How involved are you in prep for AP exams?

[Anonymous]

How? By not allowing a 9th grader to take AP courses.

[Anonymous]

I teach an AP course.

I’ve taught the entire curriculum, explained format and structure and test taking tips, and given kids oodles of practice tests. It would not cross my mind that parents had to do anything. Your kids have this! Buy them the prep book if they ask for it, feed them well and make sure they get enough sleep, and let them know that a test does not determine their worth and you love them with straight 5s or 1s.

[Anonymous]

Zero. Literally zero involved.

I have no idea when it is and what they are doing to prepare for it. My kid is 100% on their own with AP exams (and most school stuff).

If they ask for help i gladly help them figure out resources, but I am not at all involved.

[Anonymous]

Bought the Princeton review book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Zero. Literally zero involved.

I have no idea when it is and what they are doing to prepare for it. My kid is 100% on their own with AP exams (and most school stuff).

If they ask for help i gladly help them figure out resources, but I am not at all involved.

How does this translate? What do you do if they ask for help?

[Anonymous]

I asked my daughter “do you actually want to take the test?” She said no. So she’s not.
That’s about it.

[Anonymous]

All I did for my kid (graduated last year - a bunch of 5s and a single 4) was turn the internet off at midnight - both wifi and phone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach an AP course.

I’ve taught the entire curriculum, explained format and structure and test taking tips, and given kids oodles of practice tests. It would not cross my mind that parents had to do anything. Your kids have this! Buy them the prep book if they ask for it, feed them well and make sure they get enough sleep, and let them know that a test does not determine their worth and you love them with straight 5s or 1s.

That’s great. Two of my kid’s AP courses (world history and BC calculus) have not even finished the course content yet, much less done any in class prep/review. Calculus teacher said they will finish new content 2 days before the AP exam. And this has been my kid’s experience throughout HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach an AP course.

I’ve taught the entire curriculum, explained format and structure and test taking tips, and given kids oodles of practice tests. It would not cross my mind that parents had to do anything. Your kids have this! Buy them the prep book if they ask for it, feed them well and make sure they get enough sleep, and let them know that a test does not determine their worth and you love them with straight 5s or 1s.

That’s great. Two of my kid’s AP courses (world history and BC calculus) have not even finished the course content yet, much less done any in class prep/review. Calculus teacher said they will finish new content 2 days before the AP exam. And this has been my kid’s experience throughout HS.

The only way to avoid getting new material the day before the exam would be to sit for the exam after the class is over, next year, right? Many public schools are in session for 6 weeks more after the exam date.

[Anonymous]

I purchased note cards for DD at her request to make flash cards. I remind her that staying out two late nights the weekend before the exam may not be the best choice. I listen to her talk about the content when she brings it up. I share her enthusiasm when she completes a study goal she set for herself.

Test is next week. Good luck to all the kiddos!

[Anonymous]

5:53, I kniw you are not the AP teacher I was responding to, because most AP classes have a goal of finishing their new content a couple of weeks before the exam date and spending those weeks doing review for the exam.

After the exam, they usually work on a project of some sort. No new material is taught then (or if there is, it isn’t material on the exam).

[Anonymous]

I let DD know the colleges will never see her scores unless she chooses to share it. Reducing the anxiety is probably the most helpful thing at this stage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:5:53, I kniw you are not the AP teacher I was responding to, because most AP classes have a goal of finishing their new content a couple of weeks before the exam date and spending those weeks doing review for the exam.

After the exam, they usually work on a project of some sort. No new material is taught then (or if there is, it isn’t material on the exam).

My kid’s AP Gov class is still on new material. I was hoping they’d be on to review at this point. They’re using the makeup test date.

[Anonymous]

If kid asked, I would happily help. But she hasn't and I don't. (I have mentioned that it's coming up and difficult, in case that motivates?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach an AP course.

I’ve taught the entire curriculum, explained format and structure and test taking tips, and given kids oodles of practice tests. It would not cross my mind that parents had to do anything. Your kids have this! Buy them the prep book if they ask for it, feed them well and make sure they get enough sleep, and let them know that a test does not determine their worth and you love them with straight 5s or 1s.

This. My kids are in college and I never did anything for them other than discuss how to stand up to their high school coach to say they needed to leave practice to prepare for the exams. We never bought prep books. Both kids got 5 on most of the tests. Our biggest problem throughout high school was the coaches who never really cared about their kid's academics and never gave them a break around ap testing.