CP
College Preparatory courses teach the standard high-school curriculum at a regular pace. They are often the best place to build a strong foundation or balance a busy schedule.
CP（大学预备）课程按常规节奏教授高中标准内容，适合打好基础或需要平衡多项活动的学生。
This independent guide is not endorsed by IUSD or any individual school. Offerings, prerequisites, weighting, and teacher-recommendation policies can change. Confirm current details in your school’s Course of Study and with your counselor.
本指南由 NextStep Education 独立整理，并非 IUSD 或任何学校的官方文件。课程设置、先修要求、加权与教师推荐政策可能变化，请以学校最新 Course of Study 及辅导员说明为准。
The three common levels
三种常见课程级别
Honors
Honors courses usually move faster, go deeper, and expect more independent work. Not every Honors course is GPA-weighted, so verify the exact course.
Honors（荣誉）课程通常进度更快、内容更深，也更强调独立学习。并非每门 Honors 课程都加权，请确认具体课程政策。
AP
AP courses are modeled on comparable introductory college courses and authorized through College Board’s Course Audit. Exams are generally held in May. College Board does not require course students to take the exam, but a school may; workload varies.
AP 是以相应大学入门课程为参照、并通过 College Board Course Audit 授权的高中课程。考试通常在五月举行；College Board 不强制修课学生参加考试，但学校可以另有规定，课业量也会因课程、教师和学生而异。
Side-by-side comparison
快速对比
| Feature项目 | CP | Honors | AP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical pace通常节奏 | Standard常规 | Faster and deeper更快、更深入 | Fast, college-level快节奏、大学水平 |
| NextStep planning estimate: weekly work outside classNextStep 规划估计：每周课外学习量 | 0.5–3 hours小时 | 2–5 hours小时 | 4–8+ hours小时 |
| IUSD transcript GPA weighting (verify your school’s course list)IUSD 成绩单 GPA 加权（以本校课程表为准） | Usually regular scale; only specifically designated courses are weighted通常按常规分值；仅明确指定的课程加权 | Only designated Honors/Enhanced courses; A, B, or C earns one extra point仅指定 Honors/Enhanced 课程；A、B 或 C 额外加 1 分 | AP courses; A, B, or C earns one extra pointAP 课程；A、B 或 C 额外加 1 分 |
| Best fit适合人群 | Building foundations or balancing commitments打基础或需要平衡多项安排 | Ready for more challenge in a strong subject希望在优势科目中增加挑战 | Strong preparation, interest, and available time基础扎实、兴趣明确且时间充足 |
Workload ranges are NextStep planning estimates, not IUSD standards or guarantees; teachers, subjects, and students differ.
以上课业量是 NextStep 的规划估计，并非 IUSD 标准或保证；实际情况会因教师、科目与学生而异。
How to choose well
如何做出合适选择
- Start with subject readiness. A past grade, teacher feedback, and prerequisite skills are more useful than the course label alone.先评估学科准备度。过往成绩、教师反馈与先修技能，比课程名称本身更有参考价值。
- Count the whole schedule. Consider sports, volunteering, family responsibilities, sleep, and every demanding course together.评估整体课表。把体育、义工、家庭责任、睡眠以及所有高强度课程一起考虑。
- Choose challenge with purpose. Honors or AP is most valuable when it supports genuine interest and preparation—not simply to collect weighted classes.有目的地增加挑战。当课程符合兴趣和准备程度时，Honors 或 AP 才最有价值，而不是单纯追求更多加权课。
- Remember that AP credit is not automatic. Colleges set their own exam-score, placement, and major policies.AP 不自动等于大学学分。各大学会自行制定考试分数、课程抵免、分班及专业政策。
Course rigor and college review
课程难度与大学申请
Many colleges evaluate rigor in context: what the high school offers, which opportunities the student pursued, and how the student performed. Rigor is only one part of review, so choose a balanced challenge you can sustain rather than assuming that the largest possible number of advanced courses is always best.
许多大学会结合学生所处环境评估课程难度，包括高中提供了什么、学生选择了哪些机会以及实际表现。课程难度只是审核的一部分，因此应选择有挑战且能够长期保持表现的平衡课表，不要假设高阶课程数量越多就一定越有利。
UC calculates its admission GPA from A–G courses completed from the summer after 9th grade through the summer after 11th grade. For California residents, the weighted-and-capped GPA adds at most eight semester honors points for eligible courses; no more than four may come from 10th-grade work, and D/F grades receive no extra point. Campuses may also consider other GPA measures.
UC 录取 GPA 采用九年级结束后的暑假至十一年级结束后的暑假期间完成的 A–G 课程。对加州居民，weighted-and-capped GPA 对符合资格的课程最多加 8 个学期分，其中十年级课程最多 4 分；D/F 不加分。各校区还可能参考其他 GPA 口径。
Official references
官方参考资料
Still deciding?
还在犹豫？
Bring a draft four-year plan, your current workload, and your questions to a counselor or trusted teacher before registration.
正式选课前，可带上四年规划草案、当前课业安排与具体问题，咨询学校辅导员或信任的老师。
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