AP Tests as a Senior

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember having senioritis. I think it is developmentally appropriate and pretty common so I don’t want this to seem like a knock on your kid. I expect mine will have it too, come next year.

But I am confused by a system that gives kids such a bump in admissions for taking AP tests yet kids can’t do well on the exam. Perhaps kids are taking too many APs for which they are not qualified. Feels like a broken system (not broken kid).

There is no bump in admission for taking the AP tests--the scores are meaningless and don't even need to be submitted for admissions purposes--it is only the grades the kids gets that admissions looks at for admissions purposes.
I see nothing wrong with that. SOme can't afford the tests. If a kid gets an A in an AP class, they were obviously doing work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember having senioritis. I think it is developmentally appropriate and pretty common so I don’t want this to seem like a knock on your kid. I expect mine will have it too, come next year.

But I am confused by a system that gives kids such a bump in admissions for taking AP tests yet kids can’t do well on the exam. Perhaps kids are taking too many APs for which they are not qualified. Feels like a broken system (not broken kid).

No college gives "such a bump in admissions for taking AP tests." They give a bump for taking the classes. Not the tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember having senioritis. I think it is developmentally appropriate and pretty common so I don’t want this to seem like a knock on your kid. I expect mine will have it too, come next year.

But I am confused by a system that gives kids such a bump in admissions for taking AP tests yet kids can’t do well on the exam. Perhaps kids are taking too many APs for which they are not qualified. Feels like a broken system (not broken kid).

There is no bump in admission for taking the AP tests--the scores are meaningless and don't even need to be submitted for admissions purposes--it is only the grades the kids gets that admissions looks at for admissions purposes.
I see nothing wrong with that. SOme can't afford the tests. If a kid gets an A in an AP class, they were obviously doing work.

How can they do well in the class and then do poorly on the exam? That doesn't feel "obvious" to me -- it feels like grade inflation. If a kids gets below a 3 and an A, how can that be?

Also, kids should be required to take the exam, imo. High school counselors should fill out the financial aid forms so it is not a hardship to take the test.

[Anonymous]

Leave it to your child to decide....

But you might want to check if there's any payoff at college via credits or testing out of a required class that can be substituted for one your child prefers (especially if it's a subject they'd love to avoid later). If so - I'd remind them of what choice they are making - but then it's up to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leave it to your child to decide....

But you might want to check if there's any payoff at college via credits or testing out of a required class that can be substituted for one your child prefers (especially if it's a subject they'd love to avoid later). If so - I'd remind them of what choice they are making - but then it's up to them.

Whoever is paying the tuition bill should decideZ

Or split the bill with the student so they have some skin in the game. He may want to double major, intern during the year and take 3 not 4 classes, or take a study abroad. Knocking out easy credits for 101 courses gives them more flexibility to do more things over four years at college. Not sure most 18 yos are mature enough to think like that, but some definitely are and I have alum interviewed them. Smart impressive and make rough plans.

[Anonymous]

I think it is kind of lame not to get through another week and take the test.
The test is a good evaluation of what you know because it is anonymously graded by expert outside readers.
It is what it is though at this point. You have to pick your battles. I would not force my kid to take the test seriously but they would know that I disapprove of their approach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember having senioritis. I think it is developmentally appropriate and pretty common so I don’t want this to seem like a knock on your kid. I expect mine will have it too, come next year.

But I am confused by a system that gives kids such a bump in admissions for taking AP tests yet kids can’t do well on the exam. Perhaps kids are taking too many APs for which they are not qualified. Feels like a broken system (not broken kid).

There is no bump in admission for taking the AP tests--the scores are meaningless and don't even need to be submitted for admissions purposes--it is only the grades the kids gets that admissions looks at for admissions purposes.
I see nothing wrong with that. SOme can't afford the tests. If a kid gets an A in an AP class, they were obviously doing work.

How can they do well in the class and then do poorly on the exam? That doesn't feel "obvious" to me -- it feels like grade inflation. If a kids gets below a 3 and an A, how can that be?

Also, kids should be required to take the exam, imo. High school counselors should fill out the financial aid forms so it is not a hardship to take the test.

The AP History tests have certain specific skills that can be taught and trained up so students can get a 4 or 5. This is beyond learning the course information well enough to get an A on class tests. If you have a teacher who isn't strong on those specific skills and tricks, then a 3 and an A are very possible.

No idea if that is true in other subjects, but I would suspect so.

[Anonymous]

DD didn't take the one AP test she was signed up for as a senior. Made absolutely no difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember having senioritis. I think it is developmentally appropriate and pretty common so I don’t want this to seem like a knock on your kid. I expect mine will have it too, come next year.

But I am confused by a system that gives kids such a bump in admissions for taking AP tests yet kids can’t do well on the exam. Perhaps kids are taking too many APs for which they are not qualified. Feels like a broken system (not broken kid).

There is no bump in admission for taking the AP tests--the scores are meaningless and don't even need to be submitted for admissions purposes--it is only the grades the kids gets that admissions looks at for admissions purposes.
I see nothing wrong with that. SOme can't afford the tests. If a kid gets an A in an AP class, they were obviously doing work.

How can they do well in the class and then do poorly on the exam? That doesn't feel "obvious" to me -- it feels like grade inflation. If a kids gets below a 3 and an A, how can that be?

Also, kids should be required to take the exam, imo. High school counselors should fill out the financial aid forms so it is not a hardship to take the test.

The AP History tests have certain specific skills that can be taught and trained up so students can get a 4 or 5. This is beyond learning the course information well enough to get an A on class tests. If you have a teacher who isn't strong on those specific skills and tricks, then a 3 and an A are very possible.

No idea if that is true in other subjects, but I would suspect so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Question for some experienced people out there:
My son has already been accepted to a great college that he is very excited about.
He now has serious senior-itis.
His school does not have AP courses anymore except for one or two holdouts that will be going away soon.
He is supposed to take an AP test this week and has put zero time into studying.
How much should I bug him this week? Does it matter at all? Is it only helpful if he gets a good score and meaningless if he gets a bad score? That is what he is trying to tell me. He doesn't have to prepare because it can only be a good thing, and if not, who cares.
Is he right?

Leave him be. If he gets a 3 or above he can get college credit I think. Not worth stressing him out. I don’t know about you but our Junior spring is completely busy and kids are all overwhelmed. Let him enjoy his last month!

[Anonymous]

The tests were $92 each. No way I would let my kid not take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The tests were $92 each. No way I would let my kid not take it.

This is a factor for me.

Paid a few hundred dollars. Kid feels their time would be better spent other ways.

I wish this discussion had been on the table before the "check" cleared, although we didn't have a college pick until last week.

[Anonymous]

Make him earn his 3. Or 4 , or 5. If he thinks it’s a cute story then he can hang out with people who think it’s cute: