So, why would a student choose to take an Honours class that leads to an AP (Advanced Placement) exam?

Certainly it's not for everyone, but there are students with certain interests and aspirations where an Honours course will really benefit.

Here are 3 reasons that a student may wish to take an Honours Class:

1. Get Smarter

Honours classes are as challenging as most introductory college courses. They are fast-paced, cover more material than regular classes, and require independent work like research and analysis. Getting a dose of a college-level curriculum early on could ease your transition from high school senior to first-year college student.

2. College / University Admission

Advanced Placement classes show admissions officers that you're ready for college-level work.  With no provincials in BC, admissions counselors often look for other factors when evaluating applications.  An honours course and/or the AP exam are considered a great addition to your application.

3. Jump Ahead (and save some tuition dollars)

Taking an honours class is great prep for the corresponding AP test. Held every May, AP tests are scored on a scale from 1–5.  Many colleges and/or universities allow a score of a 4 or higher to earn you college credits without paying college tuition. Some students are able to skip the entire first year of college this way, thus cutting the entire cost of their college education by one quarter.   Even if you decide not to skip the course(s), you'll find that you find the first-year courses much easier.