About them CollegeBoard exams

(Sorry for posting on the wrong category, just realized…!)

Just gonna start out by saying that I am quite upset about the AP scores that I’ve just received.

I am a rising Junior who took 2 APs Sophomore year, APUSH and APCSP. I’ve been getting high As on both classes the whole school year, got a class award for APCSP, and although I was a bit nervous on test day, I thought I aced both exams. But it happens that I got 4s on both of them.

Yes, I know 4s are great scores, and that I don’t need 5s to get into colleges. I am also aware that it is more than possible that the test just didn’t happen the way I thought it happened. Maybe I haven’t studied enough. BUT, this has been bugging me for such a long time, and I probably sound like an arrogant, egotistic braggart when I’m saying this but I could not find a better place to discuss what I’m about to discuss right now. If I sound like an ungrateful, self-centered kid, I totally understand and apologize. But I really want to know what others think about my suspicion toward these exams.

The biggest thing that has been bugging me.
When taking the AP exam at our school, the proctor asked us to write our names in pencil. Yeah, the scantron machines can only read NO.2 pencils and I get that. But there were multiple other spaces where we had to write our name (not bubble it) in pencil. Now how are we sure that someone didn’t just switch out answer sheets? Can’t the school director just erase the names and alter the answer $heet$? I’m not gonna say a lot about my school but its donation system is kinda well known for being a bit obnoxious around here. It’s not like the AP central releases answer sheets of the multiple choice sections after the exam, so nobody would know if it happened, right? Not necessarily saying that it must have happened to mine, but has anyone else thought of this? Please share your thoughts because this wasn’t the only time I was taken aback by test results that the College Board gave back.

You’re correct about how this sounds.

Dealing with unexpected challenges and outcomes will be an important skill in life. Coming up with reasons to blame others will generally not be effective or well received.

60-70% of students typically get an A in a HS class these days. Less than 14% get a 5 on the AP. You got two 4’s. Move forward rather than looking back.

You joined CC just to insinuate that your high school changes names on AP exams? It’s an interesting choice for a first post.

Getting an A in a class is no guarantee that you’ll get a 5 on the AP exam. There’s a greater probability that you made some errors than that somebody in the district switched names. Why would they risk their jobs and retirement so some kid who earned a 4 could have a 5 instead?

Didn’t the scores come out like two days ago? What would really be a drag is if you just missed getting a 5 on both those tests by one wrong answer. Guess you’ll never know.

I assume you go to a private school? I think if they did erase your name and put in some rich donor’s kid’s name on your form, they would have to know beforehand that the rich donor’s kid was capable of only getting a four. They should have chosen a donor’s kid who was only capable of getting a 2, to make losing their job and their retirement pensions more worthwhile. The parents would have to be sure to tell the proctor to look specifically for your test, because you’re a great student and would definitely get a five.

The problem with your theory is that there’s not much advantage of getting five over a four. If the college will give credit or placement for a four or a five, as most will, then why go to the effort of swapping tests and changing names? Your theory makes no sense.

Thanks for the replies. Though nobody really explained my question about the policy with writing names in pencil. It’s not that I can’t move forward with life because I got 4s. I’m not going to explain everything I have experienced, but just want to ask one thing. I just want to make sure to take precautions like writing my name in ink so I wouldn’t have room to doubt the school.

Because the scantron sheet clearly says “Use No. 2 Pencil Only.” Actually the scantron sheet writes it in all-caps. Sometimes in life, you just need to follow the directions even if you don;t agree with them.

They would have to erase and rewrite your printed name, the bubbled version of your printed name, your AP number, your signature. You really think anyone is going through that trouble? For what purpose? There’s a time to take off the tinfoil hat, and this is it. You have 2 very good scores.

I don’t think DD even wrote her AP number. She got a booklet with a sticker sheet. She used a couple of the stickers on her answer sheet and was told to take the rest home with the booklet, which was just filled with college codes.

To change answer sheets would involve not only a lot of erasing, but a successful transfer of at least a couple of stickers. Highly unlikely to go smoothly or look clean IMO.