AP Schools in China
Check what is AP program and why you should consider work at an AP school in China
Introduction to Advanced Placement (AP)
What Is an AP School?
Advanced Placement, abbreviated as AP, are pre-university courses and exams taken by high school students or students with equivalent academic ability all over the world, mainly for high school students who plan to go to the United States to study for undergraduates.
Public or private high schools that are authorized by the College Board to provide 38 Advanced Placement courses and teaching qualifications will be classified by TTJ as "AP school certified by the College Board". See our Glossary for detailed explanations on definition.
What Is AP Program?
Advanced Placement, a program set up by the College Board (the SAT maker), allows students to study special high school courses to earn university credits and/or qualify for more advanced courses at the beginning of the university.
So what are special high school courses? AP courses are designed to allow students to participate in American entry-level university courses experience at the high school stage. At the same time, students who have achieved excellent results after passing the AP test can directly earn university credits for the course. However, as a certificate course, the AP course is generally embedded in the student's main course, and it is necessary to cooperate with the high school diploma before applying for college. The AP course was established in the mid-1950s to narrow the gap between high school and university. The College Board formally took over the course in 1956 and named it the College Board Advanced Placement Program.
With the rapid development of the AP program, more than 2.8 million students currently take exams in 38 subjects in 7 categories each year. So what are AP exams? Based on the content of the subject, the AP test tests students and scores them from 1 to 5, and a score of 3 or more is considered a pass. Usually, students will choose 4-6 subjects related to future application directions to help prove their academic ability and exchange university credits. Although the AP exam is open to all students (even if they have not received the school's AP course training), it is strongly recommended to take the corresponding courses, which will help to achieve better grades and gain more professional knowledge.
Participating and passing the AP course can show students' ability to handle university-level jobs, which is extremely helpful for students' university applications.
What Is AP Capstone?
In order to compete with the IB diploma, AP launched its own diploma program AP Capstone™ in the fall of 2014. So what is AP Capstone™ (The AP capstone official website gives a detailed introduction)? AP Capstone™, which includes the two basic courses of AP Seminars and AP Research, is a two-year diploma program designed to enhance four topic-specific AP courses (any subject) for a total of six AP courses.
What Are the AP Subjects?
AP program are divided into 22 categories and 38 subjects. In order to facilitate understanding, TTJ divides 38 subjects into seven categories, as shown in the following table.
| Capstone | Arts | English | History &Socia Science | Math & Computer Science | Sciences | World Language & Cultures |
| AP Research | AP Art History | AP English Language and Composition | AP Comparative Government and Politics | AP Calculus AB | AP Biology | AP Chinese Language and Culture |
| AP Seminar | AP Music Theory | AP English Lierature and Composition | AP European History | AP Calculus BC | AP Chemistry | AP French Language and Culture |
| AP Studio Art: 2-D Design | AP Human Geography | AP Comupter Science A | AP Environmental Science | AP German Language and Culture | ||
| AP Studio Art: 3-D Design | AP Macroeconomics | AP Computer Science Principles | AP Physics 1 | AP Italian Language and Culture | ||
| AP Studio Art: Drawing | AP Microeconomics | AP Statistics | AP Physics 2 | AP Japanese Language and Culture | ||
| AP Psychology | AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetim | AP Latin | ||||
| AP United States Government and Politics | AP Physics C: Mechanics | AP Spanish Language and Culture | ||||
| AP United States History | AP Spanish Literature and Culture | |||||
| AP World History |
IB versus AP
The difference between IB and AP will be compared from four directions: applicability, content, test requirements and university credits.
Applicability
Because it is a program launched by the College Board to apply for American universities, more than 20,000 American high schools offer AP courses as elective courses, while only less than 1,000 American schools offer IB programs. On the contrary, IB diploma programs are more common internationally, with 5000 schools in 158 countries/regions offering IB courses. Therefore, AP courses are more suitable for high school students who specifically apply for undergraduate courses in American universities, while the scope of application of the IB program is more global.
Content
AP and IB are extremely different in the structure and content of the course. The IB program is more structured and requires students to attend classes and do homework in the IB school within two years to complete the 6 subjects students have chosen. In addition, IB pays more attention to students' high‐level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. On the contrary, the AP program does not have a structured requirement. Students are free to choose the subjects they want, and they are not forced to study in AP schools or must complete courses, and the test results are only determined by the last exam.
Test Requirements
Compared with the IB program students must register for the IB course to take the exam, high school students preparing to take the AP exam do not need to take the relevant courses, which means that students can pass the AP exam through self-study. Some students who sign up for IB courses may also take AP exams at the same time to compare their scores.
University Credits
The opportunity to earn college credits through IB scores or AP scores may be one of the most attractive parts of these two programs. Although different universities have different rules for obtaining credits, under normal circumstances, students can earn university credits if they obtain an AP score of 3 or more (AP score is 1-5), and the IB requirement is usually at least 4 Points (IB score is 1-7).
SAT versus AP
AP and SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) are both provided for high school students who are going to pursue undergraduate education in colleges and universities. There are two major differences between them.
Applicability
Both tests are launched by the College Board for high school students to apply for American universities. AP courses are offered by most high schools in the United States and many international high schools around the world. However, SAT does not have any particular course. Students usually need to study SAT by themselves before the exam.
SAT scores are exclusively used for college admissions, and AP scores are mostly used for college credits. Generally, SAT tests are required before applying for colleges and universities, while AP tests are optional for students.
Content
The structure and content differences between AP and SAT exams are significant as well. AP tests are set up to prepare students for achieving college-level understandings and analytical skills. Each AP test focuses on one single topic. For example, AP physics will only test you on physics knowledge. AP test is graded on a 5-point scale. In most universities, a grade of 4 or 5 can usually earn college credits.
On the contrary, SAT is a standardized test that mainly covers two topics: evidence-based reading and math (including an optional essay portion). Each part of the test is worth 800 points, which constitutes a maximum score of 1600.
Schools with AP Programs in China
An Overview of the Distribution of Chinese Schools that Open AP Projects.
Since the AP program is not an independent course, but an elective course based on the school’s original curriculum system, that is, students of any curriculum system can apply for the exam. Therefore, it is very popular among Chinese international schools, private schools, and especially the international department of public schools. According to data from AP China’s official website, there are currently more than 268 AP schools in China (excluding schools for foreign children)（This link leads to the official website of AP test centers in China, so it is in Chinese. All the College Board authorized schools are listed）, which is far more than IB schools.
268 AP schools are located in 61 cities in 25 provinces of the country. Among them, there are 43 schools in 10 cities in Jiangsu Province, the largest number in the country. From another perspective, the number of public school's international departments offering AP courses is as high as 196, which is more than twice the number of private schools, which is quite different from the distribution of IB and Cambridge schools. At present, the vast majority of IB schools in China are private schools, and private schools that provide Cambridge programs also account for the majority.
AP Schools in Beijing
From a city perspective, Beijing has the largest number of schools offering AP projects in the country. Almost all the top public schools offer AP courses, such as the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China and Beijing No. 4 Middle School.
AP Schools in Shanghai
Shanghai is the only city in China where there are more private AP schools than public AP schools. As the birthplace of private education, Shanghai has 19 private AP schools and 9 public AP schools. The more outstanding AP schools include the Star River Foreign Language School and the private Pinghe Bilingual School.
AP School List
Since new schools are obtaining AP certificate all the time, this list may not contain some latest changes in AP schools. Please be sure to check the last update time.
Tips: Copy the name of the school and use School Search to find more information about more about the school.
| NAME | CITY | FOUND Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ningbo Binhai International Cooperative School | Ningbo | 2013 |
| Georgia School Ningbo | Ningbo | 2019 |
| Shenzhen College of International Education | Shenzhen | 2003 |
| Shanghai Ivy School | Shanghai | 2013 |
| Guangya School at Luxehills International Community | Chengdu | 2008 |
| Beijing Luhe International Academy | Beijing | 2005 |
| Harbin ShunMaiHuaMei Foreign Language School | Harbin | 2015 |
| AIDI International School | Beijing | 1999 |
| Limai Chinese American (International) School | Beijing | 1995 |
| Beijing Royal School | Beijing | 1996 |
| Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy | Beijing | 2016 |
| Beijing New Talent Academy | Beijing | 1995 |
| Camford Education | Beijing | 1993 |
| Beijing Saint Paul American School | Beijing | 2007 |
| Shanghai Liaoyuan Bilingual School | Shanghai | 1992 |
| Hong Qiao International School | Shanghai | 1997 |
| Shanghai Honor School | Shanghai | 2017 |
| RDF International School | Shenzhen | 2015 |
| Sendelta International Academy | Shenzhen | 2011 |
| Alcanta International College | Guangzhou | 2011 |
| International Department of SSDFZ | Xi'an | 2009 |
| Guangdong Country Garden School (GCGS) | Foshan | 1994 |
| Shenzhen International Foundation College | Shenzhen | 2004 |
| Shenzhen Academy of International Education (SAIE) | Shenzhen | 2014 |
| Jurong Country Garden School | Zhenjiang | 2013 |
| Jining Confucius International School | Jining | 2009 |
| Depu Foreign Language School | Chongqing | 2015 |
| San New School | Wuhan | 2015 |
| Wuhan Haidian Foreign Language Shi Yan School | Wuhan | 2015 |
| Wuhan Britain-China School (WHBC) | Wuhan | 2000 |
| Wuhan Yangtze International School(WYIS) | Wuhan | 2003 |
| Chengdu Meishi International School | Chengdu | 2002 |
| Changsha Aibo Cambridge school | Changsha | 2007 |
| The Second Foreign Language School Affiliated to Shanghai Normal University | Shanghai | 2000 |
| The International Department of Shude High School | Chengdu | 1929 |
| Shenzhen Foreign Languages School | Shenzhen | 1990 |
| Beijing SMIC Private School & Kindergarten | Beijing | 2005 |
| Beijing Concord College of Sino-Canada | Beijing | 1997 |
| Beijing National Day School | Beijing | 2004 |
| Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School | Shanghai | 1996 |
| Chongqing No.1 International Studies School | Chongqing | 2003 |
| Chengdu No.7 High School International Division | Chengdu | 1999 |
| Chengdu Foreign Languages School | Chengdu | 1989 |
| Nanjing Foreign Langauge School | Nanjing | 1963 |
| Suzhou Foreign Language School | Suzhou | 1994 |
| Suzhou North America High School | Suzhou | 2013 |
| Suzhou Science & Technology Town Foreign Language School | Suzhou | 2015 |
| WFLS Meiga Academy | Wuhan | 2007 |
| South West Weiyu Middle School | Shanghai | 1993 |
| New Oriental Academy | Beijing | 2010 |
| Nanning No.2 High School | Nanning | 1906 |
| Hangzhou No.14 Middle School | Hangzhou | 1904 |
| International Department of Beijing No.35 High School | Beijing | 2012 |
| Beijing 21st Century International School | Beijing | 1993 |
| Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Shi Yan School | Beijing | 1999 |
| Educhina International School Beijing | Beijing | 2018 |
| Hebei Normal University | Shijiazhuang | 2010 |
| Wuxi Big Bridge Academy, International Division | Wuxi | 2012 |
| International School of Nanjing Yuhuatai High School | Nanjing | 2012 |
| Vanke Meisha Academy | Shenzhen | 2015 |
| Huzhou Paddington Bilingual School | Huzhou | 2017 |
| Tianjin Yinghua International School | Tianjin | 2000 |
| Zibo Experimental High School International Department | Zibo | 2009 |
| The Affiliated Foreign Language School Of SCNU, Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 2015 |
| Xiwai International School affiliated to Shanghai International Studies University | Shanghai | 2004 |
| Vanke School Pudong | Shanghai | 2017 |
| Beijing Xin FuXue International Academy | Beijing | 2016 |
| Shenzhen Experimental Chenghan School | Shenzhen | 2007 |
| International High School China-UK College Shenzhen | Shenzhen | 2014 |
| Tsinghua International School | Beijing | 2009 |
| Shanghai United International School, Wenzhou Campus | Wenzhou | 2016 |
| North America International School | Shanghai | 2017 |
| Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School | Shanghai | 2008 |
| Shanghai Experimental School International Divison | Shanghai | 1986 |
| Shanghai International Studies University Bilingual School | Shanghai | 2001 |
| Jiaxiang Foreign Language School Attached to Chengdu No.7 Middle School International High School Division | Chengdu | 2000 |
| Shanghai Gold Apple Bilingual School | Shanghai | 2000 |
| Shanghai Wenlai International School | Shanghai | 1994 |
| Chengdu Experimental Foreign Languages School | Chengdu | 1963 |
| Shanghai Jinshan World Foreign Language School | Shanghai | 2017 |
| Springboard International Bilingual School of Beijing | Beijing | 2000 |
| Mianyang Dongchen International School | Mianyang | 2000 |
| Beijing Chaoyang KaiWen Academy | Beijing | 2017 |
| Jinling High School Hexi Campus International Division | Nanjing | 2009 |
| Nanjing Dongshan Foreign Language School International Department | Nanjing | 2003 |
| Kang Chiao International School | Suzhou | 2002 |
| Wuxi Foreign Language School | Wuxi | 1998 |
| Clifford School | Guangzhou | 1996 |
| Qian Huang International College, Jiangsu | Changzhou | 1939 |
| Yangzhou Shuren School | Yangzhou | 1999 |
| The Houde Academy Shenzhen | Shenzhen | 2016 |
| Olive Tree International Academy affiliated to Beijing Foreign Studies University | Hangzhou | 2017 |
| Country Garden Silver Beach School | Huizhou | 2015 |
| Nanchang No.3 Middle School, International Division | Nanchang | 2013 |
| Hailiang Foreign Language School Jinhua | Jinhua | 2002 |
| Zhoushan Greentown Yuhua (International) School | Zhoushan | 2017 |
| Chengdu Shishi Tianfu High School International Department | Chengdu | 2011 |
| Suzhou Industrial Park Foreign Language School | Suzhou | 2011 |
| Kunshan Economic and Technical Development Zone International School | Suzhou | 1996 |
| High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University Jiangning Campus International Department | Nanjing | 2011 |
| Zhangjiagang Ivy Experimental School International Department | Suzhou | 2005 |
| Zhengzhou Kinglee High School | Zhengzhou | 2008 |
| Shenzhen Chinaus School | Shenzhen | 2009 |
| Zhongshan Sanxin Bilingual School | Zhongshan | 2001 |
| Liyang Foreign Language School | Kaifeng | 2003 |
| Capital Normal University High School | Beijing | 2008 |
| The international Division of No.2 High School of East China Normal University (Zizhu Campus) | Shanghai | 1999 |
| The Barstow School Ningbo Campus | Ningbo | 2014 |
| Dulwich International High School, Suzhou | Suzhou | 2012 |
| Qingdao Galaxy International School | Qingdao | 1993 |
| Pegasus California School, Qingdao | Qingdao | 2016 |
| Jinan Foreign Language School International Curriculum Center | Jinan | 1996 |
| Shandong experimental high school | Jinan | 2011 |
| Ningxiang Country Garden School | Changsha | 2014 |
| Xiamen Yingcai School | Xiamen | 1955 |
| No.2 Middle School of Yantai Shandong International Division | Yantai | 2012 |
| New World International School of No.1 High School, Guiyang | Guiyang | 2009 |
| Minhang Crosspoint High School, Shanghai | Shanghai | 1994 |
| Guiyang Happy Valley International Experimental High School | Guiyang | 2014 |
| Glocal Elite International School, Zhengzhou | Zhengzhou | 2000 |
| Zhengzhou No.1&8 United International School | Zhengzhou | 2008 |
| Xi'an Gaoxin No.1 High School | Xi'an | 1995 |
| Northeast Yucai Foreign Language School, Shenyang | Shenyang | 1998 |
| New Oriental Acdemy, Beijing | Beijing | 2010 |
| Meisha Acedemy by Halleybury | Guangzhou | 2017 |
| Bojun School | Chengdu | 2018 |
| Gezhi High School Shanghai | Shanghai | 1874 |
| Zhengzhou NO.47 Middle&high School | Zhengzhou | 1996 |
| Zhengzhou Foreign Language School | Zhengzhou | 1983 |
| Xi'An Tie Yi International Department | Xi'an | 2009 |
| Lianyungang Foreign Language School | Lianyungang | 2000 |
| Nanjing Jinling High School | Nanjing | 1888 |
| Wuxi No.1 High School | Wuxi | 1911 |
| Beijing New Oriental Foreign Language School at Yangzhou | Yangzhou | 2002 |
| Stuyvesant International High School | Shanghai | 2006 |
| Educational Center of International Curriculum — Jian Ping High School | Shanghai | 2010 |
| Zhixin High School International Division | Guangzhou | 2012 |
| Harbin Wanbang School | Harbin | 2003 |
| Tianjin Foreign Languages School Affiliated to Tianjin Foreign Studies University | Tianjin | 1964 |
| Senior Highschool Attached to Dalian University of Technology | Dalian | 1957 |
| Northeast Yucai School | Shenyang | 1949 |
| The Affiliated Middle School of SCNU International Department | Guangzhou | 2004 |
| Guangdong Experimental Middle School International Department | Guangzhou | 2013 |
| The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China | Beijing | 1950 |
| RDFZ Xishan School | Beijing | 2009 |
| Beijing NO.80 High School | Beijing | 2002 |
| The Experimental High School Attached to Beijing Normal University | Beijing | 1917 |
| No.8 Middle School of Beijing | Beijing | 2013 |
| No.12 Middle School of Beijing | Beijing | 1934 |
| Guangzhou No.6 Middle School International Department | Guangzhou | 2000 |
| Affiliated Middle School of Guangzhou University International Department | Guangzhou | 1950 |
| Guangzhou Xiangjiang High School International Department | Guangzhou | 2009 |
| Shenzhen Senior High School International Department | Shenzhen | 1997 |
| The No.Three Senior High School of Shenzhen International Department | Shenzhen | 1996 |
| Shenzhen Mingde Experimental School | Shenzhen | 2013 |
| ShiJiaZhuang Camford Royal School | Shijiazhuang | 2011 |
| Shijiazhuang Innovation International Shcools | Shijiazhuang | 2012 |
| Zhengzhou Cornerstone High School | Zhengzhou | 2007 |
| LIYANG FOREICN LANGUAGE SCHOOL | Kaifeng | 2003 |
| Zhuhai No.1 High School | Zhuhai | 1960 |
| International Department of Huizhou Hua Luogeng High School and Huizhou Comprehensive High School | Huizhou | 2013 |
| Guangdong Jiangmen No.1 Middle School International Class | Jiangmen | 1760 |
| Qinhuangdao No.1 middle school | Qinhuangdao | 1929 |
| Hebei Tangshan Foreign Language School | Tangshan | 1955 |
| No.1 Middle School of Cangzhou | Cangzhou | 1913 |
| Zhengzhou Middle School | Zhengzhou | 1997 |
| Henan Experimental High School | Zhengzhou | 1957 |
| No.1 Middle School of Zhengzhou | Zhengzhou | 1949 |
| Zhengzhou No.4 Middle School | Zhengzhou | 1938 |
| International Department of Wuhan No.6 Middle School | Wuhan | 1903 |
| ZhengZhou Huimin Middle School | Zhengzhou | 1948 |
| No.7 Middle School of Zhengzhou | Zhengzhou | 1950 |
| ZhengZhouBoJueGuoJiXueXiao | Zhengzhou | 2002 |
| No.19 Middle School of Zhengzhou | Zhengzhou | 1956 |
| Yichang Yiling High School International Department | Yichang | 1962 |
| International Department of Jingmen No.1 High School of Hubei Province | Jingmen | 2013 |
| International Department of The High School Attached to HNU | Changsha | 1905 |
| Changjun High School International School | Changsha | 2002 |
| Yali High School International Department | Changsha | 1906 |
| The First High School of Changsha, Hu'nan International Department | Changsha | 2004 |
| Changde Foreign Language School PGA International Class | Changde | 2009 |
| Hengyang No.8 High School | Hengyang | 1907 |
| Chongqing Bachuan International Math & Science School | Chongqing | 2012 |
| Chongqing Stilwell Foreign Language School | Chongqing | 1993 |
| Chongqing Bashu IVY School | Chongqing | 2003 |
| Chongqing Foreign Language School International High School Programs | Chongqing | 1998 |
| High School Affiliated to Southwest University International Department | Chongqing | 1914 |
| Chongqing Yucai Secondary School | Chongqing | 1939 |
| Chongqing Nankai Middle School International Lesson | Chongqing | 1936 |
| Suzhou Experimental High School AP Center | Suzhou | 1994 |
| THE HIGH SCHOOL AFFILIATED TO UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY HENAN | Luoyang | 1957 |
| Shanghai Foreign Language School | Shanghai | 2016 |
| Shanghai Tianjiabing High School | Shanghai | 2014 |
| North Cross School Shanghai | Shanghai | 2011 |
| Shanghai Datong High School | Shanghai | 2009 |
| Ningbo Foreign Language School International Department | Ningbo | 2011 |
| Basis International School Nanjing | Nanjing | 2019 |
| Basis International School Hangzhou | Hangzhou | 2018 |
| Basis International School Guangzhou | Guangzhou | 2017 |
| Basis International School Park Line Harbour | Huizhou | 2018 |
| Guangdong Overseas Chinese High School | Guangzhou | 1930 |
| The MacDuffie School | Shanghai | 2015 |
| Nanjing Foreign Languages School Xianlin | Nanjing | 2002 |
| Olive International School | Beijing | 2015 |
| Guangdong Guangya High School | Guangzhou | 1888 |
| Nanjing Yuhuatai High School | Nanjing | 1957 |
| China America International School | Shenzhen | 2018 |
| Shanghai Thomas School | Shanghai | 2018 |
| Jinan Thomas School | Jinan | 2017 |
| Kang Chiao International School Hefei Campus | Hefei | 2020 |
| Ambright-Hefei Thomas School | Hefei | 2010 |
| Guanghua Academy | Shanghai | 2017 |
| Cogdel Cranleigh School Chengdu | Chengdu | 2019 |
| Shanghai Starriver Billingual School | Shanghai | 2012 |
| Guangzhou Foreign Language School | Guangzhou | 1963 |
| Tsinghua University High School International | Beijing | 2015 |
| Tsinghua Zhiqing International (High School) | Beijing | 1989 |
| The Second High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University (International Division) | Beijing | 1953 |
| Beijing No.4 High School International Campus | Beijing | 2012 |
| The High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University | Beijing | 1901 |
| Tsinglan School, Dongguan | Dongguan | 2017 |
| Zhejiang Hangzhou High School (International Division) | Hangzhou | 2014 |
| Beijing 101 Middle School International Division | Beijing | 2011 |
| The Affiliated High School of Peking University | Beijing | 1960 |
| Chengdu No.7 Wanda High School | Chengdu | 2011 |
| Ambright-Jinan Thomas School | Jinan | 2010 |
| Ambright-Shanghai Thomas School | Shanghai | 2010 |
| Jiangsu Meicun Senior High School International Division | Wuxi | 1913 |
| Ambright-Nanjing Thomas School | Nanjing | 2010 |
| Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Shi Yan School Hainan Campus | Qionghai | 2015 |
| Grand International School, Qingdao | Qingdao | 2002 |
| Menaul School Qingdao | Qingdao | 2017 |
| Wuhan NO.6 High School Internaltional Department | Wuhan | 2012 |
| Yuncheng Royal School | Yuncheng | 2018 |
| Qingdao Baishan School | Qingdao | 1993 |
| The High School Attached to Northwest Normal University | Lanzhou | 1901 |
| Chengdu Shishi High School | Chengdu | 2018 |
| International Division of No.2 Middle of Hohhot | Hohhot | 2010 |
| Hangzhou Foreign Language School | Hangzhou | 1964 |
