"Compass offered a personalized and targeted
approach that met our daughter's busy schedule.
They not only helped with SAT and ACT,
but also with time management and strategy on
all AP Tests. Our daughter went from panic to
acceptance to her dream school!"

- Jamie R, Mother of Rebecca
12th Grader at La Cañada High School

AP Exam Tutoring

As schools begin the year with distance learning, you can count on Compass for any extra support your student may need. Many students are looking for ways to stay on pace with their challenging AP classes this year.

With today’s heavy course loads and numerous extracurricular activities, even the highest-achieving students can sometimes find themselves in need of assistance. High achievers themselves, Compass instructors can relate. And help. Over half have completed post-graduate work in fields of study built on the concepts taught in AP courses. From English Literature to Environmental Science, we have a tutor for that.

Give us a call at 800-685-6986 for more information or to set up a tutoring program that fits your needs.

For the most updated information we have regarding the 2020 AP Exams, visit our blog post.

What Do AP Scores Mean?

Because they cover many of the same subject areas, students and parents sometimes confuse AP exams with SAT Subject Tests. It is important to note that, while students can earn college credit for posting strong AP scores, AP exams are not admission tests per se.

What do AP scores mean? The College Board defines 3 as “qualified” to receive college credit, 4 as “well qualified,” and 5 as “extremely well qualified.” Ultimately, however, the answer varies from college to college. Some schools give credit for a 3, while others require a 5. Some of the most selective schools don’t give credit for any score. The one generalization we can make with confidence is that failing to post a 3 or better is likely to place a student in the bottom half to bottom third of his or her peers nationwide.

AP Exams – May 2019

AP Test	Tests Taken	% at 5	% at 4	% at 3	% at 2	% at 1	% at 3 / higher
ALL EXAMS	5,098,815	14.3	20.1	25.2	22.8	17.5	59.6
ART: HISTORY	24,476	11.9	24.6	26.6	24.7	12.2	63.1
BIOLOGY	260,816	7.2	22.2	35.3	26.6	8.8	64.7
CALCULUS AB	300,659	19.1	18.7	20.6	23.3	18.3	58.4
CALCULUS BC	139,195	43.0	18.5	19.5	13.9	5.2	81.0
CHEMISTRY	158,847	11.5	16.6	27.5	23.0	21.4	55.6
CHINESE LANG. & CULTURE	13,853	60.1	14.9	14.8	4.0	6.2	89.9
COMPUTER SCIENCE A	69,685	26.7	21.9	21.0	11.9	18.4	69.6
COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES	96,105	13.8	21.0	37.1	18.8	9.3	71.9
ECONOMICS: MACRO	146,091	19.1	23.0	16.9	14.9	26.2	58.9
ECONOMICS: MICRO	91,551	24.3	28.1	17.2	12.0	18.4	69.6
ENGLISH LANG. & COMP	573,171	9.9	18.2	26.2	31.2	14.5	54.3
ENGLISH LITERATURE	380,136	6.2	15.7	27.8	34.3	16.0	49.7
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE	172,456	9.4	25.7	14.1	25.4	25.4	49.2
EUROPEAN HISTORY	100,655	11.7	20.5	25.9	29.4	12.5	58.1
FRENCH LANG. & CULTURE	23,249	16.1	25.3	35.7	18.2	4.7	77.1
GERMAN LANG. & CULTURE	5,160	21.0	24.2	27.2	19.5	8.2	72.3
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS COMP	23,522	22.4	24.4	19.2	18.7	15.3	66.0
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS U.S.	314,825	12.9	12.4	29.8	24.8	20.1	55.1
HUMAN GEOGRAPHY	225,235	10.8	18.2	20.1	16.7	34.1	49.1
ITALIAN LANG. & CULTURE	2,658	13.6	18.1	34.4	24.6	9.3	66.1
JAPANESE LANG. & CULTURE	2,479	45.3	12.4	21.6	7.7	13.0	79.3
LATIN	6,083	13.0	19.3	30.5	24.1	13.0	62.9
MUSIC THEORY	18,864	21.2	17.9	24.5	23.5	12.8	63.7
PHYSICS 1	161,071	6.7	18.2	20.5	28.7	25.9	45.4
PHYSICS 2	23,802	14.2	21.0	30.2	26.2	8.4	65.4
PHYSICS C: ELEC. & MAGNET.	25,342	37.6	22.6	12.7	16.6	10.4	73.0
PHYSICS C: MECHANICS	57,131	37.7	26.7	17.4	10.0	8.2	81.8
PSYCHOLOGY	311,215	20.5	25.3	18.7	13.5	22.0	64.5
RESEARCH	15,724	10.7	22.2	43.0	19.5	4.6	75.9
SEMINAR	43,441	7.1	15.1	58.9	16.6	2.3	81.1
SPANISH LANG. & CULTURE	187,133	25.2	34.2	29.4	9.5	1.8	88.7
SPANISH LITERATURE	29,345	9.5	25.0	37.7	21.4	6.3	72.3
STATISTICS	219,392	14.7	18.4	26.6	19.3	21.0	59.7
STUDIO ART: DRAWING	21,769	20.8	33.3	37.0	7.8	1.1	91.1
STUDIO ART: 2-D DESIGN	37,749	21.0	31.5	34.0	10.8	2.8	86.4
STUDIO ART: 3-D DESIGN	6,040	10.0	22.4	37.5	25.7	4.3	70.0
US HISTORY	496,573	11.8	18.4	23.4	22.0	24.3	53.7
WORLD HISTORY	313,317	8.6	18.8	28.0	28.8	15.8	55.3

Learn more about what AP test scores mean here.

Learn more about schools’ credit and placement policies here.

2021 AP Testing Schedule – Week 1

Date	Morning 8 a.m.	Noon 12:00 p.m.	Afternoon 2:00 p.m.
Monday, May 3, 2021	United States Government and Politics	Physics C: Mechanics	Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Tuesday, May 4, 2021	Calculus AB Calculus BC	German Language and Culture Human Geography
Wednesday, May 5, 2021	English Literature and Composition	Japanese Language and Culture Physics 1: Algebra-Based
Thursday, May 6, 2021	United States History	Art History Computer Science A
Friday, May 7, 2021	Chemistry Spanish Literature and Culture	European History Physics 2: Algebra-Based

2021 AP Testing Schedule – Week 2

Date	Morning 8 a.m.	Noon 12:00 p.m.
Monday, May 10, 2021	French Language and Culture World History: Modern	Macroeconomics
Tuesday, May 11, 2021	Seminar Spanish Language and Culture	Latin Psychology
Wednesday, May 12, 2021	English Language and Composition	Microeconomics Music Theory
Thursday, May 13, 2021	Comparative Government and Politics Computer Science Principles	Statistics
Friday, May 14, 2021	Biology Italian Language and Culture	Chinese Language and Culture Environmental Science

Success Stories

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We are so grateful for all you did to help Crystal understand how to study with dyslexia and be the best student she could be. Your tutors were exceptional and so caring about Crystal's needs and challenges. The good news - she has gone on to graduate with honors and will attend her first-choice university. Thank you so much!
Jen T, Mother of Crystal, 12th Grader at St. Francis High School

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Our three kids each attended different high schools and had unique strengths and challenges. We used Compass for tutoring for the ACT for all three kids, and also for some supplemental math tutoring for our daughter. Each or our kids’ ACT scores improved dramatically as a direct result of the Compass tutors’ guidance. And our daughter’s understanding and achievement in her school math class also improved noticeably. Perhaps best of all, Compass managed to match our kids with tutors who perfectly fit each of our kids’ unique personalities and learning needs, in addition to being talented, courteous, and reliable. And the Compass directors and office staff was always accessible, attentive and responsive. A 100% pleasant and positive experience all the way around.
Jan L, Mother of Andrea, 12th Grader at Marin Catholic High School

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