Do You Need APs to Apply to UK Universities?
The short answer is: it depends — on your school, your academic options, and importantly, which universities and degree programs you are applying to. While some top UK universities expect standardized qualifications such as APs or the IB Diploma, others will assess your application based primarily on your high school GPA and /or honors classes.
The Key Factor: What Your School Offers
Many UK universities assess your application in the context of what is available to you at your high school.
If your school offers AP or IB courses, top -ranking UK universities will generally expect you to have taken advantage of them.
If your school offers APs:
- Top ranking UK universities will expect at least 2–3 APs
- More selective universities may expect 3 or more APs
- Highly competitive universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, or Imperial may expect 5 or more strong AP scores (typically 5s)
In other words, if APs are available to you, they are an important part of demonstrating academic readiness.
What If Your School Doesn’t Offer APs or IB?
If your school does not offer AP or IB courses, you will still have plenty of UK university options.
In this case many UK universities will instead look for:
- Strong grades in your school’s most advanced classes (often called Honors, Advanced, or College Prep, depending on the school)
- A rigorous academic schedule relative to what is available
- Consistent academic performance over time
- College credit
This flexibility extends to many top-ranking universities, including University of St Andrews, Durham University, and King’s College London, but not to all—most notably University of Oxford and University of Cambridge, and in some cases for specific degree programs. For example, many UK universities still require standardized qualifications such as AP Calculus BC for subjects like engineering or other math-based degrees
What About SAT or ACT?
SAT or ACT scores are considered by many UK universities, but their importance varies by university, or depending on your academic profile and what your school offers.
If you are taking APs or the IB Diploma, SAT or ACT scores are often less important. In many cases, strong AP or IB results alone are sufficient.
That said, some highly competitive universities, may expect both:
- Strong AP scores (typically 5s), and
- A high SAT or ACT score (1480 plus / 33 plus)
For most universities, however, AP or IB results are the primary focus, and SAT/ACT scores play a more secondary role.
If your high school does not offer APs or the IB, an SAT or ACT score can become more important, as it may be your only standardized measure of academic achievement.
In these cases, a strong score can help support your application. As a general guide:
- Top UK universities often look for around 1380 plus on the SAT or approximately 29 plus on the ACT
Final Thoughts
UK universities are becoming increasingly flexible in how they assess US students, although there are still some notable exceptions that require standardized qualifications such as APs or the IB Diploma.
Many universities recognize that some US high schools no longer offer AP programs and instead provide their own advanced or honors curricula, and they are adapting their entry requirements accordingly. That said, if your school does offer APs or the IB, more selective universities will generally expect you to have taken advantage of those opportunities.
A small number of universities are less flexible in their entry requirements, including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and, in many cases, London School of Economics and Political Science, University College London, and Imperial College London.
The key is to:
- Take the most challenging courses available to you
- Perform strongly in subjects related to your chosen degree
- Build a clear and academically focused application
SAT or ACT scores can also play a role, particularly if your school does not offer AP or IB.
If you’re unsure how your school’s curriculum will be viewed, always check individual degree program and university requirements or seek tailored advice early in the process.
