If AP scores don’t matter, why offer the test at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bringing this over from a discussion that started on the SAT thread.

I’ve seen many people on DCUM claim that scores on AP exams don’t matter and are irrelevant to admissions.

I disagree, and think that in this test optional era AP scores should, and in fact do, matter a great deal.

We live in an era of rampant AP cours inflation and grade inflation in America’s public high schools. No one knows what a 4.0 even means anymore, and don’t get me started on the various absurd weighting schemes.

My own view is that regardless of the name of a class on a high school transcript, students should get no “AP bonus” in admissions unless they 1) actually take the test; and 2) achieve a score of 4 or 5 and 3) report this score to the school where they are seeking admission.

Like the ACT/ SAT, actual AP Exam scores provide important objective context to widely disparate high school quality and grading standards. It seems insane for students not to offer, and for colleges not to demand, this context. A B-average kid with several 4a and 5s reported is always going to look more impressive to me than a “straight A” student in multiple “AP” classes who doesn’t report a single high exam score.

As with college credit itself, the AP admissions standard should be: no test, no credit. If you claim to have taken a bunch of AP classes and gotten all As, but don’t report a single good AP exam score, I think it is a fair assumption that either grading standards or curricular rigor at your high school are low.

Lol, this is really good. You THINK they should count a "great deal," so therefore you conclude that they DO, "in fact," count a great deal. So your thoughts somehow translate into unsubstantiated "fact?" Laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my DC’s private school you are required to take the AP tests or you fail the class. I imagine they can’t do that in public school because of the test fees.

Many public schools require that the tests be taken and pay the fee, moron

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my DC’s private school you are required to take the AP tests or you fail the class. I imagine they can’t do that in public school because of the test fees.

Many public schools require that the tests be taken and pay the fee, moron

At my kid’s public they automatically register everyone in the class for the test for free, but they don’t police who shows up to takethe test.

Honestly, seniors who know their college won’t accept any score on a particular test for credit don’t actually take the test. I guess that’s a mistake if they end up transfering, but most don’t think that way.

[Anonymous]

That we have posters here saying that public schools can't require students to take the exams says it all. This thread is full of posts from private school parents who know nothing other than that their kids took AP tests, got good scores, and think they should count for a lot more than they actually do.

[Anonymous]

Harvard Westlake (more prestigious than any day school in the DMV) publishes a detailed "college counseling handbook" every year. Google it (I tried to attach it here but can't).

They mention AP scores only as an afterthought (merely advising that you only need to self-report until you've actually enrolled and want credit) and say nothing that even hints that they think the scores count for anything in the admissions process itself.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Here's the link. Look at pages 26-27. Lots of talk about the "evolving" importance of the SAT or ACT. But barely a mention of APs.

https://students.hw.com/Portals/44/handbook0125.pdf?ver=mCSTXqyrt4IYDI-PvMShlQ%3d%3d

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Do T25 schools not look at or consider AP scores in assessing/comparing academic achievment, readiness, or rigor?

Many US top-20/30/40 colleges already do look at AP scores from HS Junior year or earlier for *admissions* purposes for the reasons OP outlines.

Most UK universities require submission of multiple AP scores of 5 to be considered for admission. The set of required AP scores needed varies by the specific degree (e.g., English, Physics, History, or whatever) being applied to.

[Anonymous]

Even at schools which will not grant credit for an AP test score, often a good AP teat score will let the student substitute a more interesting course (e.g., whatever 102) for the most basic intro course (e.g., whatever 101).

[Anonymous]

Some public schools in this area will cover AP teat fees for FARMS students who cannot afford the fees.

[Anonymous]

test fees. Autocorrect is faulty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. Do T25 schools not look at or consider AP scores in assessing/comparing academic achievment, readiness, or rigor?

Many US top-20/30/40 colleges already do look at AP scores from HS Junior year or earlier for *admissions* purposes for the reasons OP outlines.

Most UK universities require submission of multiple AP scores of 5 to be considered for admission. The set of required AP scores needed varies by the specific degree (e.g., English, Physics, History, or whatever) being applied to.

Can we STFU already about UK university admissions? Somebody always has to bring up that they care about AP scores. But the overwhelming majority of USA students aren't applying to UK schools so let's keep the focus on the USA.

[Anonymous]

AP scores matter if you have access and take the exam, except the exam scores you don't yet have when you actually apply. I think the common notion is that they can help if you submit good ones, but usually not hurt if you don't submit any. What matters most is that college see that you are academically curious and seek challenges. AP classes can help show that.

As with anything it depends on your circumstances and how this one part fits into your application as a whole.

[Anonymous]

It is an industry, so people make $ off it (the testing orgs, the tutors, the test centers)

Also striving patents are desperate to push their kids ahead of other kids, in part so everyone is impressed.

None of it is healthy.

[Anonymous]

$$$$$$$

CollegeBoard is greedy AF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is an industry, so people make $ off it (the testing orgs, the tutors, the test centers)

Also striving patents are desperate to push their kids ahead of other kids, in part so everyone is impressed.

None of it is healthy.

As opposed to college. As we all know, college is completely free to everyone, and no professors, administrators, or TAs make any money off it.