It can be challenging for schools to evaluate what your grade-point average actually means. For example, a 4.0 at a school with a weak curriculum might not mean as much as a 3.5 at a school with rigorous coursework. Honors courses show that you're willing to take challenging courses and that you have the necessary skills to be accepted into these classes. Excellent grades in honors classes can boost your admissions chances even more.
Any academic honor can make you a more appealing candidate, and can also reveal more about what sets you apart from other students. If you get a higher grade than any other student, for example, this helps your potential school put your grades in context relative to your peers. Awards for specific subjects can make you a more attractive candidate for majors related to these subjects. Leadership, citizenship and volunteer awards reveal strengths beyond academics.
You should list any honors classes or awards you've received on your application, but it can also be helpful to provide more context in your application essay. If you received an award for community service, for example, you might write about what you learned from the experience and how you'd bring these lessons to the college to which you are applying. If the meaning of a particular academic honor is unclear or the name doesn't give away the nature of the award, it's particularly helpful to provide more information.
Although academic honors and advanced classes can help you get into college, most schools focus heavily on grades and standardized test scores, according to the College Board. A few awards can help compensate for some low grades here and there. If you're applying for an Ivy League college in which most students have stellar grades and test scores, your academic honors can set you apart and make you seem like a more interesting and well-rounded candidate.