Anonymous wrote:Oldest got four 5s and one 4. Reported all. In at 3 T15. (Also had magnet classes beyond APs).

Youngest had three 4s, two 5s, one 3 and did not take an AP for Physics 1 (really no point, since planned to take Physics C and didn't feel good about content during pandemic distance learning). Submitted 4s and 5s, noted did not take exams for all AP classes on app. In at T10 early. Also had DE magnet classes.

thank you! did they go TO? any hooks?

Kid will have As in classes but some of the AP teachers really not preparing for the test and kid didnt self start on these.

Oldest got four 5s and one 4. Reported all. In at 3 T15. (Also had magnet classes beyond APs).

Youngest had three 4s, two 5s, one 3 and did not take an AP for Physics 1 (really no point, since planned to take Physics C and didn't feel good about content during pandemic distance learning). Submitted 4s and 5s, noted did not take exams for all AP classes on app. In at T10 early. Also had DE magnet classes.

I think same logic applies as for SAT/ACT if test optional. Include if helps application.

The conventional wisdom is to report 4s and 5s. I think AP scores can be helpful if an applicant has a lower SAT/ACT, is test optional, or is applying from an unknown school. It can also help offset an imperfect grade in the underlying class.

IME, some schools/teachers really focus on preparing their students to do well on AP exams. For others, exam performance is kind of an afterthought.

my kids are at a private (with few "mcq" tests) and no AP classes offered. they self studied and got 5s BUT it required doing some work, for sure.

there are really good YouTube series to review the material on most of these tests.

Curious too because one of my 10th grade child's teachers is 4-5 units behind where they should be at this point and hasn't tested them on the material since January. Teaching is mainly done with videos and study guides along with some DBQs, mostly as homework that doesn't get graded. DC and most of their classmates started treating the class like an independent study months ago but DC is stressed about what their score will be. I've been saying don't worry about it and just do your best but I'm secretly not sure what the impact will be on their applications later. I don't know if it's worse to submit a 2 or no score at all.

As far as what to report, if a school doesn't give credit for a 3 (or 4), don't report it.

My kid had a 4 an AP Lang and his college counselor and private counselor told him to report it to most schools (Villanova, Lehigh, Tulane, Richmond - things around that rank/level of selectivity) but do not report to Georgetown.

Strong AP scores will help an applicant. Report them if you have them.

Anonymous wrote:I heard it's actually not that hard to get 5s? Or, I should say, it's hard but that getting a 5 is equivalent to getting a 60% on the total test, because there's just so much to learn. Is that true?

Um, no.
https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions

Anonymous wrote:I heard it's actually not that hard to get 5s? Or, I should say, it's hard but that getting a 5 is equivalent to getting a 60% on the total test, because there's just so much to learn. Is that true?

I dont know, it depends on the test. I am asking as my kid is at an IB school and it seems their brain just isnt trained for MCQ. I think IB is better for college work due to being prepped in writing everything but they just dont have experience with MCQ.

Anonymous wrote:I heard it's actually not that hard to get 5s? Or, I should say, it's hard but that getting a 5 is equivalent to getting a 60% on the total test, because there's just so much to learn. Is that true?

A 4 is 60%. A 5 is 80%

That said, AP scores only really matter if applying in the UK. In the US they are a nice added bonus (5s are that is) but they’re not going to make or break an application.

I heard it's actually not that hard to get 5s? Or, I should say, it's hard but that getting a 5 is equivalent to getting a 60% on the total test, because there's just so much to learn. Is that true?

4s are good but I'm not sure about 3s... if your DC takes say 8 APs and only submits 5 4s and nothing for the other 3, how does that look?

No aspect of a college application will be that black and white.

I am trying to figure out if every College wants you to self report your AP score and if you don't do they assume you got a 1 or 2? If you submit 3s and 4s are you out of luck with Top20s?