AP Equivalents & Alternatives

APs are academically rigorous courses that can demonstrate your potential to top universities. However, universities around the world recognise plenty of other qualifications that show you're ready for college-level work. Whether you're taking IB, A Levels, dual enrolment, or something else entirely, you can still build a strong application.

Our comprehensive guide will detail an array of AP equivalents while showing you how to make the most of whatever's available to you. 

Key Takeaways

• APs are just one pathway - they're not the only way to demonstrate academic rigour or get into top universities.

• IB and A Levels are both well-respected - these programmes are viewed as just as challenging as APs by admissions officers worldwide.

• Universities care about context - they want to see you've taken the most demanding courses available at your school, whatever those might be.

• Choose what works for you - the best programme is the one you can access and that aligns with your academic goals and university plans.

What Are AP Courses?

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level classes designed for high school students across the United States and Canada. Created and managed by the College Board (opens in a new tab), APs let students tackle university-standard coursework before they leave secondary school.

The programme covers 40 different subjects spanning: 

• Arts

• History

• Maths

• Sciences

• World languages

Each course follows a standardised curriculum developed with input from university professors to ensure students are doing genuinely college-level work.

At the end of each AP course, students sit an exam in May. These exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5. If you score 3 or higher, many universities will grant you college credit or advanced placement, potentially saving you time and tuition fees. Delve into our AP scores and AP college credit articles for more detail.

Top AP Equivalents Around the World

If your school doesn't offer AP courses, don't worry. Universities recognise several other qualifications as equally rigorous alternatives. Here’s a brief comparison table of AP equivalents before we dig into the details of each one.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a two-year qualification recognised worldwide. It's particularly popular in international schools and is highly regarded by universities globally.

Students take (opens in a new tab)six subjects chosen from six different groups (opens in a new tab): 

1. Studies in language and literature

2. Language acquisition

3. Individuals and societies

4. Sciences

5. Mathematics

6. Arts

You can swap the arts subject for an additional subject from another group if you prefer.

Each subject is offered at either Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). You must take at least three subjects at HL and three at SL. Higher Level courses require 240 teaching hours, whilst Standard Level courses need 150 hours.

On top of these six subjects, IB students must complete three core components: 

• Theory of Knowledge (a philosophy-style course about how we learn)

• An Extended Essay (a 4,000-word independent research project)

• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) - a programme of extracurricular activities and community work

The IB is scored out of 45 points total. The qualification is viewed as equally rigorous as APs by admissions officers at top universities worldwide.

A Levels (UK and Commonwealth Countries)

A Levels are qualifications from the UK that are widely recognised by universities worldwide. They're the traditional British route to university and are particularly valued by UK institutions.

Students tend to choose three or four subjects based on their: 

• Interests

• Strengths

• Intended university course

Unlike IB, there are no compulsory subjects. You pick what you want to study. 

A Levels are studied over two years and are primarily assessed through final exams taken at the end of the course. Some subjects include a small amount of coursework or practical assessment, but most of your grade comes from those end-of-course exams.

Students receive separate grades for each subject (A* to E), rather than one overall diploma score. This makes A Levels ideal if you're strong in specific areas and want to focus deeply on those subjects.

A Levels are especially useful if you're planning to study in the UK, as UK universities base their offers on A Level grades. However, they're also recognised by universities in the US, Canada, and many other countries.

Dual Enrolment / College Credit Programmes

Dual enrolment (opens in a new tab) lets US high school students take actual college courses -  often at local community colleges or universities - whilst they're still in secondary school. If you take dual credit courses (a specific type of dual enrolment), they’ll count toward both your high school diploma and your future college degree.

Credit transfer policies vary between universities. Before signing up for dual enrolment, check whether the colleges you're interested in will accept those credits. Some universities have limits on how many dual enrolment credits they'll recognise.

Honours Courses (US)

Honours courses are accelerated, higher-level classes offered in many US high schools. They're a step up from regular classes but not quite as demanding as AP courses.

These classes move faster and cover more material than standard courses. For example, if you take honours Biology, you might:

• Do extra labs

• Tackle more complex problems

• Dive deeper into the science than you would in the regular version

However, you don't get college credit for honours courses, unlike with APs. Honours classes are purely about demonstrating academic challenge and building stronger skills for university.

However, many schools give honours courses a GPA boost, often adding 0.5 points to your grade. An A in an honours class might count as 4.5 instead of 4.0 on your transcript.

CLEP Exams

CLEP (College-Level Examination Programme) (opens in a new tab) is another credit-by-exam option from College Board — the same organisation behind AP tests. CLEP lets you earn university credit by passing exams, without ever taking a course.

The programme offers (opens in a new tab)34 different exams (opens in a new tab) covering introductory-level subjects like English composition, history, maths, sciences, and business. Each exam typically earns you 3 to 6 credits if you pass.

CLEP is primarily used by non-traditional students. This includes:

• Adults returning to education

• Military personnel

• People who've learned subjects through work experience

Whilst high school students can take CLEP exams, they're less common in secondary school settings than APs.

Advanced Standing / Gifted Programmes (Country-Specific)

Many countries have their own advanced qualifications that demonstrate academic rigour. Whilst these aren't always as widely known internationally as AP, IB, or A Levels, they're respected within their home countries and regions:

• Germany has the Abitur - the standard university entrance qualification earned after 12 or 13 years of schooling.

• France has the French Baccalauréat (commonly called "le Bac") - a national secondary school diploma. 

• India has the ISC (Indian School Certificate) and CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) - qualifications recognised by Indian universities and increasingly by institutions abroad, though students may need to complete additional requirements for admission to Western universities.

How Universities View AP Equivalents

Top universities recognise AP, IB, and A Levels as equally rigorous. No one path is "better" in the eyes of admissions officers.

What matters most is context. Universities evaluate you based on what's available at your school. If you take the most challenging courses offered to you - whether that's APs, IB, A Levels, or something else - you're demonstrating academic ambition.

There may be some familiarity preferences. For instance:

• US universities obviously know AP very well

• UK universities are most familiar with A Levels

But this doesn't mean you can't get into top American universities with A Levels or IB, or into Oxford with APs.

What admissions officers really care about is:

• Did you take the most demanding courses available to you?

• Did you perform well in those courses?

• Does your course load align with your intended major?

If you're studying sciences and planning a STEM degree, strong performance in science subjects matters more than which specific qualification system you used.

What to Do If Your School Doesn't Offer AP

You've still got options to show academic rigour and impress universities if APs aren’t available at your school.

Take IB, A Levels, or dual enrolment if available. Universities won't penalise you for taking what your school provides.

Self-study for AP if motivated. You don't need to be enrolled in an AP course to sit the exam. If you're particularly driven, you can study independently and still earn college credit. Just be realistic about the workload. Self-studying APs requires serious commitment.

Focus on grades, extracurriculars, and strong teacher references. Universities look at your entire application, not just your course titles. 

Use summer courses to show academic ambition. Taking university-level courses online or during the summer demonstrates intellectual curiosity and initiative. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is IB better than AP?

Neither is "better". They're just different. IB is a complete two-year diploma programme with a broader curriculum, whilst AP lets you choose individual subjects. IB might feel more structured and holistic, whilst AP gives you more flexibility.

Universities respect both. Choose based on what's available at your school and what suits your learning style, not because you think one looks better to admissions officers.

Can I get into a US university without taking APs?

Yes, absolutely. Thousands of international students get into top US universities every year without ever taking an AP course. Universities evaluate you in the context of your school's offerings.

What's the best AP alternative if I want to study in the UK?

A Levels are your best bet for UK universities. They're the standard qualification that UK universities use for offers, so admissions tutors know exactly how to evaluate them.

That said, UK universities also widely accept the IB Diploma. If your school offers IB, that works perfectly well for UK applications. Just make sure you're taking subjects relevant to your intended degree.

Final Thoughts

There are loads of pathways to university success, and AP is just one of them. Whether you're taking IB, A Levels, dual enrolment, honours courses, or something else entirely, what matters most is challenging yourself with the options available to you.

And, when you need a little extra study boost, head over to Save My Exams revision resources, past papers, and exam questions. Written by real examiners and expert teachers, they’re designed to match your exact exam board. Whether you're studying for APs or A Levels or IB equivalents, you'll find clear, exam-focused tools that make revision simpler and smarter.

References

College Board - Discover AP (opens in a new tab)

IBO - DP Curriculum (opens in a new tab)

ACT - Dual Enrollment (opens in a new tab)

CLEP - Earn College Credit with CLEP (opens in a new tab)

CLEP - Exam Topics (opens in a new tab)