This indicator represents the extent to which high school students are successfully demonstrating mastery of college-level material in specific disciplines. More than 30 different Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are offered each spring by the College Board. The exams include a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. To prepare for the AP Exam in a subject area, most students enroll in an AP class that employs a curriculum of high academic intensity. Research shows that performance on AP Exams is one of the best predictors of success in college.

State scores on this indicator reflect students' access to rigorous coursework as well as their success in comprehending and using it. The indicator value is defined as the percentage of U.S. public high school graduates who have scored 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam, which is a subset of Indicator S-12, Public High School Students Taking Advanced Placement Exams. Many colleges and universities grant college credit or advanced placement for AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Students who score a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam typically experience greater academic success in college and higher college graduation rates than students who do not achieve these exam scores.

A fee is charged by the College Board for the AP Exam. Recognizing that cost may be an impediment to taking the test, the College Board provides a partial fee waiver to qualified low-income students. Since 1997, many states and municipalities have started partially or fully subsidizing the cost of taking the test. Some of this subsidy is from the federal Department of Education.

Data sources: College Board, Advanced Placement Report to the Nation; U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics.