Anonymous
09/16/2025 17:32
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Anonymous wrote:My DC did this – from a non-AP private school wanted to go to Oxford, so self studied for seven AP exams, starting in sophomore year.
Got all fives on the APs, and as the Oxford, subject test, but got cut at the interview stage.
I had tried to dissuade DC from the outset, as the whole thing sounded like a whole lot of work and I didn’t want DC to go that far away regardless
DC ended up at a US T10. In retrospect, it would’ve been a lot less stressful without the whole extra set of exams to prepare for
DC did get into all the other UK universities, including Edinburgh, Saint Andrews, and LSC, but I think we only applied there because the applications were basically free with the Oxford application.
In some, it might make sense to self study if your kid is genuinely interested in more than a single UK university. If it’s Oxbridge or Bus, from a private school with no APs, I wouldn’t bother it unless it’s your absolute dream school.
What is LSC?
Anonymous
09/16/2025 17:30
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
It is definitely possible. My own dd did this with 2 AP classes not offered at her public HS and got 5s on both. This was for AP gov and APUSH, done in 2025 and 2024, against my wishes lol
Anonymous
09/16/2025 17:28
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Make sure you check requirements for the specific course (major) your kid wants to apply for. They will specify which AP subjects are needed; you can’t just take random subjects to fulfill the 5 APs at grade 5 requirement. Also you have to release score reports for ALL standardized tests taken and generally there is no superscoring. Also, generally only BC Calc is accepted as an equivalence for A level Maths, not AB Calc.
Anonymous
09/16/2025 17:05
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
My DC did this – from a non-AP private school wanted to go to Oxford, so self studied for seven AP exams, starting in sophomore year.
Got all fives on the APs, and as the Oxford, subject test, but got cut at the interview stage.
I had tried to dissuade DC from the outset, as the whole thing sounded like a whole lot of work and I didn’t want DC to go that far away regardless
DC ended up at a US T10. In retrospect, it would’ve been a lot less stressful without the whole extra set of exams to prepare for
DC did get into all the other UK universities, including Edinburgh, Saint Andrews, and LSC, but I think we only applied there because the applications were basically free with the Oxford application.
In some, it might make sense to self study if your kid is genuinely interested in more than a single UK university. If it’s Oxbridge or Bus, from a private school with no APs, I wouldn’t bother it unless it’s your absolute dream school.
Got all fives on the APs, and as the Oxford, subject test, but got cut at the interview stage.
I had tried to dissuade DC from the outset, as the whole thing sounded like a whole lot of work and I didn’t want DC to go that far away regardless
DC ended up at a US T10. In retrospect, it would’ve been a lot less stressful without the whole extra set of exams to prepare for
DC did get into all the other UK universities, including Edinburgh, Saint Andrews, and LSC, but I think we only applied there because the applications were basically free with the Oxford application.
In some, it might make sense to self study if your kid is genuinely interested in more than a single UK university. If it’s Oxbridge or Bus, from a private school with no APs, I wouldn’t bother it unless it’s your absolute dream school.
Anonymous
09/16/2025 17:01
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is DC a junior? I think this could be fairly tough. While AP tests are not that hard to pass, it’s not a piece of cake to get a 5, and the kids in humanities AP classes spend a lot of time during the year practicing how to structure their essays for the test.
Obviously it’s easier if DC is taking comparable classes during the school year. But to get 5s on four (?) APs is going to require a lot of prep, both in the subject and specific to the APs
OP here. DC is a sophomore right now. At this stage interested in psychology but that could change. Thinking of doing 2 or 3 APs and hoping to schedule so mirror a course they are doing at school. Eg APUSH this year as they are doing honours US history at school this year.
Why do you suggest need to do 4 APs and score 5 in each?
I thought that was the requirement. My son is considering applying. I just checked and it’s five 5s, or fewer with a certain SAT score.
Psychology is a very easy AP from what I hear.
It is for Oxford. Here are the entry requirements: Oxford Entry Requirements - USA
The highest (A*A*A) requires either four APs at grade 5 (including grades in any essential subjects) or three grade 5 APs with an SAT score of 1480 or an ACT score of 33 (essay not required).
Plus there is the specialised entrance exam and interview where you really have to demonstrate your passion for your chosen field.
Anonymous
09/16/2025 16:58
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Just spitballing here but it might be easier to self study for the math and science APs rather than the social studies ones. As a PP mentioned, there's a fair amount of 'teaching to the test' in AP classes, including teacher feedback on essay structure. The math/science open ended questions may have less nuance to what is expected, structure-wise.
Question for folks who know-- I assumed than when they want 2, 3, or 4 APs with score of 5, then a) they wanted the 'core' APs (calc, bio, us history, foreign language etc) rather than the many other APs (psych, human geography, environmental science, etc.). Is that not the case?
And a follow-on. Is this a kind of threshold thing where once you hit the minimum requirement, they look at other aspects of your application? Or is that the stated minumum number but in reality no one is admitted without some larger number of APs with 5s?
Question for folks who know-- I assumed than when they want 2, 3, or 4 APs with score of 5, then a) they wanted the 'core' APs (calc, bio, us history, foreign language etc) rather than the many other APs (psych, human geography, environmental science, etc.). Is that not the case?
And a follow-on. Is this a kind of threshold thing where once you hit the minimum requirement, they look at other aspects of your application? Or is that the stated minumum number but in reality no one is admitted without some larger number of APs with 5s?
Anonymous
09/16/2025 16:40
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’ve looked at the Complete University Guide for psychology course rankings. For Durham, York, Bath and Edinburgh, all appear to give the option of only doing two APs plus ACT/SAT. Don’t think any require previous study of psychology (but need to check).
I think only a handful require five APs. Maybe Oxford or Cambridge and LSE.
You’re putting an awful lot of faith in a 15-year-old knowing what they want to study and not changing their mind.
I realise that. I’m really using it as a starting point to figure out the issues of whether she needs to do APs and how many. The websites also only provide a certain amount of information. For example, I know some universities will only look at APs done in grades 11 and 12. It’s not clear whether that’s an issue at universities which don’t specify timing.
Anonymous
09/16/2025 15:39
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Anonymous wrote:OP here. I’ve looked at the Complete University Guide for psychology course rankings. For Durham, York, Bath and Edinburgh, all appear to give the option of only doing two APs plus ACT/SAT. Don’t think any require previous study of psychology (but need to check).
I think only a handful require five APs. Maybe Oxford or Cambridge and LSE.
You’re putting an awful lot of faith in a 15-year-old knowing what they want to study and not changing their mind.
Anonymous
09/16/2025 15:35
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
OP here. I’ve looked at the Complete University Guide for psychology course rankings. For Durham, York, Bath and Edinburgh, all appear to give the option of only doing two APs plus ACT/SAT. Don’t think any require previous study of psychology (but need to check).
I think only a handful require five APs. Maybe Oxford or Cambridge and LSE.
I think only a handful require five APs. Maybe Oxford or Cambridge and LSE.
Anonymous
09/16/2025 15:27
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is DC a junior? I think this could be fairly tough. While AP tests are not that hard to pass, it’s not a piece of cake to get a 5, and the kids in humanities AP classes spend a lot of time during the year practicing how to structure their essays for the test.
Obviously it’s easier if DC is taking comparable classes during the school year. But to get 5s on four (?) APs is going to require a lot of prep, both in the subject and specific to the APs
OP here. DC is a sophomore right now. At this stage interested in psychology but that could change. Thinking of doing 2 or 3 APs and hoping to schedule so mirror a course they are doing at school. Eg APUSH this year as they are doing honours US history at school this year.
Why do you suggest need to do 4 APs and score 5 in each?
I thought that was the requirement. My son is considering applying. I just checked and it’s five 5s, or fewer with a certain SAT score.
Psychology is a very easy AP from what I hear.
It is for Oxford. Here are the entry requirements: Oxford Entry Requirements - USA
The highest (A*A*A) requires either four APs at grade 5 (including grades in any essential subjects) or three grade 5 APs with an SAT score of 1480 or an ACT score of 33 (essay not required).
Anonymous
09/16/2025 15:13
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is DC a junior? I think this could be fairly tough. While AP tests are not that hard to pass, it’s not a piece of cake to get a 5, and the kids in humanities AP classes spend a lot of time during the year practicing how to structure their essays for the test.
Obviously it’s easier if DC is taking comparable classes during the school year. But to get 5s on four (?) APs is going to require a lot of prep, both in the subject and specific to the APs
OP here. DC is a sophomore right now. At this stage interested in psychology but that could change. Thinking of doing 2 or 3 APs and hoping to schedule so mirror a course they are doing at school. Eg APUSH this year as they are doing honours US history at school this year.
Why do you suggest need to do 4 APs and score 5 in each?
I thought that was the requirement. My son is considering applying. I just checked and it’s five 5s, or fewer with a certain SAT score.
Psychology is a very easy AP from what I hear.
Anonymous
09/16/2025 15:05
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Anonymous wrote:Is DC a junior? I think this could be fairly tough. While AP tests are not that hard to pass, it’s not a piece of cake to get a 5, and the kids in humanities AP classes spend a lot of time during the year practicing how to structure their essays for the test.
Obviously it’s easier if DC is taking comparable classes during the school year. But to get 5s on four (?) APs is going to require a lot of prep, both in the subject and specific to the APs
OP here. DC is a sophomore right now. At this stage interested in psychology but that could change. Thinking of doing 2 or 3 APs and hoping to schedule so mirror a course they are doing at school. Eg APUSH this year as they are doing honours US history at school this year.
Why do you suggest need to do 4 APs and score 5 in each?
Anonymous
09/16/2025 14:09
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Is DC a junior? I think this could be fairly tough. While AP tests are not that hard to pass, it’s not a piece of cake to get a 5, and the kids in humanities AP classes spend a lot of time during the year practicing how to structure their essays for the test.
Obviously it’s easier if DC is taking comparable classes during the school year. But to get 5s on four (?) APs is going to require a lot of prep, both in the subject and specific to the APs
Obviously it’s easier if DC is taking comparable classes during the school year. But to get 5s on four (?) APs is going to require a lot of prep, both in the subject and specific to the APs
Anonymous
09/16/2025 13:34
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
Anonymous wrote:DC will apply to British universities but is at an academically private school which does not offer APs. Would be great to hear from anyone with a child who did this. Particularly interested in whether your DC independently did AP exams given the bar is so high for entrance marks for non-AP courses.
Not interested in hearing about St Andrews as its admissions team is much more familiar with non-AP admissions.
* academically rigorous
Anonymous
09/16/2025 13:33
Subject: Applying to UK universities without APs
DC will apply to British universities but is at an academically private school which does not offer APs. Would be great to hear from anyone with a child who did this. Particularly interested in whether your DC independently did AP exams given the bar is so high for entrance marks for non-AP courses.
Not interested in hearing about St Andrews as its admissions team is much more familiar with non-AP admissions.
Not interested in hearing about St Andrews as its admissions team is much more familiar with non-AP admissions.