College credits are used to tally up students' progress toward their degrees. Usually, colleges assign three credits per class. Four-year degree programs require 120 credits for completion. Usually, 12 credits are taken per semester. Therefore, a single AP class can be transferred for three college credits. For example, if a high school student takes four AP classes throughout his high school career, he can usually transfer those classes for a semester's worth of college credit.
AP classes are offered across several subject areas. Some of these areas include European history, music theory, French, Spanish, English, statistics and calculus. Although the names of specific college classes differ, AP courses can stand in for college courses depending on their subject area and material covered. For example, if a student takes AP statistics, he may opt out of taking a basic college statistics course.
Many colleges have a general education program, or GEP. The GEP is a set of general classes that colleges require students to complete before taking classes specific to their majors or minors. Colleges employ a GEP so that students can explore several subject areas and emerge as well-rounded professionals. In most public universities, the general education program consists of 60 credits, or roughly four semesters. Usually, AP class credit applies toward students' completion of GEP requirements.
AP exams are administered at the end of an AP class to judge how well each student has mastered the material. Colleges use students' AP scores to determine whether students should gain credit for specific AP classes taken in high school. AP tests are scored on a five-point scale. In order to get college credit for a specific AP course, students must score at least a 3 on that course's AP exam. Sometimes, scoring higher allows students to gain more college credits. For example, scoring a 3 on the English AP exam allows students in Florida's public universities to accrue credit for one class: English Composition I. A score of 4 or 5 allows students to accrue credit for two classes: English Composition I and English Composition II.