The Advanced Placement® (AP®) Program allows students to take university-level courses while still in high school and receive college credit, advanced placement, and other benefits. With advantages including the ability to bypass introductory-level college courses and save money on tuition, an increasing number of students in India and throughout the world are opting to take the AP Exams. Most universities in the United States and Canada, as well as 700 institutions outside of the United States, accept AP scores of 3 or higher.
By allowing students to pursue a variety of courses, AP allows them to transfer their passions and interests to college programs. Students can save money and time in college by earning credit and placement. With its strong academic reputation and emphasis on conceptual comprehension, AP allows students to distinguish out when applying to colleges.
Most students take AP courses and exams in grades 11 or 12. However, you may feel prepared to take on the challenge of AP earlier. You can take AP Exams in any grade, but most schools don’t offer AP courses to students in grade 9. A few secondary schools in India offer both AP courses and exams but limit testing to their enrolled students only. Authorized AP test centers administer AP Exams and are open to all students so long as they are eligible to test.
The Graduate Record Examination is also known as the GRE. Most students seeking to enroll in graduate school, whether for a master’s or doctorate degree, must take this exam. The Educational Testing Service developed this standardized test in 1949, and it is still administered today. The GRE assesses a student’s ability to reason verbally, quantitatively, and analytically, which includes critical thinking. The notion is that these abilities were acquired during high school and undergraduate study and are now a necessary component of the test-educational taker’s experience.
Though the GRE score is an important factor that graduate schools consider, it is not the only piece of information that matters. Other factors considered by the admissions committee include undergraduate GPA, personal statement, references or letters of recommendation, resume detailing previous and current work in the field, and any relevant tests, such as the Psychology Subject Test. Though a strong test result will get you noticed, it won’t be enough to get you admitted if the rest of your application is lacking.
The GRE Psychology Subject Test places a heavy emphasis on key aspects of psychology that should have been studied during undergraduate studies. Though not all psychology graduate schools need it, it is expected by some. Even though a school does not require the Psychology Test, students may find that taking it strengthens their application and helps them stand out in a crowded field of applicants. The GRE is given once a month, but the psychology test is given three times a year, just like the other subject tests. Students usually sign up around a month before the test date. The test findings are valid for five years after the date of the test.
Taking these exams is an added benefit to the students taking them.
By Tanaya Poopal
