AP Scores + other questions

I am looking to either return to school/coursework or apprenticeship and need to get my information together.  I never finished my uni degree due to medical problems.  I do have my HS diploma (what's now called Regents AD, but I don't know if that matters anything outside the US, but in NYS, it's a higher standard of diploma than a generic one) and I took two AP tests (but off hand, I can't even remember the subjects.  Probably History and English).  I don't have anything proving I took the tests or the scores, so I am preparing to write to the College Board.

Has anyone done this?  Should I bother getting my SAT or ACT scores?  Do A levels or AP tests ever expire? They probably don't, but I feel a bit silly using it as a qualification when I can't even remember what I took. What's the best way to send a cheque or money order to the States so the College Board can cash it easily?  

Also, has anyone taken A levels?  I will be eligible to study with the resident rate starting with the spring term of 2011 (well, I will be eligible before that, but the term starts before I am eligible).  How does it work exactly?  Do I need to take coursework or can I revise on my own and take the test.  Do I pay extra if I take the A levels before I qualify for resident rates?

Sorry I am a bit clueless about all this.  Some of the apprenticeships I am looking into just require GCSEs, but the ones that are really appealing require some A levels.

Thanks in advance.

ETA: I just looked at the site and it doesn't mention sending scores or proof you took them to yourself for your records.  I know I received scores in the post for these and my SAT/ACT.  If I use them for qualifications for courses here, I can see using the college reporting option, but what about when a job or an apprenticeship requires them?  Will they send me some sort of proof of taking them I can use during job applications?

Maybe I shouldn't bother and just take a few A levels instead.

Also, has anyone taken A levels?  I will be eligible to study with the resident rate starting with the spring term of 2011 (well, I will be eligible before that, but the term starts before I am eligible).  How does it work exactly?  Do I need to take coursework or can I revise on my own and take the test.  Do I pay extra if I take the A levels before I qualify for resident rates?

I took three A levels at school (in Sixth Form). It's not just a case of studying and then taking a test at the end. An A-level is a 2-year course (the first year is AS (which is a qualification on it's own), the second year is A2 (to give a full A level qualification)), involving coursework and modular exams (usually 6 exams spread over the 2 years - if I remember correctly, the dates and times of the exams are set by the National Exam boards so everyone in the country has to take them at the same time).  Some subjects do not have coursework though, just modular exams (such as Maths).

For example, for people taking A levels this summer, the Chemistry exams for the AQA exam board were scheduled as follows:

Chemistry 1   1h 15m    21 May 2010   Friday pm
Chemistry 2   1h 45m     7 June 2010   Monday am
Chemistry 4   1h 45m    17 June 2010   Thursday pm
Chemistry 5   1h 45m    28 June 2010   Monday am

If you're just studying one A level at a college, then you'll probably do it in one year instead of two, but if you were studying more than one, it may take 2 years due to the amount of work you need to put in. Full-time and part-time courses are available, although it seems adults usually study part-time and 16-19 year-olds usually study full-time. It seems that most courses begin in September and last for at least 1 year.

Looking at the website for one of the local colleges in our area, the fee per A level course (1 year, part-time) is £710 for UK/home students (can't find fees for full-time students). If you do an A level course before you qualify for home fees, then you'll be paying international fees of £4,900 per year !!

I actually think I looked into it before and got frustrated and confused.  Thanks for clearing it up a bit.

I've seen a few posts here that say that AP tests are the equivalent to A levels.  Does anyone know if this is certain?  If not, I am not going to bother with getting any reporting from the College Board.  AP tests are definitely open to anyone wanting to take them, and no coursework is actually required.  It would seem that they aren't really equitable.  Maybe this makes up for our HS diplomas (even with added qualifications) are only really equivalent to GCSEs.

I've seen a few posts here that say that AP tests are the equivalent to A levels.  Does anyone know if this is certain?  If not, I am not going to bother with getting any reporting from the College Board.  AP tests are definitely open to anyone wanting to take them, and no coursework is actually required.  It would seem that they aren't really equitable.  Maybe this makes up for our HS diplomas (even with added qualifications) are only really equivalent to GCSEs.

I think it's more the academic level of material that is studied in AP classes rather than the type of work involved that makes them roughly equivalent to A levels.

For example, in GCSE Maths, you only get as far as solving the quadratic equation and using basic trigonometry and algebra, but in A level, you cover calculus, difficult trigonometry and complicated algebra. So, if you took an AP Math class that covered calculus/difficult trig/complicated algebra, then it could be considered equivalent to an A level, because it's a higher standard than GCSE.

I don't know about apprenticeships, but I think with a standard university course you can bypass a lot of the requirements as a mature student, particularly if your school qualifications aren't UK-based.  I think the A-levels and GSCEs and such are mostly to sort through the 18 year olds.

I think I would start by contacting the programmes or universities you're interested in first and see what you need to bother with and what you don't.  It might make it easier to sort through what you need to do.

Legs, entry criteria tend to be different for international and mature students. My partner only had a couple of Highers (the Scottish high school exams) and they were pretty poor, but because he applied as a mature student when he eventually came to uni (4 years after finishing school), they didn't actually matter. I would contact the place you want to study and see what they actually want from a mature and international student, because it's unlikely that you would need to take A levels or get your AP results; your HS diploma is probably enough. They might make you do a short summer school to get you prepared for the uni system, but chances are you won't need to do anything else.

I think it's more the academic level of material that is studied in AP classes rather than the type of work involved that makes them roughly equivalent to A levels.

For example, in GCSE Maths, you only get as far as solving the quadratic equation and using basic trigonometry and algebra, but in A level, you cover calculus, difficult trigonometry and complicated algebra. So, if you took an AP Math class that covered calculus/difficult trig/complicated algebra, then it could be considered equivalent to an A level, because it's a higher standard than GCSE.

See it doesn't translate the same way, at least in NYS.  I don't think we had AP maths, period.  We had Course I-III and Pre-Calc (at least in my school).  Those who had been accelerated took Calculus if they were taking maths their final year.  I took through Course III and instead of Pre-Calc (not a maths person, really), I took Statistics.  It's been changed a few times recently, but this is an explanation.  So no one taking AP Math tests in NYS took actual "AP" coursework.  I finished what is called "Math B" in that article and took the exam.

I actually graduated with more credits than anyone ever took in my school ever.  I took classes during my lunches and study halls.  I took classes ranging from Human and Child Development (a bit of a home ec type thing, really) to extra language classes to sociology to photography.  I regret not taking Physics, but our teacher for Chemistry was horrible, and he taught that.  I had only taken Chemistry because it was required for AP Bio which they eliminated my senior year.  Maybe Psychology and Sociology (which I took in addition to the 4 years of Social Studies/History) count as AP?  Maybe the countless Art classes (Studio Art, Advanced Studio Art, Commercial Art, Ceramics I +II, Photography...  ) count as AP?  I guess it might not matter in the end.

I don't know about apprenticeships, but I think with a standard university course you can bypass a lot of the requirements as a mature student, particularly if your school qualifications aren't UK-based.  I think the A-levels and GSCEs and such are mostly to sort through the 18 year olds.  

I think I would start by contacting the programmes or universities you're interested in first and see what you need to bother with and what you don't.  It might make it easier to sort through what you need to do.

I will do this, I think.  I really don't want to do a full university degree, and that's why I am looking towards college or apprenticeships.  I also have zero references for a long time, and I would like to be able to enter into something that will help establish my CV for the future.  That's why I was leaning towards some sort of college/adult learning.  I was a bit surprised when some of the apprenticeships required Maths A levels, but I've seen the requirement for jobs.

ETA: Thanks DrS.

See it doesn't translate the same way, at least in NYS.  I don't think we had AP maths, period.  We had Course I-III and Pre-Calc (at least in my school).  Those who had been accelerated took Calculus if they were taking maths their final year.  I took through Course III and instead of Pre-Calc (not a maths person, really), I took Statistics.  It's been changed a few times recently, but this is an explanation.  So no one taking AP tests in NYS took actual "AP" coursework.  I finished what is called "Math B" in that article and took the exam.

I just used Maths as an example because I took GCSE and A level Maths, so I know what material the different courses involve. Basically what I meant was that if you took an AP class or test in any subject (as you said, you think you took English and History), chances are that the level of work was higher than GCSE and approximately the same as A level, theoretically you could say you have the equivalent to A level standard qualifications (you'd probably need the proof that you took them though).

The following information is taken from the Bristol University website, regarding entry requirements for international students coming from the USA (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/study-at-bristol/how-to-apply/country-specific/az-u/usa.html):

Entry requirements for undergraduate programmes

    *  Applicants with Advanced Placement Tests in three or more individual subjects, plus at least 650 in each part (math + verbal) of SAT Reasoning test ( formerly known as SAT I).  SAT II subject tests are also normally expected for admission to our Bachelor degree programmes.  AP grades required broadly mirror A-level requirements as cited in the prospectus: i.e. an AP grade 5 equates to a Grade A at A-level.
    * Applicants with the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or British A-Levels will be considered for admission to our Bachelor degree programmes.
    * Applicants with the High School Graduation Diploma combined with a successfully completed appropriate foundation/bridging programme will be considered for admission to our Bachelor degree programmes.
    * Applicants who have successfully completed the first year of a U.S. University degree will be considered for admission to the first year of our Bachelor degree programmes.

Hmm.  Well, that opens things up a bit as I did finish more than my first year of Uni.  I am not sure if they will give me my records or if I owe them money.  I basically was seriously injured during the second semester of my second year and required surgery and months of rehab.  I think I may be square with them, but I am not sure how many of my grants fell through because I didn't finish the semester.  That's one of the reasons I've never gone back because I wanted my degree so badly, and fate just sort of intervened.  If I owe them money, I can't imagine the amount.  A bit overwhelming is all. I suppose if I am really serious about it, I should contact my Uni.

Also, for things like apprenticeships, they are geared towards school-leavers, so they want to indicate that a minimum level of schooling is required, rather than those identical qualifications per se. I wouldn't worry about qualifications AT ALL for a FE college, they will not require anything of you as a mature student.

I am guessing I will have to wait until spring term to take some of these apprenticeships as most of the ones I am interested in will have coursework with them.  I can imagine the colleges would charge the international student rate to them.  Some of the apprenticeships look very cool and they aren't just about building trades or working at a till.  They've really boosted my spirits about going back into the job market.

In the meantime, I might look for free coursework, and I am going to look at FE applications as well.

For those interested, I've found a lot of information on training and alternatives to uni here:
http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/

In the meantime, I might look for free coursework, and I am going to look at FE applications as well.

Can I clarify what you mean by 'coursework' in this context?

Growing up in the UK education system, 'coursework' to me means 'an essay' or 'a science experiment' or 'a short project' carried out as part of an academic qualification (i.e. a GCSE or an A level).

For example, in A level Physics, I had to do 3 pieces of coursework over the 2 years (on top of 6 classes per week and 6 exams - the coursework counted for I think 25% of the whole A level)... where I carried out three different experiments and wrote each one up as a lab report. In GCSE English, we had to do 6 pieces of coursework during the two years (as well as normal classes and the exams at the end) - three literature essays, one short story, one oral assignment and one other written assignment about ourselves.

I should have just said free classes.  Coursework technically is what you do for a course (or the actual classes that eventually lead to a degree of some sort) in American English, and I misused it.

If I can find free classes, it might get me into going back to education and structured work without having to pay the non-home fee.  I might just contact some of the apprentice programmes anyway and find out if it matters that I am not eligible for home fees until after October.

Legs, I think all you would need are your high school transcripts and you would (I assume!  ) be counted as a mature student.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/WhyGoToUniversityOrCollege/DG_4017026

I think the key is doing any courses that are a requirement for whatever programme you are interested in. Contacting the college should clear it up.

Best of luck with it all!  

ETA: If you have been to uni, whatever transcripts you have, even if incomplete, I'd get copies of those as well. I think it's best to declare them on any applications, but as a mature student, meeting the prerequisites and showing the ability and motivation to study at a given level are more important.

Anyhow, my point is, in my experience, get transcripts for everything you've studied in the past: high school, college, university or whatever. Talk to the college / university where you want to study if you do not understand prerequisites or entry requirements for the programme you are interested in.