What's the deal with pre-advanced placement?

I'm a bit confused about pre-advanced placement classes. Can someone please explain to me what it symbolizes and how is it different from regular AP classes? Thanks.

Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) classes are courses designed to prepare students for Advanced Placement (AP) classes. They tend to be offered in the middle-early high school years, such as in 9th or 10th grade.

While AP classes are college-level courses that can lead to college credit if you score high enough on the AP exam, Pre-AP courses do not have a standardized exam and cannot earn you college credit. Instead, these classes aim to put students on the path for success in AP classes down the line, hence the term "pre."

Pre-AP courses often involve a step-up in rigor compared to regular classes. They aim to develop advanced critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills necessary for college-level work and AP success. A Pre-AP class should challenge you to think deeply about the subject matter, develop college-level study skills, and help you become familiar with the type of work you'll see in AP classes and, eventually, in college.

Here's a rough analogy to illustrate the difference:

- Regular classes are like a casual bike ride

- Pre-AP classes are like a training session for a bike marathon

- AP classes are the marathon itself.

Hope this helps clear things up! If you have other questions, feel free to ask.