College prep classes teach students test-taking strategies specific to the standardized test they are taking. Such strategies can increase test scores by 100 or more points. Students also prepare for the test over a period of weeks or months rather than relying on last-minute cramming that can increase pre-test jitters. Full high-school courses increase a student's vocabulary, reading and math skills (the basic subjects in college entrance exams) and help students in specialty areas like history, science or language.
Prep courses that improve SAT or ACT scores allow students to apply to elite or highly selective schools, like those in the Ivy League. Schools weight grades from AP, IB or honors classes more heavily than those from regular classes because they recognize that more difficult courses replicate college workloads. More than one-third of colleges accept them as course credit.
Higher board scores or advanced studies can make students more desirable to colleges, which in turn offer better financial aid through scholarships and other gift aid. This can make high-tuition schools more affordable to low-income and middle-class families and allow students to graduate with fewer loans to repay.
High-school students who take AP, IB or honors classes are better prepared for the college experience and frequently do not require remedial classes to ready them for college coursework. This lets students focus on their chosen major earlier, take additional electives or even add a second major.