Why do Maryland public universities now give credit for a 3 on an AP exam?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm aware that the Maryland Higher Education Commission now mandates that Maryland universities give credit for 3's (not just 4's and 5's) on AP exams. I'm worried about the lowering of academic standards. Did the MHEC give a strong reason for this change? How do university professors feel about it? Please direct me to another thread if this has been discussed elsewhere. Thank you.

A 3 doesn’t demonstrate mastery of the subject; it’s just an average score in a class that’s barely college level to begin with.

You are wrong. You are talking about a score you value personally, not what the college board does in grading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure it's the same for all public universities UNC, U MI, Cali schools, UVA, etc). It's the privates that want you to have a 4 or 5 and limit the amount of credits you can come in with. They want every penny from you

Don't know about the others, but Umich requires a 5 in most core subjects (e.g. AP Physics, AP CS, AP BC Calc) to get equivalent credit. Even JMU required a 5 in AP CS to get out of the introductory CS course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm aware that the Maryland Higher Education Commission now mandates that Maryland universities give credit for 3's (not just 4's and 5's) on AP exams. I'm worried about the lowering of academic standards. Did the MHEC give a strong reason for this change? How do university professors feel about it? Please direct me to another thread if this has been discussed elsewhere. Thank you.

A 3 doesn’t demonstrate mastery of the subject; it’s just an average score in a class that’s barely college level to begin with.

it is a "passing grade"

Technically, a D is a “passing grade”.

[Anonymous]

I got credit for two 3s at UMD in 2001. But it wasn’t for the equivalent course, just six credits towards graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm aware that the Maryland Higher Education Commission now mandates that Maryland universities give credit for 3's (not just 4's and 5's) on AP exams. I'm worried about the lowering of academic standards. Did the MHEC give a strong reason for this change? How do university professors feel about it? Please direct me to another thread if this has been discussed elsewhere. Thank you.

A 3 doesn’t demonstrate mastery of the subject; it’s just an average score in a class that’s barely college level to begin with.

You are wrong. You are talking about a score you value personally, not what the college board does in grading.

Most schools in the T100 do NOT offer credit towards your major for a 3. Sure some may give credit for a Math course for AP Calc AB with a 3, but it rarely is Calc 1 that is needed for engineering/CS/major that actually needs Calc 1. Same for Chem, Physics, Bio, etc.

That is because it does not demonstrate knowledge at the college level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got credit for two 3s at UMD in 2001. But it wasn’t for the equivalent course, just six credits towards graduation.

This^^^ Sure they can give credit for a "3". But rarely is it credit for equivalent courses needed for a major. So if you need Calc 1, a 3 on Calc AB is not going to give you credit for Calc 1 for engineering/CS/Math/Most stem majors. So in reality it is not real credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got credit for two 3s at UMD in 2001. But it wasn’t for the equivalent course, just six credits towards graduation.

This^^^ Sure they can give credit for a "3". But rarely is it credit for equivalent courses needed for a major. So if you need Calc 1, a 3 on Calc AB is not going to give you credit for Calc 1 for engineering/CS/Math/Most stem majors. So in reality it is not real credit.

And many degree plans don't include "random credits" so, if the awarded credits don't fulfill some req, either major or gened, they are basically worthless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got credit for two 3s at UMD in 2001. But it wasn’t for the equivalent course, just six credits towards graduation.

This^^^ Sure they can give credit for a "3". But rarely is it credit for equivalent courses needed for a major. So if you need Calc 1, a 3 on Calc AB is not going to give you credit for Calc 1 for engineering/CS/Math/Most stem majors. So in reality it is not real credit.

And many degree plans don't include "random credits" so, if the awarded credits don't fulfill some req, either major or gened, they are basically worthless.

Almost everywhere I have seen requires 12-16 semester classes for a major, 8 to 12 foundation, gen ed or distribution requirements, and the rest 8-12 electives or minor or second major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm aware that the Maryland Higher Education Commission now mandates that Maryland universities give credit for 3's (not just 4's and 5's) on AP exams. I'm worried about the lowering of academic standards. Did the MHEC give a strong reason for this change? How do university professors feel about it? Please direct me to another thread if this has been discussed elsewhere. Thank you.

A 3 doesn’t demonstrate mastery of the subject; it’s just an average score in a class that’s barely college level to begin with.

it is a "passing grade"

Technically, a D is a “passing grade”.

Sure but we're talking about a "3" on the AP exams, they don't have letter grades.