Salam,
kool_goose2, I don't blame you for being a little confused -- there are so many different types of courses in American high schools that unless you study here yourself, it's unlikely that you'd know exactly how the system works!
AP stands for Advanced Placement. It's a program administered by the College Board -- the same company that runs SATs and SAT IIs as well as a variety of other standardized tests. The College Board has set up Advanced Placement tests for a plethora of subjects ranging from Biology, Chemistry, Physics B, Physics C to Psychology and Computer Science to Chinese, French, and Spanish. The list of AP tests is huge.
In American high schools, there are essentially two kinds of classes. There are regular classes which are also known as college prep. classes, that the typical/average high school student is expected to take during his/her high school career. They tend to be not too difficult by American standards -- just the right level for a high school student.
The next level of classes are honors or AP classes. I won't get into honors classes because when it comes to medical school admissions in Pakistan, they're no different than college prep. classes. AP classes, however, are theoretically designed to be at the level of an introductory college course. In essence, you don't just cover the basics in an AP class as you would in a college prep. class -- you go into greater detail as teachers and professors do in college. The cirriculum is usually tougher and covered at a faster pace. In May, the College Board administers AP tests for all of the AP subjects. Around April or so, kids in American high schools around the U.S. have the option of signing up to take AP tests in May to potentially receive college credit by certain universities (although usually it's more of a help getting into a college rather than actually receiving credit).
AP tests typically consist of two portions -- multiple choice and free response. Both carry different weights to your total score, and the weight each carries varies from test to test -- but your final score will reflect how you did cumulatively on both parts.
After you take your AP test(s) (you can take as many AP tests as the number of AP classes you've signed up for), you wait around until July of that same year, whereupon you receive your AP Student Score Report, which indicates what score you received on your AP test. The AP grading scale ranges from 1-5. Scores of 1 and 2 are considered "not passing" or "failing." A score of 3 is considered passing. 4's and 5's are considered really good. AP Central (the branch of the College Board that runs AP testing) defines them as follows:
Grade Meaning 5 Extremely well qualified 4 Well qualified 3 Qualified 2 Possibly qualified 1 No recommendation
The reason the IBCC deducts fewer marks (10% as opposed to 20%) for AP tests is because AP testing is viewed as a type of External Examination system, whereby (theoretically) your score is in no way subject to your own teacher who you've had all year, like typical honors and college prep. courses, but by a totally unknown grader somewhere in San Antonio, Texas who has no way of giving you extra marks because of who you are. The benefit of receiving extra marks through the IBCC for AP classes is only if you take the AP test in the respective courses and score well. Simply taking the class or not scoring well on the exam will not help because of the way the IBCC scoring works.
I think your laptop would work -- just make sure you have the right kind of adapter on your charger to adjust to the different voltage in Pakistan. As for the cell phone, I think you'd have to get a new one when you go there, although I'm not 100% sure so hopefully someone can verify that for me.
Hope that helps, if you have any other questions feel free to post again #laugh
