AP Testing Still a Thing at Sidwell/GDS/Maret/Potomac/St Albans/NCS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again - I see lots of comments about AP tests being used to place out of college classes. I get that.

What about the AP test scores being used in admissions as a sign of rigor or academic qualification? I guess that's the question behind my question.

I have one public and one private child. My public school child has loaded up on APs since 10th grade. He never bothered to take the exams. It was only used as a tool to show rigor and pump up his weighted GPA. He was accepted Columbia. He basically got into all his top schools.

Im probably going to pull my middle schooler for public high school and follow the same strategy.

A ballsier move would be to take the AP tests without taking the classes.

What would the point of that be? Doesn’t sound ballsy, sounds dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until the tests are free and students receive equitable preparation for them, and are not run by a “non-profit” grossing millions of dollars/year, they won’t be comparable to European high school exit exams.

Tests and prep are free, in multiple languages. Advertised all over schools and from teachers and to parents at mtgs, via handouts and emails and phone calls.

Europe has serious (and free) merit tests every couple years of schooling and rigid tracking for access to A Levels and similar and certainly for university and majors. Uniforms help too, as does time tested curricula and tests. They do not do anywhere near the progressive experimental new math or reading or whatever approaches as here- here’s riven by common core standards or politics or a big lucrative curriculum business of ex teachers and admin selling to their former districts.

I’d be for testing too. Similar to India’s IIt and Japans Todai/kyodai, the Russian system too. No one else is watering down k-12 education and holding back its brightest like America.

Please talk to some friends who are teachers. Get informed about how things actually are.

AP tests are not free. They are only free for FARMs kids. They cost $90-100/a pop.

[Anonymous]

So that’s like 1/4 a monthly iPhone family plan to do a test to prove you know some material and maybe get some college intro class out of the way.

Decide for yourself what to do with that. Nothing to argue about.

[Anonymous]

I will say it: in age of grade inflation/multiple kids having perfect GPAs and taking 10+ APs, you should have to take the test to prove mastery of knowledge. So many kids doing it for the GPA boost couldn’t get a 5 on all these tests. (And those who do should be rewarded).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will say it: in age of grade inflation/multiple kids having perfect GPAs and taking 10+ APs, you should have to take the test to prove mastery of knowledge. So many kids doing it for the GPA boost couldn’t get a 5 on all these tests. (And those who do should be rewarded).

For most AP tests, they’re normed to low pass rates. It’s a systemic issue.

[Anonymous]

I doubt that is the case, given the numbers of 4s and 5's seen on the private school profiles around here. Its a cottage industry and the product is class credit, so a bunch of 1/2's just kills demand. Sure, some may be harder than others, but the English/US History ones are fairly generous else they risk killing the calf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am shocked that colleges don’t use the tests as confirmation that the kid can actually learn the material. Seems like an excellent weed out metric.

the fact that they don't should tell you something about whether AP tests are useful or just a scam. If AP classes are designed as college equivalents, then you should wonder why kids in MoCo take APUSH in 9th grade.

I took APUSH in 9th grade 30 years ago. It was college-level then. Definitely a US History 101 class. Has it changed?

Most Moco HS have AP NSL as an option for 9th and then APUSH for 10th, FYI. I'm sure some might offer it in the other order, but the truth is it is now an easy class to get an A in and to score high on the AP test, if taken. The reason they offer it is because there are some kids who want the challenge and who are ready for it in 9th or 10th. Then they take AP world, etc in 11th and 12th, or do IB. It is not a scam. Some kids are ready for college level work in HS, even in lower grades.

typo above, meant to write NOT an easy class to get an A in. In fact many incoming freshman who sailed through MS are in for a slight shock at the beginning of the year. Sorry for typos.

Agree. Most 9th graders do not take APUSH because its known not to be an easy class. Most take it 10th/11th after they’ve gotten adjusted to HS and had some other HS level honors or AP classes under their belt. The only reason its even offered at 9th is because some magnet kids are ready for a higher degree of work starting at 9th and because the kids just finished US History in 8th so have some recent background info from which to build.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am shocked that colleges don’t use the tests as confirmation that the kid can actually learn the material. Seems like an excellent weed out metric.

the fact that they don't should tell you something about whether AP tests are useful or just a scam. If AP classes are designed as college equivalents, then you should wonder why kids in MoCo take APUSH in 9th grade.

I took APUSH in 9th grade 30 years ago. It was college-level then. Definitely a US History 101 class. Has it changed?

Most Moco HS have AP NSL as an option for 9th and then APUSH for 10th, FYI. I'm sure some might offer it in the other order, but the truth is it is now an easy class to get an A in and to score high on the AP test, if taken. The reason they offer it is because there are some kids who want the challenge and who are ready for it in 9th or 10th. Then they take AP world, etc in 11th and 12th, or do IB. It is not a scam. Some kids are ready for college level work in HS, even in lower grades.

typo above, meant to write NOT an easy class to get an A in. In fact many incoming freshman who sailed through MS are in for a slight shock at the beginning of the year. Sorry for typos.

Agree. Most 9th graders do not take APUSH because its known not to be an easy class. Most take it 10th/11th after they’ve gotten adjusted to HS and had some other HS level honors or AP classes under their belt. The only reason its even offered at 9th is because some magnet kids are ready for a higher degree of work starting at 9th and because the kids just finished US History in 8th so have some recent background info from which to build.

Yes, and some only offer AP NSL in 9th even to the highest achievers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until the tests are free and students receive equitable preparation for them, and are not run by a “non-profit” grossing millions of dollars/year, they won’t be comparable to European high school exit exams.

Tests and prep are free, in multiple languages. Advertised all over schools and from teachers and to parents at mtgs, via handouts and emails and phone calls.

Europe has serious (and free) merit tests every couple years of schooling and rigid tracking for access to A Levels and similar and certainly for university and majors. Uniforms help too, as does time tested curricula and tests. They do not do anywhere near the progressive experimental new math or reading or whatever approaches as here- here’s riven by common core standards or politics or a big lucrative curriculum business of ex teachers and admin selling to their former districts.

I’d be for testing too. Similar to India’s IIt and Japans Todai/kyodai, the Russian system too. No one else is watering down k-12 education and holding back its brightest like America.

Please talk to some friends who are teachers. Get informed about how things actually are.

Most of this is gibberish but I’ll bite. If you think teachers want even more standardized testing you’re completely wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until the tests are free and students receive equitable preparation for them, and are not run by a “non-profit” grossing millions of dollars/year, they won’t be comparable to European high school exit exams.

Tests and prep are free, in multiple languages. Advertised all over schools and from teachers and to parents at mtgs, via handouts and emails and phone calls.

Europe has serious (and free) merit tests every couple years of schooling and rigid tracking for access to A Levels and similar and certainly for university and majors. Uniforms help too, as does time tested curricula and tests. They do not do anywhere near the progressive experimental new math or reading or whatever approaches as here- here’s riven by common core standards or politics or a big lucrative curriculum business of ex teachers and admin selling to their former districts.

I’d be for testing too. Similar to India’s IIt and Japans Todai/kyodai, the Russian system too. No one else is watering down k-12 education and holding back its brightest like America.

Please talk to some friends who are teachers. Get informed about how things actually are.

Most of this is gibberish but I’ll bite. If you think teachers want even more standardized testing you’re completely wrong.

I’ll chime in to note that thee countries you name also have a common national set of standards(i.e. Common Core)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until the tests are free and students receive equitable preparation for them, and are not run by a “non-profit” grossing millions of dollars/year, they won’t be comparable to European high school exit exams.

Tests and prep are free, in multiple languages. Advertised all over schools and from teachers and to parents at mtgs, via handouts and emails and phone calls.

Europe has serious (and free) merit tests every couple years of schooling and rigid tracking for access to A Levels and similar and certainly for university and majors. Uniforms help too, as does time tested curricula and tests. They do not do anywhere near the progressive experimental new math or reading or whatever approaches as here- here’s riven by common core standards or politics or a big lucrative curriculum business of ex teachers and admin selling to their former districts.

I’d be for testing too. Similar to India’s IIt and Japans Todai/kyodai, the Russian system too. No one else is watering down k-12 education and holding back its brightest like America.

Please talk to some friends who are teachers. Get informed about how things actually are.

AP tests are not free. They are only free for FARMs kids. They cost $90-100/a pop.

Your information is inaccurate. DCPS pays for all AP tests so there is no fee for students. Many other states do this to for equity purposes.
MCPS makes students pay but you can apply for a fee waiver to bring the cost down to $13. MCPS encourages every student to fill out the waiver. It is not income dependent. So the cost is much less than you think

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until the tests are free and students receive equitable preparation for them, and are not run by a “non-profit” grossing millions of dollars/year, they won’t be comparable to European high school exit exams.

Tests and prep are free, in multiple languages. Advertised all over schools and from teachers and to parents at mtgs, via handouts and emails and phone calls.

Europe has serious (and free) merit tests every couple years of schooling and rigid tracking for access to A Levels and similar and certainly for university and majors. Uniforms help too, as does time tested curricula and tests. They do not do anywhere near the progressive experimental new math or reading or whatever approaches as here- here’s riven by common core standards or politics or a big lucrative curriculum business of ex teachers and admin selling to their former districts.

I’d be for testing too. Similar to India’s IIt and Japans Todai/kyodai, the Russian system too. No one else is watering down k-12 education and holding back its brightest like America.

Please talk to some friends who are teachers. Get informed about how things actually are.

AP tests are not free. They are only free for FARMs kids. They cost $90-100/a pop.

Your information is inaccurate. DCPS pays for all AP tests so there is no fee for students. Many other states do this to for equity purposes.
MCPS makes students pay but you can apply for a fee waiver to bring the cost down to $13. MCPS encourages every student to fill out the waiver. It is not income dependent. So the cost is much less than you think

Not all school districts do that. The school district I attended only subsidizes it for FARMs kids—every other kid pays $100/test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until the tests are free and students receive equitable preparation for them, and are not run by a “non-profit” grossing millions of dollars/year, they won’t be comparable to European high school exit exams.

Tests and prep are free, in multiple languages. Advertised all over schools and from teachers and to parents at mtgs, via handouts and emails and phone calls.

Europe has serious (and free) merit tests every couple years of schooling and rigid tracking for access to A Levels and similar and certainly for university and majors. Uniforms help too, as does time tested curricula and tests. They do not do anywhere near the progressive experimental new math or reading or whatever approaches as here- here’s riven by common core standards or politics or a big lucrative curriculum business of ex teachers and admin selling to their former districts.

I’d be for testing too. Similar to India’s IIt and Japans Todai/kyodai, the Russian system too. No one else is watering down k-12 education and holding back its brightest like America.

Please talk to some friends who are teachers. Get informed about how things actually are.

Most of this is gibberish but I’ll bite. If you think teachers want even more standardized testing you’re completely wrong.

Wasn’t the original question that someone didn’t want high school exit exams like in Europe until there is “equity” in test costs and test prep?

That’s already offered to FARMS. So where are the results?

We absolutely should stop passing and graduating students who then show up at community college to take remedial high school math and English. They need to do something else where they can be productive, and learn and apply skills.

I’ll chime in to note that thee countries you name also have a common national set of standards(i.e. Common Core)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until the tests are free and students receive equitable preparation for them, and are not run by a “non-profit” grossing millions of dollars/year, they won’t be comparable to European high school exit exams.

Tests and prep are free, in multiple languages. Advertised all over schools and from teachers and to parents at mtgs, via handouts and emails and phone calls.

Europe has serious (and free) merit tests every couple years of schooling and rigid tracking for access to A Levels and similar and certainly for university and majors. Uniforms help too, as does time tested curricula and tests. They do not do anywhere near the progressive experimental new math or reading or whatever approaches as here- here’s riven by common core standards or politics or a big lucrative curriculum business of ex teachers and admin selling to their former districts.

I’d be for testing too. Similar to India’s IIt and Japans Todai/kyodai, the Russian system too. No one else is watering down k-12 education and holding back its brightest like America.

Please talk to some friends who are teachers. Get informed about how things actually are.

Most of this is gibberish but I’ll bite. If you think teachers want even more standardized testing you’re completely wrong.

Wasn’t the original question that someone didn’t want high school exit exams like in Europe until there is “equity” in test costs and test prep?

That’s already offered to FARMS or any student that asks for it. So what’s your point? Face it, the average k-12 student in America is below grade level in math and reading English. It’s been that way for a a couple decades. Curricula, teachers, students and parents all own that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Until the tests are free and students receive equitable preparation for them, and are not run by a “non-profit” grossing millions of dollars/year, they won’t be comparable to European high school exit exams.

Tests and prep are free, in multiple languages. Advertised all over schools and from teachers and to parents at mtgs, via handouts and emails and phone calls.

Europe has serious (and free) merit tests every couple years of schooling and rigid tracking for access to A Levels and similar and certainly for university and majors. Uniforms help too, as does time tested curricula and tests. They do not do anywhere near the progressive experimental new math or reading or whatever approaches as here- here’s riven by common core standards or politics or a big lucrative curriculum business of ex teachers and admin selling to their former districts.

I’d be for testing too. Similar to India’s IIt and Japans Todai/kyodai, the Russian system too. No one else is watering down k-12 education and holding back its brightest like America.

Please talk to some friends who are teachers. Get informed about how things actually are.

AP tests are not free. They are only free for FARMs kids. They cost $90-100/a pop.

Your information is inaccurate. DCPS pays for all AP tests so there is no fee for students. Many other states do this to for equity purposes.
MCPS makes students pay but you can apply for a fee waiver to bring the cost down to $13. MCPS encourages every student to fill out the waiver. It is not income dependent. So the cost is much less than you think

Not all school districts do that. The school district I attended only subsidizes it for FARMs kids—every other kid pays $100/test.

So what.