How many AP classes should my teen take?

What colleges look at

Your teen’s counselor sends a school report with the application. It describes the school’s courses and how demanding your teen’s choices were compared with classmates. A student at a school with few AP courses isn’t marked down for not taking ones that weren’t offered.

Pacing from grade 9 to 12

• Grades 9 and 10: honors or advanced sections (KAP in Katy ISD, PAP in Lamar CISD) in the subjects your teen is strongest in. These open the AP courses later.
• Grades 11 and 12: most AP and dual credit courses are taken here, after their prerequisites.
• Balance: a schedule that leaves no time for sleep or one real activity costs more than one fewer AP.

AP, honors or dual credit

In Texas, dual credit is often the other option. Each district weights them its own way. AP vs dual credit in Texas

Do AP classes boost GPA?

In districts with a weighted GPA, yes: an A in an advanced course earns more points than an A in an academic one. Weighted vs unweighted GPA

Pennantist shows your teen’s weighted GPA with each planned course, by your district’s rules, and draws the prerequisites that lead to each AP course.

Questions parents ask

How many AP classes do colleges want?

College Board, which runs AP, says there’s no number of AP courses that’s right for every student. It suggests deciding with your teen’s teachers and school counselor, who know whether your teen is ready and what a balanced schedule looks like at their school.

Is honors or AP weighted higher?

It depends on the district. Each Texas district sets its own weights:

• Katy ISD: Advanced (KAP, AP, GT sections): A 5, B 4, C 3; Dual credit: A 4.5, B 3.5, C 2.5; Academic and electives: A 4, B 3, C 2
• Lamar CISD: AP / Dual credit ×1.3; Honors (PAP, OnRamps fall) ×1.2; Academic ×1.1

Is dual credit better than AP in Texas?

Neither is better for every student. One Texas rule matters for AP: since fall 2016, a Texas public college can’t ask for more than a 3 on an AP exam to give course credit, unless it shows evidence that a higher score is needed for the next course. AP vs dual credit in Texas

Can my teen take an AP exam without the class?

Yes. College Board recommends taking the course first but doesn’t require it. Your teen would arrange to take the exam at their own school or a nearby school or testing center that offers it.