What are AP's?

Okay I know this might sound stupid bur what does AP mean?
I never hear anyone talk about it in my school.
Is it an American thing?

(i split this from the original thread since we were getting off topic :'D)

AP's -> advanced placement. Basically it's that we get to take college level classes in high school, but in order for colleges to recognize that you've taken the class, we have to pass an AP test in the beginning of may. These tests are usually around 2 hrs long, with a multiple choice and a free response section (but the format varies with what subject you're taking.)

studying for them is really stressful =\

Oh okay, we don't have that but we do have GCSE's. I couldn't tell you what it stands for.... does america have them?
If not they are the tests we have to do before leaving school, with these tests we are able to get into collage, university, work and stuff.
Hum most people start GCSE work in year 11 (last year of school (we don't have grades)) but in some cases like me (age 13-14) we start early in year 9..... GRRR
So in a way, AP's are a bit like GCSE's.... I think :S

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.... BE CAREFUL, FLYING CARROTS WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD XD

GCSE's are more like the SAT tests here, except we only need SATs for college. It's not needed for work.

AP's are advanced, college level classes that some high schools offer. But for colleges to verify "ok, the work you did is really college level" you have to take (and pass! xD) a standardized test that the colleges approve of. Ergo, the APs.

oo GCSE's~ we learned about those in French class... kinda x'D

they're kinda like the college entrance exams in China... right? //orz.