RD American School (RDAS) is an international school in Singapore and a partner school of Riverdale Country School in New York City. Our high school opens in August 2027.
The RDAS program asks the same question of every student: what is the next best step in this student’s learning? The Advanced Placement (AP) program is flexible enough to fit that approach. Students can take on university-level work in the subjects that matter most to them, when they are ready for it.
AP courses are university-level classes taught in high school. Each course follows a framework from the College Board, the American nonprofit organization that also administers the SAT. The framework sets the content, skills, and expectations for the subject. Most AP courses run for a full school year and end with an exam that is set and scored outside the school.
When universities review a transcript, they look closely at how challenging a student’s courses have been across all four years of high school. AP courses tell admissions officers that a student has already succeeded at university-level work. This matters most in the field the student hopes to study.
The AP exam adds a second, independent measure. Each exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5 and gives universities a reliable picture of a student’s knowledge and skill. Some exams cover a broad subject, such as AP Spanish Language and Culture. Others cover a specialized field, such as AP Comparative Government and Politics. Each university sets its own standard, but many award credit or let students skip introductory courses when their scores are strong enough. AP is a hallmark of the American high school experience, and universities around the world recognize its courses and scores.
University-level study in a single subject, usually over a full school year.
Held each May on a common worldwide schedule. The format varies by subject.
Released each July on a scale of 1 to 5.
Each university decides which scores earn credit or placement.
The RDAS High School course catalog covers eight subject areas, and seven of them will offer AP courses. We will introduce AP courses in phases and choose which to offer based on our students’ interests and needs.
From a first line of code to a finished product. Students build working software and learn how computers, and now AI, actually work.
Close reading and clear writing, practiced on books and ideas worth discussing. Students learn to build an argument, engage with other voices, and find their own.
What forces move societies forward, and where did they come from? Students trace power, identity, and ideas across centuries and around the world.
A flexible sequence leading to AP Calculus, plus electives that show how far mathematics reaches, from equations to statistics to pure structure.
Biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science, offered at standard and AP levels. The coursework is built on lab work and on questions that matter beyond the classroom.
Music, visual art, and drama are open to every student. Students who want to pursue music or visual art in depth can continue to the AP level.
A second or third language opens doors around the world. Students can start as beginners and continue all the way to AP.
While there are no AP options in physical education, the program offers a wide range of activities that build fitness, confidence, and teamwork.
Universities in more than 60 countries outside the United States recognize AP. RDAS students who take AP courses can therefore apply with confidence to universities in the United States and other major study destinations. The cards around the globe show how universities in five countries use AP. Each university sets its own policy, so families should check the requirements of the universities their child is considering.
Most universities award credit, placement into higher-level courses, or both, for qualifying AP scores.
Universities consider AP scores in admissions, and many grant first-year transfer credit for scores of 4 or 5.
AP scores are accepted for admission, usually together with a U.S. high school diploma. Competitive degree programs commonly ask for scores of 4 or 5 on three AP exams in related subjects.
Australian universities accept AP scores for undergraduate admission, typically together with a high school diploma.
The National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University publish requirements for applicants with a U.S. high school diploma, and AP exams are among the standardized tests both universities accept.
An AP course follows a College Board framework and ends with an exam scored by the College Board. An honors course is an advanced course designed and graded by the school. RDAS High School plans to offer both.
There is no set number. Universities evaluate a student’s course load against what the school offers, and they look for strong scores in subjects tied to the intended field of study. The right number differs from one student to the next.
Yes. Universities in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and many other countries accept AP scores as part of an application. A student aiming for a specific degree program should check that program’s published AP requirements.
It can. At many U.S. universities, AP credit lets a student skip introductory courses, start advanced courses sooner, or add a second major, and in some cases graduate a semester or even a year early.
RDAS will have its first AP scores once its high school students take their first AP exams. The high school opens in August 2027.
RDAS High School serves Grades 9–12. RD American School will begin to offer high school grades in August 2027. Families can already inquire about high school admission.
Advanced Placement® and AP® are registered trademarks of the College Board.
