Placement in college

[Anonymous]

For those of you who had students graduate from private schools that don't offer AP classes, were they able to register for the correct level class in college? I don't care about credit, but I don't want my child to need to repeat calculus or physics if they've already covered the material. Trying to determine if I should encourage my junior to take AP exams this year.

[Anonymous]

Ask your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask your school.

Their official line is that APs don't matter. I'd like to verify.

[Anonymous]

I had no difficulties at UVa getting placed correctly. Took zero HS classes labeled AP. Did sit the AP exams, which my private offered on campus. AP exam results from College Board were all that the university cared about.

[Anonymous]

All colleges offer Math and language placement tests. You won’t get credit for a class like AP, but they will allow you to register for an upper level class.

I don’t think they offer the equivalent for Physics and sciences but it may depend on the college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who had students graduate from private schools that don't offer AP classes, were they able to register for the correct level class in college? I don't care about credit, but I don't want my child to need to repeat calculus or physics if they've already covered the material. Trying to determine if I should encourage my junior to take AP exams this year.

Yea, they should sit the exams. Strong AP exam scores will often help with college admissions -- as well as correct placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had no difficulties at UVa getting placed correctly. Took zero HS classes labeled AP. Did sit the AP exams, which my private offered on campus. AP exam results from College Board were all that the university cared about.

Right. I'm trying to figure out if the exam is necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had no difficulties at UVa getting placed correctly. Took zero HS classes labeled AP. Did sit the AP exams, which my private offered on campus. AP exam results from College Board were all that the university cared about.

Right. I'm trying to figure out if the exam is necessary.

The exam could be helpful. If they earn a score that is accepted for credit at their university, they will earn the course credit. Potentially completing a requirement depending on what the university and major accept.

Without an AP exam, they will definitely have to take a placement test. No credit is given for placement tests. Some schools will waive a math requirement based on placement results (also depends what is required in the major), some schools will use the placement only to determine which math class the student is eligible to take. I was an advisor at a major university, I believe the test out option is rare these days. During my time there, we moved to requiring a math course no matter the placement results.

My 2024 took high school calculus, not AP, did not take AP exam. The goal of the school for this course was for students to be ready for college level calculus. That's exactly what happened for my child. The math placement exam results were to take Calc 1, kid took Calc 1, got an A. The university math requirement was completed with this course in freshman year. There may have been other academic options to fulfill the university requirement, but her major required Calc 1, so that's what she took.

[Anonymous]

Take the exams. my Big3 (no AP class) student ended up with 32 hours of college credit due to exams. It is going to allow him to double major, study abroad, etc.



BTW-he didn't study for the exams so it really wasn't a lift at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had no difficulties at UVa getting placed correctly. Took zero HS classes labeled AP. Did sit the AP exams, which my private offered on campus. AP exam results from College Board were all that the university cared about.

Was this within the last few years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you who had students graduate from private schools that don't offer AP classes, were they able to register for the correct level class in college? I don't care about credit, but I don't want my child to need to repeat calculus or physics if they've already covered the material. Trying to determine if I should encourage my junior to take AP exams this year.

My child had placement tests. He ended up with higher level classes.

[Anonymous]

Every college and university can have different policies. There is no general trend or tendency to shape a decision around.

If your DC has no idea where they might want to go to school yet, take the AP exams anyway. Some schools offer credit, others may move them up. Others may not. No loss then. APs are good for rote memorization of fundamentals in several fields.

There are thousands of choices in higher education, each with their own approach.

[Anonymous]

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every college and university can have different policies. There is no general trend or tendency to shape a decision around.

If your DC has no idea where they might want to go to school yet, take the AP exams anyway. Some schools offer credit, others may move them up. Others may not. No loss then. APs are good for rote memorization of fundamentals in several fields.

There are thousands of choices in higher education, each with their own approach.

This. Also taking the AP can in some cases void the need for placement exams which can be tricker if it’s been a couple years since your kid took the class, eg. A kid who takes AP Chem sophomore year may want to skip the freshman level chem course but would otherwise have to do some reviewing before taking a placement test.

[Anonymous]

DD had to take placement tests. University didn’t really care about the fact that she had 5s on her AP exams although I’m sure that didn’t hurt her application. Every school will be different here.