<p>I was just wondering if anyone knew where to find a site that explains how the process of getting out of certain Plebe Year classes. What are the specific AP grades that one needs to get out of a course? Also, does anyone know which placement tests are the most difficult? Because I would like to begin studying for those. (I really do not want to take Chemistry again, I'm good at it, but BOY is it boring)</p>
<p>Current AP's Taken (So you guys can know which classes I may try to get out of)
AP Physics B: 3
AP US History: 4
AP English Language and Composition: 4
AP European History: 4
AP Calc BC: (In Progress)
AP Chem: (In Progress)
AP Gov: (In Progress)
AP Lit: (In Progress)</p>
<p>Also, anyone have any input on negative experiences with getting to skip to higher classes? I want the full Academy experience</p>
<p>If anyone knows where to find this information, I'd really appreciate it!</p>
<p>On validating courses, the general opinions expressed in previous threads have been:
1. validating courses allows more time in your schedule for majors courses and electives
2. validating courses just means you'll be in harder classes anyway, which could affect your QPR (and in the long run service selection)
3. you shouldn't necessarily study hard or cram for the validation tests. go in there with the knowledge you have so the board can place you in the most suitable course.</p>
<p>Physics and Chemistry do not use AP scores for validations - must take the USNA validation test (my youngster thought that Physics was the harder of the two)</p>
<p>US History is not one of the validation courses
English Lang & Comp you need a 5 to validate
European History you need a 5 to validate
Gov't you will need to get a 5 to validate
Calc you will need to get both 4 or 5's in the AB to validate Calc I and in the BC to validate Calc II</p>
<p>My Mid validated most of the list with the exception of Physics and Chem. Chem he found to be what he expected for a College level course and first semester physics (mechanics) was a rehash of AP Physics but 2nd semester (Electricity, and Magnetism) do not resemble anything from AP Physics.</p>
<p>If you do validate to a higher level - lets say Calc III you will not be placed in a section with youngsters. There are Plebe specific sections for those who are taking a youngster level class their Plebe year.</p>
<p>my mid validated Calc 1, Chem 1, and English 1, as well as 4 semesters of his foreign language from high school. </p>
<p>he had not taken AP chem in hs, just regular chem, and found that Chem 2 was extremely tough. had he taken AP Chem previously, Chem 2 should not have been a problem. </p>
<p>going into Calc 2, was not a problem. neither was English 2.</p>
<p>The tests take place during the summer. Some plebes skip the tests if AP scores can be used to validate the course. The advice I've heard from some is to skip the ones that you've already validated (for example, if you've already got a 5 on AP Calc BC) and sleep or study rates instead.</p>
<p>You may have to take the Calculus validation test as the AP scores typically are not available until the second week of July. My youngster took the Calc I validation test and Calc II and then was informed about a week later that he also validated via AP's.</p>
<p>Whatever you do don't sleep during the test. You'll get a lot more **** for it if you do. Tell your classmates before hand do not sleep. Everyone I have ever talked to said that people in their company slept and it sucked later that day more than it did most days... It may suck all fo the time, but don't sleep.</p>
<p>I slept in every single validation exam. The cadre aren't allowed in there when you're taking them.</p>
<p>Also, in regards to academics, I did two years at the University of Central Florida in addition to passing 9 AP exams. I lost my AP exam results and am currently retaking every course I ever took at UCF at USNA, with the exception of Calc I and II which I validated (and I've already taken Calc III and Differential Equations previously). The classes were boring because, in some cases, it was the third time I was taking the course, but it was good to not have to worry about those classes. Basically, validate what you can, and go to EVERY validation exam over the summer possible.</p>
<p>Don't freak out over the whole thing--you'll be here for four years no matter what.</p>
<p>You take the validation tests during plebe summer. My son took them just to get out of the heat!!!It was re****l compared to the rest of the day.</p>
<p>Any hs physics isn't the same as at the academy.</p>
<p>Yeah, I don't remember anyone catching heat for sleeping... the part I remember about validation tests was going to the bathroom after I was done and spending about half an hour just shooting the sh** with my new classmates until we got yelled at by the detailers lurking in smoke hall</p>
<p>I stayed for all of the exams and the cadre for 2011 walked around the whole time and were in the bathroom telling us not to talk. I remember all of the vividly. And everyone had to go to all of the exams for us. So it was english and chemistry the other one were at different times. You could be asked back to validate the second half of the course if you did well on the first exam.</p>
<p>If you did not take the AP class do you still take the validation test? or If you did take the AP class do you have to take it? or is it still all voluntary?</p>
<p>Have to take the validation exams in Chem and Physics even if you did or didn't take the AP if you are looking tho validate either of the classes. Even if you don't want to validate you still should take them. The Academy does not accept AP for those two classes. Some of the others you may have to take if the Academy has not received the AP scores by the date of the exam.</p>