a degree or career in anything international.
  • AP Computer Science A (Java)
    • Though there is no formal prerequisite for this course recommended by the College Board, the content of the exam is advanced and students taking this course should already have a full-year Java Programming course or the equivalent experience prior to taking AP Computer Science A (Java) to prepare for the exam.
    • For a student who gained programming experience in high school, this AP exam is a great way to convert that experience into transcript recognition for college application.
  • AP Computer Science Principles
    • Focuses on development and building of applications and projects. Prior programming experience is helpful but not required. Basic programming principles are taught in the course.
    • One of the fastest growing AP topics and most popular AP exams due to significant interest from colleges.
  • AP English Language and Composition
    • This exam tests a specific set of writing skills. The TPS courses focuses on those skills, so our AP English Language students score considerably higher than others. If you don’t want to work for a high score on the AP English Language exam, take TPS English 5/6 College Composition for direct dual credit instead.
    • TPS offers a direct (no AP exam required) dual credit writing course, English 5/6 College Composition, with a transcript from Belhaven University for ENG 101 (3 credits).
    • A 4/5 score on the AP exam is generally worth more credit in more places, but the direct dual credit option is sufficient for many students to get college credit from their preferred college(s).
  • AP English Literature and Composition
    • This exam covers a broad set of literature analysis skills and objectives. The TPS courses focuses on those skills, so our AP English Literature students score considerably higher than others. If you don’t want to work for a high score on the AP English Literature exam, take one of the several TPS English 4/5/6 College Lit and Comp courses for direct dual credit instead.
    • TPS also offers direct (no AP exam required) dual credit Lit and Comp courses, including British Lit and American Lit, both of which earn a transcript for three college English credits from Belhaven University.
    • A 4/5 score on the AP exam is generally worth more credit in more places, but the direct dual credit option is sufficient for many students to get college credit from their preferred college(s).
  • AP Environmental Science
    • Advanced science course that does not require a strong science background.
    • Standout transcript booster for a student needing a science course after Chemistry but who may not enjoy pure science or lab courses.
  • AP European History
    • Strong analytical and essay skills required. Suitable for strong grade 10 and up.
    • This exam applies a broad set of history analysis skills and objectives to European history.
  • AP French
    • TPS global language courses are well-known for being excellent preparation for their respective AP exams, and TPS AP French students score considerably higher than other students.
    • Ideally the AP language course is taken as the fifth year of the language study, but this requires the student to enter grade 9 at the second-year level, so it is also feasible to take the AP course as the fourth year of the language study in grade 12.
  • AP Human Geography
    • Ideal first AP course for strong grade 9 and up.
    • Some analytical and essay skills required.
  • AP Macroeconomics and Microeconomics
    • Strong analytical and essay skills required. Suitable for strong grade 10 and up.
    • Standout alternative to the standard Economics course required for high school graduation by many U.S. states.
    • Taking both macro- and microeconomics together enhances and reinforces knowledge of both subjects and helps students earn higher AP exam scores on both exams.
    • Transcripts and credits as two AP courses (students must complete the entire course to receive any credit and may not take either semester separately).
  • AP Physics 1
    • No direct dual credit option so AP exam must be taken to seek credit through the college application process.
    • AP Physics 1 replaces a high school physics course (high school Physics is not a prerequisite).
    • AP Physics 1 (algebra-based mechanical) can be followed by AP Physics 2 (algebra-based electricity and magnetism). (There is also the AP Physics “C” series, which are calculus-based. These are rarely taken in high school since calculus is a prerequisite.)
    • AP exam requires significant laboratory experience so the AP Physics 1 course has extensive lab component.
  • AP Precalculus
    • Designed by the College Board for students who are not planning to take Calculus. It does not cover some topics required in a Precalculus course designed to prepare for Calculus.
    • AP Precalculus provides no benefits for a student who takes AP Calculus AB or BC.
    • Colleges are currently not offering significant credit for AP Precalculus. If it receives credit, it is College Trigonometry.
    • TPS Precalculus (standard and Honors) offers college credit as College Trigonometry (Belhaven MAT 103, 3 credits) with no AP exam required.
    • Students seeking college credit for AP Precalculus are recommended to take TPS Precalculus for college credit with no AP exam.
  • AP Psychology
    • A standout social science option with an exam that is generally considered among more attainable high scores on AP exams.
    • TPS AP Psychology course is particularly strong in incorporating a biblical worldview into an otherwise secularized topic.
    • Available from TPS as AP exam preparation or direct college credit (or both).
    • Direct college credit option is one college semester of content that provides direct (no AP exam required) dual credit with a transcript from Belhaven University for PSY 203 (3 credits).
    • AP option is same content but student prepares for and takes the AP exam to seek credit through the college application process.
  • AP Spanish
    • TPS global language courses are well-known for being excellent preparation for their respective AP exams, and TPS AP Spanish students score considerably higher than other students (some years they all get 5’s).
    • Ideally the AP language course is taken as the fifth year of the language study, but this requires the student to enter grade 9 at the second-year level, so it is also feasible to take the AP course as the fourth year of the language study.
  • AP Statistics
    • Statistics is a requirement for sciences, social sciences and any other data-driven fields of study. Many students in college wish they took statistics in a full-year high school course first because the semester college course moves too quickly for them.
    • Because Statistics is not a traditional math course, it can be taken concurrently with another math course (e.g., AP Calculus) or can replace a math course as a standout transcript option for students who have completed Algebra 2 and do not need Calculus.
  • AP U.S. Government and Politics
    • Strong analytical and essay skills required. Suitable for strong grade 10 and up.
    • Standout alternative to the standard U.S. Government course required for high school graduation by nearly every state in the U.S.
  • AP U.S. History
    • Strong analytical and essay skills required. Suitable for strong grade 10 and up.
    • Standout alternative to the standard U.S. History course required for high school graduation by nearly every state in the U.S.
    • This exam applies a broad set of history analysis skills and objectives to U.S. history. The TPS courses focuses on those skills, so our AP U.S. History students score considerably higher than others. If you don’t want to work for a high score on the AP U.S. History exam, take TPS College U.S. History for direct dual credit instead.
    • TPS also offers a direct (no AP exam required) dual credit world history course, College U.S. World History, with a transcript from Belhaven University for HIS 105 (3 credits).
    • A 4/5 score on the AP exam is generally worth more credit in more places, but the direct dual credit option is sufficient for many students to get college credit from their preferred college(s).
  • AP World History – Modern
    • Strong analytical and essay skills required. Suitable for strong grade 10 and up.
    • This exam applies a broad set of history analysis skills and objectives to modern world history. The TPS courses focuses on those skills, so our AP World History – Modern students score considerably higher than others. If you don’t want to work for a high score on the AP World History – Modern exam, take TPS College Contemporary World History for direct dual credit instead.
    • TPS also offers a direct (no AP exam required) dual credit world history course, College Contemporary World History, with a transcript from Belhaven University for HIS 205 (3 credits).
    • A 4/5 score on the AP exam is generally worth more credit in more places, but the direct dual credit option is sufficient for many students to get college credit from their preferred college(s).

To find more details on these courses, please select the AP category in our Course Catalog.

TPS is authorized by the College Board to offer certified AP® courses under AI / CEEB code 470144. AP® is a trademark owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse these courses.