23 official AP courses (audited by AP)
It is interesting that "audit" is a word which can mean many things to many people, depending upon one's background and experiences. For example, to an accountant or CPA, an "audit" may mean a complete review: The IRS "audits" selected tax returns. To a student "audit" may mean taking a class without making a payment or receiving credit: it is full exposure to course materials.
In the case of AP courses, "audit" essentially means pre-approval at a very high level, an overview based upon an institution's course
syllabus. This does not delve into the curricular
content to assess quality, depth, rigor, or relevance.
http://www.collegeboard.com/html/apcourseaudit/ AP courses and AP exams are separate (but related) educational opportunities:
Students may take an AP course and choose to register and sit for the associated AP exam;
Students may take an AP course and choose NOT to register and sit for the associated AP exam;
Students may study on their own and choose to register and sit for the associated AP exam.
College Board owns the rights to the designation "AP"; Only courses audited by the College Board may be called AP; It is my understanding that any other courses or materials utilized by students to study for an AP exam (for example, studies undertaken by home schooled students) may NOT be transcripted as an "AP course" but may be called "prep for AP exam".
