GDS just dropped AP testing

[Anonymous]

Oh and for placement: I don’t see anything on Harvard’s website to suggest they use AP scores for placement. They seem to run a lot of their own placement exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there is no advantage for admissions but there is an advantage in terms of graduating early, picking up a minor, repeating a class without delaying graduation...

I also think in the world of no SATs and grade inflation, submitting lots of 5s in challenging APs is one of the few things left to show you can handle challenge.

+100

+1 It is one of the few nationally applied tests to determine a student's standing among peers. 5s cannot hurt an applicant.
Many competitive colleges for a long time have not accepted APs to get out of credits, but they can sometimes get you out of intro level courses. Some colleges have special courses for kids who have received 5s (I was admitted into a special history seminar at Swarthmore that was open only to first-year students who received a 5 on an AP history exam).
Some colleges do let you get out of classes with 4s or 5s--this can be a huge financial benefit for kids who may be able to graduate a semester or even a year early. That is a massive savings--I don't understand why GDS doesn't acknowledge this. There are kids at GDS who are on significant financial aid.

+1 to all of this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and for placement: I don’t see anything on Harvard’s website to suggest they use AP scores for placement. They seem to run a lot of their own placement exams.

I guess because it is Harvard they have to be obtuse, but it is somewhat indicated here: https://placement-info.fas.harvard.edu/faq/where-and-when-do-i-receive-scores-my-online-placement-exams

It indicates that they use a combination of AP/IB test scores and/or their own placement tests to start you at the appropriate level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh and for placement: I don’t see anything on Harvard’s website to suggest they use AP scores for placement. They seem to run a lot of their own placement exams.

I guess because it is Harvard they have to be obtuse, but it is somewhat indicated here: https://placement-info.fas.harvard.edu/faq/where-and-when-do-i-receive-scores-my-online-placement-exams

It indicates that they use a combination of AP/IB test scores and/or their own placement tests to start you at the appropriate level.

Ok, weird. That’s confusing because it doesn’t say what role AP/IB scores would have in determining someone’s placement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there is no advantage for admissions but there is an advantage in terms of graduating early, picking up a minor, repeating a class without delaying graduation...

I also think in the world of no SATs and grade inflation, submitting lots of 5s in challenging APs is one of the few things left to show you can handle challenge.

+100

+1 It is one of the few nationally applied tests to determine a student's standing among peers. 5s cannot hurt an applicant.
Many competitive colleges for a long time have not accepted APs to get out of credits, but they can sometimes get you out of intro level courses. Some colleges have special courses for kids who have received 5s (I was admitted into a special history seminar at Swarthmore that was open only to first-year students who received a 5 on an AP history exam).
Some colleges do let you get out of classes with 4s or 5s--this can be a huge financial benefit for kids who may be able to graduate a semester or even a year early. That is a massive savings--I don't understand why GDS doesn't acknowledge this. There are kids at GDS who are on significant financial aid.

+1 to all of this

Apparently, GDS could not care less about the kids for whom taking and doing well on these tests would be a financial benefit. Telling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there is no advantage for admissions but there is an advantage in terms of graduating early, picking up a minor, repeating a class without delaying graduation...

I also think in the world of no SATs and grade inflation, submitting lots of 5s in challenging APs is one of the few things left to show you can handle challenge.

+100

+1 It is one of the few nationally applied tests to determine a student's standing among peers. 5s cannot hurt an applicant.
Many competitive colleges for a long time have not accepted APs to get out of credits, but they can sometimes get you out of intro level courses. Some colleges have special courses for kids who have received 5s (I was admitted into a special history seminar at Swarthmore that was open only to first-year students who received a 5 on an AP history exam).
Some colleges do let you get out of classes with 4s or 5s--this can be a huge financial benefit for kids who may be able to graduate a semester or even a year early. That is a massive savings--I don't understand why GDS doesn't acknowledge this. There are kids at GDS who are on significant financial aid.

+1 to all of this

Apparently, GDS could not care less about the kids for whom taking and doing well on these tests would be a financial benefit. Telling.

Longtime GDS parent here. It's all GDS virtue signaling as follows:
-Standardized tests = bad
-objective measures = bad
-GDS love to preach equity and yet when something around economic and not skin color equity comes up, stupidity sets in.

GDS thinks equality of outcome is the proper frame and not equality of opportunity

BTW - pretty telling Ivy league testing data on SAT/ACT - 70+% of top Ivy freshmen submitted test scores. Those who didn't...athletes and hooked

What GDS is doing is leaning into hooked kids. That's all.

AP *testing* is about placement which is about ECONOMIC equity for kids who want to not take Physics 101 and instead jump to 201. And by dropping AP testing, GDS takes this choice away. Instead 100+ parents now need to find schools to take these tests for their kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there is no advantage for admissions but there is an advantage in terms of graduating early, picking up a minor, repeating a class without delaying graduation...

I also think in the world of no SATs and grade inflation, submitting lots of 5s in challenging APs is one of the few things left to show you can handle challenge.

+100

+1 It is one of the few nationally applied tests to determine a student's standing among peers. 5s cannot hurt an applicant.
Many competitive colleges for a long time have not accepted APs to get out of credits, but they can sometimes get you out of intro level courses. Some colleges have special courses for kids who have received 5s (I was admitted into a special history seminar at Swarthmore that was open only to first-year students who received a 5 on an AP history exam).
Some colleges do let you get out of classes with 4s or 5s--this can be a huge financial benefit for kids who may be able to graduate a semester or even a year early. That is a massive savings--I don't understand why GDS doesn't acknowledge this. There are kids at GDS who are on significant financial aid.

+1 to all of this

Apparently, GDS could not care less about the kids for whom taking and doing well on these tests would be a financial benefit. Telling.

Longtime GDS parent here. It's all GDS virtue signaling as follows:
-Standardized tests = bad
-objective measures = bad
-GDS love to preach equity and yet when something around economic and not skin color equity comes up, stupidity sets in.

GDS thinks equality of outcome is the proper frame and not equality of opportunity

BTW - pretty telling Ivy league testing data on SAT/ACT - 70+% of top Ivy freshmen submitted test scores. Those who didn't...athletes and hooked

What GDS is doing is leaning into hooked kids. That's all.

AP *testing* is about placement which is about ECONOMIC equity for kids who want to not take Physics 101 and instead jump to 201. And by dropping AP testing, GDS takes this choice away. Instead 100+ parents now need to find schools to take these tests for their kids.

Here's the Ivy League testing data
https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chapin has a whole page talking about why they don’t offer AP courses. They also include a list of some other private schools that have done the same:

New York City: Brearley; Berkeley Carroll; Dalton; Fieldston; Nightingale-Bamford; Packer Collegiate; Riverdale; Spence; St. Ann’s

Boarding Schools: Andover; Cate School; Choate; Exeter; Lawrenceville; St. George’s; St. Paul’s East Coast: Agnes Irwin; Beaver Country Day; Concord Academy; Lincoln School, Providence; Park School, Baltimore

West Coast: Crossroads; Lick Wilmerding; Marin Academy

my kid goes to one of the above - no AP classes, but kids can take the test. about half do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, I should’ve said “Top private universities” up top.

So that is useful information for a small handful of kids who are welcome not to enroll in those classes. How about the rest of the students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there is no advantage for admissions but there is an advantage in terms of graduating early, picking up a minor, repeating a class without delaying graduation...

I also think in the world of no SATs and grade inflation, submitting lots of 5s in challenging APs is one of the few things left to show you can handle challenge.

+100

+1 It is one of the few nationally applied tests to determine a student's standing among peers. 5s cannot hurt an applicant.
Many competitive colleges for a long time have not accepted APs to get out of credits, but they can sometimes get you out of intro level courses. Some colleges have special courses for kids who have received 5s (I was admitted into a special history seminar at Swarthmore that was open only to first-year students who received a 5 on an AP history exam).
Some colleges do let you get out of classes with 4s or 5s--this can be a huge financial benefit for kids who may be able to graduate a semester or even a year early. That is a massive savings--I don't understand why GDS doesn't acknowledge this. There are kids at GDS who are on significant financial aid.

+1 to all of this

Apparently, GDS could not care less about the kids for whom taking and doing well on these tests would be a financial benefit. Telling.

Longtime GDS parent here. It's all GDS virtue signaling as follows:
-Standardized tests = bad
-objective measures = bad
-GDS love to preach equity and yet when something around economic and not skin color equity comes up, stupidity sets in.

GDS thinks equality of outcome is the proper frame and not equality of opportunity

BTW - pretty telling Ivy league testing data on SAT/ACT - 70+% of top Ivy freshmen submitted test scores. Those who didn't...athletes and hooked

What GDS is doing is leaning into hooked kids. That's all.

AP *testing* is about placement which is about ECONOMIC equity for kids who want to not take Physics 101 and instead jump to 201. And by dropping AP testing, GDS takes this choice away. Instead 100+ parents now need to find schools to take these tests for their kids.

Here's the Ivy League testing data
https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

What a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh and for placement: I don’t see anything on Harvard’s website to suggest they use AP scores for placement. They seem to run a lot of their own placement exams.

Is every kid at GDS going to Harvard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there is no advantage for admissions but there is an advantage in terms of graduating early, picking up a minor, repeating a class without delaying graduation...

I also think in the world of no SATs and grade inflation, submitting lots of 5s in challenging APs is one of the few things left to show you can handle challenge.

+100

+1 It is one of the few nationally applied tests to determine a student's standing among peers. 5s cannot hurt an applicant.
Many competitive colleges for a long time have not accepted APs to get out of credits, but they can sometimes get you out of intro level courses. Some colleges have special courses for kids who have received 5s (I was admitted into a special history seminar at Swarthmore that was open only to first-year students who received a 5 on an AP history exam).
Some colleges do let you get out of classes with 4s or 5s--this can be a huge financial benefit for kids who may be able to graduate a semester or even a year early. That is a massive savings--I don't understand why GDS doesn't acknowledge this. There are kids at GDS who are on significant financial aid.

+1 to all of this

Apparently, GDS could not care less about the kids for whom taking and doing well on these tests would be a financial benefit. Telling.

Longtime GDS parent here. It's all GDS virtue signaling as follows:
-Standardized tests = bad
-objective measures = bad
-GDS love to preach equity and yet when something around economic and not skin color equity comes up, stupidity sets in.

GDS thinks equality of outcome is the proper frame and not equality of opportunity

BTW - pretty telling Ivy league testing data on SAT/ACT - 70+% of top Ivy freshmen submitted test scores. Those who didn't...athletes and hooked

What GDS is doing is leaning into hooked kids. That's all.

AP *testing* is about placement which is about ECONOMIC equity for kids who want to not take Physics 101 and instead jump to 201. And by dropping AP testing, GDS takes this choice away. Instead 100+ parents now need to find schools to take these tests for their kids.

Here's the Ivy League testing data
https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

What a joke.

yup. Test optional...but only for athletes and URM. Everyone else 1550+, 35+

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there is no advantage for admissions but there is an advantage in terms of graduating early, picking up a minor, repeating a class without delaying graduation...

I also think in the world of no SATs and grade inflation, submitting lots of 5s in challenging APs is one of the few things left to show you can handle challenge.

+100

+1 It is one of the few nationally applied tests to determine a student's standing among peers. 5s cannot hurt an applicant.
Many competitive colleges for a long time have not accepted APs to get out of credits, but they can sometimes get you out of intro level courses. Some colleges have special courses for kids who have received 5s (I was admitted into a special history seminar at Swarthmore that was open only to first-year students who received a 5 on an AP history exam).
Some colleges do let you get out of classes with 4s or 5s--this can be a huge financial benefit for kids who may be able to graduate a semester or even a year early. That is a massive savings--I don't understand why GDS doesn't acknowledge this. There are kids at GDS who are on significant financial aid.

+1 to all of this

Apparently, GDS could not care less about the kids for whom taking and doing well on these tests would be a financial benefit. Telling.

Longtime GDS parent here. It's all GDS virtue signaling as follows:
-Standardized tests = bad
-objective measures = bad
-GDS love to preach equity and yet when something around economic and not skin color equity comes up, stupidity sets in.

GDS thinks equality of outcome is the proper frame and not equality of opportunity

BTW - pretty telling Ivy league testing data on SAT/ACT - 70+% of top Ivy freshmen submitted test scores. Those who didn't...athletes and hooked

What GDS is doing is leaning into hooked kids. That's all.

AP *testing* is about placement which is about ECONOMIC equity for kids who want to not take Physics 101 and instead jump to 201. And by dropping AP testing, GDS takes this choice away. Instead 100+ parents now need to find schools to take these tests for their kids.

Here's the Ivy League testing data
https://www.thedp.com/article/2023/08/upenn-test-scores-sat-act-pandemic-optional-policy-admissions

What a joke.

yup. Test optional...but only for athletes and URM. Everyone else 1550+, 35+

No, the joke is the selective reporting of scores that lets them pretend everyone is 1550+.

[Anonymous]

What schools in the UK is he looking at? The best ones ask for 5 5's plus SAT/ACT scores.
That said the application is so much easier because it's one app for up to 5 schools.

Anonymous wrote:I guess we are grateful for being waitlisted by GDS for 9th grade admission, then .... DC is planning on applying to UK and potentially European universities so AP scores will be important. Fortunately they are at a local private that offers a (somewhat limited) number of AP classes as well as administers the tests -- they will be taking two as a junior, and planning on another two as a senior.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn’t GDS want kids to do AP exams?
They are useful at most colleges for getting a bunch of credits. You can still graduate college in 4 years but it gives you the opportunity to skip ahead and take more interesting courses.
My kid is at USC and went straight to a 300 level Economics class because he had taken AP Micro and AP Macro Economics + AP Calculus BC. USC advised him to skip the intro Econ classes which most freshmen take.