Counseling Corner: Willowbrook Guidance Department shares important information regarding Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level exams

The Willowbrook Guidance Department is committed to preparing students for success in their post-secondary education.

As part of that focus, the department offers the following advice regarding Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level courses.

All students enrolled in AP courses are encouraged to register to take the corresponding AP exams, which will be administered during the first two weeks of May. The following is important information about AP test registration.

  • Students must register for AP exams between March 6 and 17 at the Willowbrook Bookstore.
  • The registration fee is $93 for each exam. Students can pay with cash, credit card (Visa or MasterCard) or check made payable to Willowbrook High School. Students who miss the registration deadline will be charged a $55 late fee.
  • Students who receive free or reduced lunch will have their test registration fee waived. However, those students must still register during the dates listed above.
  • To help prepare students for the AP exams, there will be a mandatory pre-administration session during Warrior Time in April in the cafeteria. All students who plan to take an AP exam are required to attend.
  • Final instructions will be sent to AP teachers before the testing dates. Those instructions will include the exact time and location of each exam.

One of the benefits of taking AP exams is they offer students the opportunity to earn college credit. Students must receive a certain score on the exam to earn college credit, and that score varies depending on the college/university. However, all public colleges in Illinois must give students credit if they score a 3 or higher on the exam. For more information about AP credit, go to www.collegeboard.org/apcreditpolicy. Gaining college credit while in high school can save students money by not having to take those courses in college. Exposure to AP exams also familiarizes students with high-stakes, college-level assessments. The more comfortable and confident students become with those types of tests, the better they typically perform.

This school year, Willowbrook will offer 21 AP exams. For more information about AP exams and test registration, contact Willowbrook Counselor Cindy Zamora-Failla at 630-782-3137 or czamora@dupage88.net. General information about the AP program can be found at https://apstudent.collegeboard.org.