As and Bs in AP course but 2s and 3s on tests

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would the scores be so low? Something doesn't add up here.

If you took the AP course and paid attention that should be an automatic 4 without studying.

Some people don’t test well.

No, paying attention in class doesn’t equal an automatic 4.

Usually it does.

No it doesn't. Mom of kid who got a 4 after studying for Chem and Calc. Got a 5 in Lang without studying. It depends on the subject matter.

[Anonymous]

Strong AP scores can be helpful if you’re applying SAT/ACT optional. If you have a strong SAT/ACT score, then as others have said the AP scores are superfluous for admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would the scores be so low? Something doesn't add up here.

If you took the AP course and paid attention that should be an automatic 4 without studying.

Massive grade inflation. I know schools where AP courses aren't at all rigorous.

Teacher here. My colleagues and I would never be allowed to give lower than a B- for AP classes, and if the student has "important parents", that student will have As.

This means that a student getting an A or B in an AP course at my school might get a 4 or 5 on the exam, or they might get a 1 or 2.

I am sure college admissions are aware. Grade inflation is extremely common in private schools.

What private school? Not the case at my daughter's school. Grade inflation is more of a factor in public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strong AP scores can be helpful if you’re applying SAT/ACT optional. If you have a strong SAT/ACT score, then as others have said the AP scores are superfluous for admissions.

True, but if your kid is at a school that requires AP testing, the assumption might be that the kid didn't do well if not submitted. Also, you are going up against kids in the school that might submit AP scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would the scores be so low? Something doesn't add up here.

If you took the AP course and paid attention that should be an automatic 4 without studying.

Massive grade inflation. I know schools where AP courses aren't at all rigorous.

Teacher here. My colleagues and I would never be allowed to give lower than a B- for AP classes, and if the student has "important parents", that student will have As.

This means that a student getting an A or B in an AP course at my school might get a 4 or 5 on the exam, or they might get a 1 or 2.

I am sure college admissions are aware. Grade inflation is extremely common in private schools.

Not Catholic schools. My kids never got above a B in an AP course and went on to get 5s in the exams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most elite colleges would assume your kid did poorly if scores aren’t reported. Otherwise why not report them? There’s so much grade inflation that AP scores and other standardized tests are the only legit ways to compare kids.

My kid had 10 APs, but only took 3 of the tests. The tests are too expensive and our school does not cover them. Reported the 3 tests that she took and got into a t10

If you can’t afford 10 AP tests, how can you afford college at all?

[Anonymous]

DCUM is obsessed with AP Exam scores and has an insanely inflated view of their importance in the college admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP tests don't matter that much as GPA scores do. So just don't submit them and don't worry.

If you only submit easy APs -like APES, AP Euro History, AP Psychology - and skip submitting more rigorous courses like AP Spanish, AP Chem and AP Bio or AP Math, it could look a bit sus.

Best not to submit anything at all!

AP Euro is considered one of the hardest APs, not the easiest.

Yes, and APES and AP Psych are not easy either.

But I agree, most colleges don’t care, and it only matters when you’re trying to opt out of core courses and get credit for some intro level college 101 courses.

DS did not report his 8 AP scores at all, but when choosing his classes the summer before school started, if he had more than a 4 on any, he got to skip the 101 version of that course. He had 4-5s in 4 classes, so he used those, but he had 2s in several so he has to do the core class in those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strong AP scores can be helpful if you’re applying SAT/ACT optional. If you have a strong SAT/ACT score, then as others have said the AP scores are superfluous for admissions.

True, but if your kid is at a school that requires AP testing, the assumption might be that the kid didn't do well if not submitted. Also, you are going up against kids in the school that might submit AP scores.

+2 My DC’s school requires you to take the AP test. It states this on the school profile. Not ideal since my DC got 4s. My DC is submitting the 4s because CCO will know they took that test and assume they were 3s if not listed on the application.

[Anonymous]

Roll Tide

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCUM is obsessed with AP Exam scores and has an insanely inflated view of their importance in the college admissions process.

For many students, they are very important, especially if your high school is huge or tiny or not well known where you will be applying -- which is most high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Strong AP scores can be helpful if you’re applying SAT/ACT optional. If you have a strong SAT/ACT score, then as others have said the AP scores are superfluous for admissions.

True, but if your kid is at a school that requires AP testing, the assumption might be that the kid didn't do well if not submitted. Also, you are going up against kids in the school that might submit AP scores.

+2 My DC’s school requires you to take the AP test. It states this on the school profile. Not ideal since my DC got 4s. My DC is submitting the 4s because CCO will know they took that test and assume they were 3s if not listed on the application.

Mine just listed AP Scholar with Distinction, not all the scores. Got into his ED school with merit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most elite colleges would assume your kid did poorly if scores aren’t reported. Otherwise why not report them? There’s so much grade inflation that AP scores and other standardized tests are the only legit ways to compare kids.

Strong disagree. Lots of reasons to not report including want to take the class at the college bc a known professor or additional content know covered at college. Etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t report them, don’t give them another thought, and ignore all the weirdos who come on here and say that if younget anything less than a 5 you should be put in front of a firing squad. Colleges do not care.

Elite colleges will. Assumption will be made that it's lower than a 3 if not reported. Then again, if you take an AP course and cannot get a 4/5, then you likely are not the best candidate for a T20 school. I say that kindly---majority of kids at T20s will have taken 7-8+ APs and gotten 4/5s on most of them if not all 5s. Heck my kid landed at a T40 and got all 4/5s (5s on 6 AP and 4s on 2 APs). They didnt' get into any T25, and landed right where they should

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most elite colleges would assume your kid did poorly if scores aren’t reported. Otherwise why not report them? There’s so much grade inflation that AP scores and other standardized tests are the only legit ways to compare kids.

Strong disagree. Lots of reasons to not report including want to take the class at the college bc a known professor or additional content know covered at college. Etc.

That makes zero sense. No college is going to stop you from retaking a class you took as an AP. No college syncs up its registration system with a high school admit's profile to keep them out of classes. Rather the reverse is true, where you have to show competence to get into a higher level class. Most good colleges won't give AP credit anyway because they think their coursework is superior to that of a high school (and they want the tuition revenue for the credits).