Advanced Placement is a program in the United States created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores on the examinations.
What exactly is an AP?
What is Advanced Placement and why is it important? AP ® tests are college-level exams on specific subjects and are administered in May upon the completion of an AP course taken at a student's high school. At many colleges and universities, a high enough score will earn the student college credit.
What are AP exams used for?
Essentially, AP Tests are a standardized way of validating your course record. They're a measure used to control for poorly taught AP classes where students earn As but don't actually know the material.