Many graduating students will have taken one or more Advanced Placement Courses and written AP exams by the time they graduate. Some Canadian universitites grant advanced standing or credit to students who receive scores of 4 or 5, and occasionally, of 3, on these exams. Almost all U.S. universities consider Advanced Placement Scores of 4 or 5 as the equivalent of a full, first-year course credit. It is entirely possible for a student who has taken three or four Advanced Placement exams and achieved high scores to receive credit for almost as much as a year's university credits.
In order to receive credit at university for your Advanced Placement scores, however, you must have the official score reports submitted directly to the admissions or registrar's office of the university you are attending—in advance of your registration for courses in September. Contact the College Board office during the summer before university and ask them to send your scores to the university of your choice; you will need to know the university's code number (available in all SAT information guides) and there will be a small fee, but it is well worth it. You worked hard for that AP course and exam—take full advantage of it!