At a glance
- AP scores
- 1 to 5; credit often from 3 or above
- 2027 AP exams
- May 3 to 7 and May 10 to 14
- AP fee outside US and Canada
- $129 per exam (2026-27)
- A-Level grades
- A* to E, usually 3 subjects
- Cambridge University with APs
- At least five APs at score 5, plus diploma and SAT or ACT
AP and A-Level side by side
| AP | A-Level | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Single college-level course and exam, alongside a high school diploma | Two-year subject qualification; three together form the sixth-form programme |
| Run by | College Board | Exam boards: Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, AQA and others |
| Length | One school year per course | Two years per subject |
| Scores | 1 to 5 | A* to E |
| Exams | May each year (2027: May 3 to 7 and 10 to 14) | Cambridge: June and November; Edexcel IAL: January, May to June, October |
| Cost to the family | Exam fee per subject; $129 at schools outside the US and Canada for 2026-27 | Exam fees are set by the board and usually billed through the school |
| Role in US admissions | Shows rigour; scores of 3 or more can earn credit or placement | Read as the school record; some colleges also award credit |
| Role in UK admissions | Several high scores needed alongside the diploma | The standard basis of offers |
How US colleges read each
For US colleges, AP is a signal inside the transcript. Taking AP courses shows a student chose demanding work, and the exam score is evidence the work was college level. College Board notes that most AP students who enrol in four-year colleges start with some credit, and many colleges grant credit or placement for scores of 3 or higher, though the exact rules vary by college and subject.
A-Level students are read differently: the college sees predicted and actual A-Level grades, IGCSE results and the school report, and sets them against students from every other system. Strong A-Level grades are well regarded, and some US universities award credit for them, again college by college. Many students from the Gulf's British schools add the SAT or ACT where a college uses it.
How UK universities read each
UK offers are written in A-Level grades, so a British-school student simply applies with predicted grades. American-curriculum students need something comparable, because a high school diploma alone is not usually treated as equivalent to A-Levels. The usual answer is AP exams, often with SAT or ACT scores.
Requirements vary widely. At the top end, the University of Cambridge asks for a minimum of five AP Test scores at 5, usually taken within a two-year period, in subjects relevant to the course, plus high marks in the high school diploma and a high SAT or ACT score. Many other UK universities ask for fewer APs or lower scores, so check the international entry page of every university on the list early, ideally before grade 11 course choices are made.
Which route fits which plan
| Plan | In an American school | In a British school |
|---|---|---|
| US colleges only | AP courses in strong subjects, plus SAT or ACT where used | A-Levels as normal, plus SAT or ACT where used |
| UK universities only | Plan enough AP exams at high scores for the target universities, from grade 10 or 11 | A-Levels as normal; AP not needed |
| Both US and UK | AP exams chosen to meet UK requirements also strengthen the US file | A-Levels for the UK, SAT or ACT for the US |
| UAE universities | Diploma plus Ministry of Education equivalency (English and maths test scores are listed) | IGCSE plus at least one A-Level or two AS Levels for equivalency |
Can a British-school student take AP exams?
Yes. College Board allows students to sit an AP exam without taking the AP course, through a school or authorised test centre that administers AP. A student in a British school might do this to show a subject not offered at A-Level, but it is rarely necessary: A-Levels already do the job for UK applications and are accepted by US colleges.
The opposite case matters more. An American-curriculum student aiming at UK universities should plan AP subjects from grade 10, because the number and scores required take two years to build.
How one-to-one lessons help
For AP, lessons follow the College Board course and exam description: practising free-response questions against the scoring guidelines, timing multiple-choice sections and filling gaps from class. For A-Levels, lessons follow the exact Cambridge, Edexcel or AQA specification with past papers and mark schemes. In both, the work is about the exam format as much as the content.
LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes, online, with tutors who teach AP courses and A-Level subjects.
Common questions
Are APs equivalent to A-Levels?
Not one to one. An A-Level is a two-year qualification, an AP is one year of college-level work in a single course. UK universities that accept APs usually ask for several high AP scores together with the diploma and often the SAT or ACT.
How many APs do UK universities want?
It varies. The University of Cambridge requires at least five AP scores of 5; many other universities ask for fewer or accept lower scores. Check each university's international entry requirements.
Do US colleges give credit for A-Levels?
Some do, college by college, usually for high grades. Check each college's credit policy, as it differs from its AP policy.
When are the 2027 AP exams?
College Board has scheduled them over two weeks in May 2027: May 3 to 7 and May 10 to 14. Schools must order exams by November 13, 2026 to avoid late fees.
How much is AP or A-Level tutoring with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson, the same for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.