Taking the AP class but not the exam?

[Anonymous]

My sons are both smiling the AP Precalculus BC exams this year. That seems like a standard AP exam that a lot of kids skip. Pre-calc isn’t really a college subject and a waste of the exam fee. Situations like that where students will be taking other higher level AP/AV classes won’t be a red flag.

[Anonymous]

Ask the college counselor at your school. This is a straightforward question they should be able to answer in a 2 minute email. The answer depends on the context (grades, other APs taken and scores, etc.)

Our child got mostly 5s, a few 4s, and one 3. The college counselor said not to submit the 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand and appreciate that that’s an option, but it does not answer my question.

If anyone has insight into whether choosing not to test is a red flag, or has a class to recommend, I’d be grateful.

Your child won't have a score to report. Other students who got 4s and 5s will report. Colleges will see that AP class and the absence of a score. They will know that it's either because your child took the test and scored low or didn't take the test. Neither reflects well on your child.

Both of my kids reported every AP score because all scores were 4s and 5s. Both got their top choice school.

[Anonymous]

Also some schools don't give the GPA bump for taking an AP class if you don't sit for the exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is totally fine. These are history AP classes. Colleges aren’t really going to care if they didn’t take the exam (or didn’t take them at all). The ones they care about are the math, science, and English AP classes.

Wrong. APUSH, for example, is one they look for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is totally fine. These are history AP classes. Colleges aren’t really going to care if they didn’t take the exam (or didn’t take them at all). The ones they care about are the math, science, and English AP classes.

Wrong. APUSH, for example, is one they look for.

Ok, well OP didnt mention that one. They said AP Euro and AP World. Admissions isnt going to care if you took those classes but skipped the exam

[Anonymous]

It is not a red flag unless your school profile shows that the exam is required for the course. You are not required to report scores for most colleges and the picking and chosing of reporting only some is more of a red flag than showing none.

[Anonymous]

The class to show rigor is what most are looking for. Not the score. Showing att 4 and 5 is great but other scores can hurt and picking and choosing is worse than showing none. Lots of reasons kids dont take the exams.