One of the most common questions I received over on TikTok this summer was “Is AP Lang worth it?”
The answer is “it depends.”
As someone who teaches both AP® Language and Composition and College English (concurrent credit,) I think students need to consider a variety of factors before making this decision.
First and foremost, know that much of what I’m about to say depends on your interests/goals, the high school you attend, the state you live in, and where you want to attend college.
What is AP Lang?
For more information about the class, check out this video here. AP® Language and Composition is a course offered through The College Board. Students have the option of taking an exam in May. Depending on the score they receive, students can earn college credit. More information on that to follow.
What is concurrent credit?
This term might vary a bit depending on where you live, but for the purposes of this blog post, concurrent credit means a college level class taught at a high school. Students receive both high school and college credit. The college credit often comes from a local college or community college and can transfer to other colleges. More information on this to follow as well.
What is dual enrollment?
Again, this term might very in its meaning depending on your school, but for the purposes of this blog post, dual enrollment is when you take an AP® class and receive college credit from a local university at the same time.
Availability
In some sense, students are limited to which classes their high school offers. Your school might have more AP® options than concurrent credit options, or vice versa. Some concurrent credit programs will let students take classes over the summer or online of the school does not offer the class, so definitely talk to your guidance counselor about your options.
Cost
Generally speaking, both AP® exams and concurrent credit classes are less expensive than taking the classes as a college freshman. In that sense, both can be great options.
If cost is a factor, look into the cost of the AP® exam fee and compare it to the cost of an equivalent concurrent credit class.
There are a few states, mine is one of them, where the state department of education covers the AP® exam fee for students. Also, in our area, students who qualify for free and reduced lunch can take a couple concurrent credit classes at no cost. Sometimes there are also scholarship options for concurrent credit students. Because this varies from school to school and state to state, talk to your teachers or guidance counselors, as they would likely be able to advise you based on the options in your area.
College Credit
Colleges and universities determine what they will accept for credit, so if you have an idea of which schools you might apply to, see which AP scores they accept and what their concurrent credit policy is. This information is typically on the college or university’s website.
College Credit for AP® Classes
In regard to AP® classes, one of the perks is that they are widely accepted for college credit, meaning that if you earn the score the school accepts, it is accepted in place of a college class. If you enter college with multiple AP® or concurrent credits, you are (in theory) saving money, as you could graduate in 2-3 years instead of 4.
As a word of caution, though, college is a big adjustment, and sometimes “testing out” of several classes, whether it be because of AP® or concurrent credit, can mean that you end up taking several difficult classes as a freshman–all while you’re adjusting to college life. For some people, this is an easy adjustment. For others, it is a challenge.
The downside of AP® scores is that you might not earn the score you need. In these instances, I can see how it would be easy to think, “oh man, it was a waste.” But, don’t forget that you are a stronger student because of what you learned in the class. So when asked if AP Lang is worth it even if you don’t make the score you want, I think it is. Honestly, out all the AP® and concurrent credit options out there, I think AP Lang and College English I (sometimes called Comp. I) are worth it because they reinforce how to read and write about nonfiction, a skill that most students will use in their future classes.
College Credit for Concurrent Credit Classes
With concurrent credit classes, it’s important to realize that in some cases private colleges and out-of-state schools are less likely to accept the concurrent credit. While I know of cases where a student attended a private college or out-of-state college and the schools accepted the concurrent credit, I know cases in which the school did not accept the credit. Just as with a school not accepting an AP® score, I’d venture to say that the student still gained valuable knowledge from the concurrent credit class even if the credit didn’t transfer.
Moral of the story? Do your research.
Make a spreadsheet of the colleges you’re interested in and keep track of the AP and concurrent credit policies. This will help you make an informed decision once you start applying to colleges and receiving acceptance letters.
For more information about how to make a college list, check out this video here.
GPA Boost
This is another factor that varies from school to school. Many schools give a “GPA boost” (5.0 scale) for completing an AP® class. Schools may or may not give the same GPA boost for concurrent credit or dual enrollment classes.
Is AP Lang Hard?
In addition to being asked “is AP Lang worth it,” I’m also frequently asked if “is AP Lang hard.”
This depends on a variety of factors:
- your interest in English, especially nonfiction
- the classes you have previously taken on will be taking at the same time as AP Lang
- your teacher
- your learning style
- your other commitments (school, family, job, etc.)
- the class content and workload
I love that AP® Lang focuses on rhetorical analysis, synthesis, and argument, as these are valuable skills. I also love that students are exposed to these skills in different ways throughout the year, as I believe these skills are valuable well beyond the class itself.
Want to know more? Check out this blog post about what is on the AP® Lang Exam.
So is AP® Lang hard? Maybe. But one of my goals is to try to make it a little easier for students, which is why I started my YouTube channel and TikTok.
Final Recommendations
When deciding “is AP Lang worth it,” make an informed decision by
- Doing your research to see what all your course options are
- Talking to your teachers, guidance counselors, parents/guardians, and students who have taken the classes at your school in previous years–while it should be your decision, sometimes it’s good to hear other people’s perspectives.
- Making a spreadsheet, t-chart, or list to compare the cost and credits accepted
DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with The College Board. The advice and opinions expressed in this video are my own.
For more information about AP® Language and Composition, please go to The College Board’s website, which can be accessed here.
