AP exams - how does score affect college admissions?

[Anonymous]

My DC is in an intensified class, and signed up to take an AP exam, but now doesn't want to take it, afraid he'll not do well. What happens if you get a bad score? Any downside to taking the exam?

[Anonymous]

Why would he take an AP exam without the class? Most colleges doing give credit unless you get a 4/5. Schools don’t require scores for admissions by and large. They look for the classes on your transcript to indicate a highly rigorous course load.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to admit scores unless you want to, so you don't admit them unless they are helpful.

[Anonymous]

The test scores don't matter for college acceptance. The test scores are only used, if you choose to submit, towards possible college credit. Most scores need to be 4 or 5 some will take a 3. You can look up on apcollegeboard to see what AP score a college will accept for what college course. Taking the class & the grade in the class are reviewed for rigor for college application.

So two separate things. The class/grade and; the test score. You can take the class without the test or the test can be taken without the class.

[Anonymous]

If the score is good, you can inform colleges of score to help with college admissions. If it’s not good, don’t mention it. Only downside is they could wonder about the score, especially if you submit other scores. But that’s not worth fretting about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would he take an AP exam without the class? Most colleges doing give credit unless you get a 4/5. Schools don’t require scores for admissions by and large. They look for the classes on your transcript to indicate a highly rigorous course load.

Why not take the test if you think you could get a 4/5 to then get credit for a college course?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the score is good, you can inform colleges of score to help with college admissions. If it’s not good, don’t mention it. Only downside is they could wonder about the score, especially if you submit other scores. But that’s not worth fretting about.

And I should add, they won’t know if he took the test unless he submits score. It’s unclear whether the class you’re describing is actually an AP class or not. If not; they won’t anticipate a score. Either way, nothing to lose by taking the test, other than time and stress.

[Anonymous]

Great, thanks, all! Sounds like there's nothing to lose by taking it. Probably good practice for future exams, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The test scores don't matter for college acceptance. The test scores are only used, if you choose to submit, towards possible college credit. Most scores need to be 4 or 5 some will take a 3. You can look up on apcollegeboard to see what AP score a college will accept for what college course. Taking the class & the grade in the class are reviewed for rigor for college application.

So two separate things. The class/grade and; the test score. You can take the class without the test or the test can be taken without the class.

That's a misconception. The score DOES matter, because with grade inflation and pandemic cuts in instruction, colleges cannot be sure that the grade truly reflects mastery. I know some AP teachers in MCPS who significantly dumbed down their curriculum these past few years, and some who continued to hold their students to high standards. APs, like the SAT or ACT, are standardized, and therefore an excellent measure of a student's knowledge and understanding.

So if a significant number of students do not report their test scores, not reporting would be "neutral". However, there is a definite bump in academic strength if the student reports all 5s on AP exams. It proves mastery, and it's proof stronger than grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test scores don't matter for college acceptance. The test scores are only used, if you choose to submit, towards possible college credit. Most scores need to be 4 or 5 some will take a 3. You can look up on apcollegeboard to see what AP score a college will accept for what college course. Taking the class & the grade in the class are reviewed for rigor for college application.

So two separate things. The class/grade and; the test score. You can take the class without the test or the test can be taken without the class.

That's a misconception. The score DOES matter, because with grade inflation and pandemic cuts in instruction, colleges cannot be sure that the grade truly reflects mastery. I know some AP teachers in MCPS who significantly dumbed down their curriculum these past few years, and some who continued to hold their students to high standards. APs, like the SAT or ACT, are standardized, and therefore an excellent measure of a student's knowledge and understanding.

So if a significant number of students do not report their test scores, not reporting would be "neutral". However, there is a definite bump in academic strength if the student reports all 5s on AP exams. It proves mastery, and it's proof stronger than grades.

The idea of using the scores to confirm the rigor of a course makes sense (and feels appropriate to me. It is hard to believe the class is rigorous if the kid gets an A then scores a 3 or less. How does that demonstrate mastery of content? And also, the idea behind AP is supposed to be some sort of national comparison basis.). But - do you have any evidence that college admissions officers look at AP scores? I have not heard any admissions officer say that they matter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test scores don't matter for college acceptance. The test scores are only used, if you choose to submit, towards possible college credit. Most scores need to be 4 or 5 some will take a 3. You can look up on apcollegeboard to see what AP score a college will accept for what college course. Taking the class & the grade in the class are reviewed for rigor for college application.

So two separate things. The class/grade and; the test score. You can take the class without the test or the test can be taken without the class.

That's a misconception. The score DOES matter, because with grade inflation and pandemic cuts in instruction, colleges cannot be sure that the grade truly reflects mastery. I know some AP teachers in MCPS who significantly dumbed down their curriculum these past few years, and some who continued to hold their students to high standards. APs, like the SAT or ACT, are standardized, and therefore an excellent measure of a student's knowledge and understanding.

So if a significant number of students do not report their test scores, not reporting would be "neutral". However, there is a definite bump in academic strength if the student reports all 5s on AP exams. It proves mastery, and it's proof stronger than grades.

This is your theory, but do you have any evidence that any colleges use AP scores this way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great, thanks, all! Sounds like there's nothing to lose by taking it. Probably good practice for future exams, too.

It is good practice. My 9th grader was very anxious yesterday taking his first AP exam and for a few minutes didn't want to take it. I asked why he was anxious and he said it was because this was his first real exam that mattered (MCPS student). He did agree that he needed the practice for future exams and after the exam, he said he was glad he took the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test scores don't matter for college acceptance. The test scores are only used, if you choose to submit, towards possible college credit. Most scores need to be 4 or 5 some will take a 3. You can look up on apcollegeboard to see what AP score a college will accept for what college course. Taking the class & the grade in the class are reviewed for rigor for college application.

So two separate things. The class/grade and; the test score. You can take the class without the test or the test can be taken without the class.

That's a misconception. The score DOES matter, because with grade inflation and pandemic cuts in instruction, colleges cannot be sure that the grade truly reflects mastery. I know some AP teachers in MCPS who significantly dumbed down their curriculum these past few years, and some who continued to hold their students to high standards. APs, like the SAT or ACT, are standardized, and therefore an excellent measure of a student's knowledge and understanding.

So if a significant number of students do not report their test scores, not reporting would be "neutral". However, there is a definite bump in academic strength if the student reports all 5s on AP exams. It proves mastery, and it's proof stronger than grades.

The idea of using the scores to confirm the rigor of a course makes sense (and feels appropriate to me. It is hard to believe the class is rigorous if the kid gets an A then scores a 3 or less. How does that demonstrate mastery of content? And also, the idea behind AP is supposed to be some sort of national comparison basis.). But - do you have any evidence that college admissions officers look at AP scores? I have not heard any admissions officer say that they matter.

First, rid yourself of the idea that admissions officers tell you ALL the facts
Second, they cannot say AP scores matter a lot, because College Board is a private company and each AP exam costs $90, which is a barrier to entry for some families. This is the SAT/ACT is optional for most colleges.
But just because they can't tell you publicly that AP scores matter, doesn't mean they don't use them to select students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test scores don't matter for college acceptance. The test scores are only used, if you choose to submit, towards possible college credit. Most scores need to be 4 or 5 some will take a 3. You can look up on apcollegeboard to see what AP score a college will accept for what college course. Taking the class & the grade in the class are reviewed for rigor for college application.

So two separate things. The class/grade and; the test score. You can take the class without the test or the test can be taken without the class.

That's a misconception. The score DOES matter, because with grade inflation and pandemic cuts in instruction, colleges cannot be sure that the grade truly reflects mastery. I know some AP teachers in MCPS who significantly dumbed down their curriculum these past few years, and some who continued to hold their students to high standards. APs, like the SAT or ACT, are standardized, and therefore an excellent measure of a student's knowledge and understanding.

So if a significant number of students do not report their test scores, not reporting would be "neutral". However, there is a definite bump in academic strength if the student reports all 5s on AP exams. It proves mastery, and it's proof stronger than grades.

This is your theory, but do you have any evidence that any colleges use AP scores this way?

NP: I have heard AO's at two top 15 universities claim that they are considered if submitted but otherwise they are not looking for scores to verify/support grades in AP classes. One AO implied that they are trained to be aware of bias when evaluating applications such as assuming students are able to afford to pay for multiple AP exams. At my son's school, you have to pay for exams or apply for a subsidy ($38 per exam)--there are no free exams besides the PSAT given to juniors and one free SAT for seniors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The test scores don't matter for college acceptance. The test scores are only used, if you choose to submit, towards possible college credit. Most scores need to be 4 or 5 some will take a 3. You can look up on apcollegeboard to see what AP score a college will accept for what college course. Taking the class & the grade in the class are reviewed for rigor for college application.

So two separate things. The class/grade and; the test score. You can take the class without the test or the test can be taken without the class.

That's a misconception. The score DOES matter, because with grade inflation and pandemic cuts in instruction, colleges cannot be sure that the grade truly reflects mastery. I know some AP teachers in MCPS who significantly dumbed down their curriculum these past few years, and some who continued to hold their students to high standards. APs, like the SAT or ACT, are standardized, and therefore an excellent measure of a student's knowledge and understanding.

So if a significant number of students do not report their test scores, not reporting would be "neutral". However, there is a definite bump in academic strength if the student reports all 5s on AP exams. It proves mastery, and it's proof stronger than grades.

I agree with this.