I know that AP classes are more important than P exams. I understand that AP exams and AP classes – are very different animals. I know that AP exam may be taken separately from AP class. However, I am really confused.
What does is mean “self-reporting results of AP exams”? Could my D report some AP exams but not the others? Could she cherry-pick, which AP exams to report on Common Application?
If she can cherry-pick … does it make sense to take as many AP exams as possible, and “scratch” the results that she doesn’t like?
Could she re-take AP exam? For example, improve grade from 4 to 5?
I think if you took the class and it’s on your transcript you ought to report the result, otherwise the assumption could be that the score might be even lower than it actually was. If you self study, I don’t see any need to report results you are embarrassed about. That said, what ad coms say (and I have heard them say it multiple times), they care much more than you took a challenging curriculum and they don’t care what score you got on the exam. It’s one day with no do-overs, you might have been sick, you might have had a terrible teacher or whatever.
Self-reporting means just that. You can choose to list any/all/none of the results, so yes, your daughter could choose to list only select scores, with a big caveat which I’ll talk about later. Official score reports really should only be sent once the student is accepts and decides to attend. Sending in official score reports with the application is just a waste of money.
AP exams can be taken over and over again, but they are only offered once a year. So unless the student is in a more advanced class in the same subject (e.g. Spanish V), the amount of time and effort to prep for the exam a year later may not make sense.
If she knows the material, sure. If she’s starting from scratch on many of these subjects, probably not so much. There’s a time and cost factor involved; each of these exams is $90+ and it takes a lot of work to prepare for the exam. AP exams should not be construed as an arms race where the person with the most wins.
Now, back to listing some scores vs. all scores. As I said, yes, that it an option. However, if the class appears on the transcript as AP, I’d recommend reporting the score, particularly if it is a 3+. Withholding scores may cause the AO, especially at the uber-selective colleges, to assume that:
• Financial hardship prevented the student from taking the exam
• The student was not motivated enough to take the exam
• The student took the exam and performed poorly (1 or 2)
The first one will not affect the application; the last 2 may raise an eyebrow. AO’s can, and have, contacted GC’s to explain why there are no AP scores reported on the application.
"It's one day with no do-overs" - It is NOT possible to re-take the test. Right?
It is always important to take AP exam after AP class in HS. Absence of a self-reported AP exam score may be construed as a bad grade.
If is beneficial to take AP exams after self-study. If the grade is good (4 or 5) it may be reported. If the grade is bad (3 and below), the student may omit this grade from the final report.
WoW! So it means, that AP exams may be repeated? Thank you very much!!
For example, my D. is taking AP Chem this year. Next year she will take next level college class in Chem. I was wondering, whether she should take AP Chem exam this year or next. Next year she will know more. However, this year, she will be specially prepped for AP exam. Decisions, decision. Looks like, she can take AP Chem exam this year and (if she gets 4) try it again next year.
In this specific example, she should take the AP exam after taking the AP chem class, since, as you point out, the class is specifically aligned to the AP curriculum. Now, unless she is planning to be premed, or the college does not grant AP credit for chem, I’m not sure of the reasoning for taking college Chem I the following year.
Yes, that an example of when it *might * make sense to retake an AP exam if she didn’t like the score. Of course if that college level class would give her credit anyway, you’d just be wasting your money. I agree with skieurope though, that I’m not sure that there’s any point in taking Chem 1 while she’s in high school which ought to cover pretty much the same material. Logically she’d take a more advanced Chem course. As far as I know your high school should not have a problem with her retaking an AP exam if she wanted to, however make sure you know when you need to sign up for it, since it is done through the school.
Yeah, sometimes I wonder if people get that taking an AP exam to get a 4 or 5 is really to get college credit, and not to “get into college”. Many top colleges ignore AP test scores unless you are admitted.
Another possible scenario - AP Spanish. My D knows Spanish, but she is not taking any preparation for AP exam. I wonder, if she should simply try the exam. If the score is poor, she can retake this exam next year, after some preparation. Right?
Because I have no idea, what matters for admission and what doesn’t I think (IMHO, only) that 5 is better than 4. Especially, since it doesn’t take much effort.
Honestly, I am planning to sign her for college-credit Spanish as well. It would be relatively easy for her (Spanish is her first language), and give a college credit that (I was told) looks nice on the admission application.
Some colleges only give credit for 5’s, but by the time she is a senior she’ll know if those colleges are on the list. For many colleges a 3 is just dandy too.
Does your daughter want to do all of this testing? If anything, it would just help her bypass an entry level course. Self- studying v not self studying will not effect chances for admission as most colleges say that if you don’t take the AP class, you are NOT expected to take the course. Also, even though a 3 or 4 might not guarantee credit, they’re still excellent scores. There are many more important things than AP exam scores on an application. May I ask why she is taking AP chem and a college level chem? Wouldn’t time be better served taking a different science at the college level after AP chem? Most school administrators suggest a well rounded transcript.
None of the schools require you take AP exam, let alone improve the score a year later. The one reason you might want to improve the score is that you know the college you are attending will provide a college credit for a grade 4 or 5 vs a 3 (all three are considered a pass by collegeboard) and you want to get as many credits out of the way as possible. At least one parent recently mentioned retaking a subject their child was considered really good at for some reason ended up with a failing grade and did quite well this year in the same subject without any class work in it during the school year. They also found out how to cancel the old grade.
What grade is your daughter in? Keep in mind that if you are planning to make her re-take AP tests in her senior year, she will likely already have her acceptances in hand by the time the AP test rolls around (in May), so her tests in that year really will not matter at all for admissions.
It’s easy to say that it doesn’t take much effort to take (and re-take) all of these tests when you aren’t the one who’s doing it. It might be better for your daughter to put in her best effort the first time, and then move on with her life (perhaps, spending that time pursuing activities that likely WILL have an impact on her admissions or activities that she just enjoys), especially if your just trying to bump a 4 to a 5. It’s possible (or even likely, depending on her situation) that it will be even harder to take the AP exam again next year, then it was to take it this year. She will (presumably) have other AP exams to worry about, and it will have been a year since she prepped for the exam the first time. It may take more time to prep for the exam the second time than the first time (when she may have spent most of the year in her AP class preparing for the exam). This will be added on top of her other AP exams, other coursework, other extracurriculars, and perhaps other standardized testing (like SAT and ACT). I don’t know if it’s worth it in the end, but if your daughter (not you but your daughter) wants to try again, then it’s most likely allowed.
I’m not sure you’re thinking about this right. I’m assuming that your daughter is looking at selective schools since you’re focusing so much on AP exams.
It’s one thing if your daughter wants to take a college class that (say) focuses on the advanced study of classic works of Spanish literature, or if she’s a great speaker but has gaps in her grammar that she wants to fill in. If that’s the case, then taking a college Spanish class makes lots of sense. But if the goal is just to take easy language classes (for a native speaker) to pad the application, then I would discourage you.
In my opinion, nobody is very impressed by a native speaker getting a 5 on the AP exam or an A in a college language class. To me, it doesn’t show a love of learning or solid academic accomplishment … it’s more of a grade-grubbing mindset (no offense).
If she wants to take the AP exam then she should probably study a little bit to make sure she gets a 5 - anything less doesn’t look good for a native speaker (I know you can hide the score, but anything worth doing is worth doing well, and all that). It might be useful so she can get out of a college language requirement, but that’s about it. And I personally wouldn’t have her spend the time schlepping to a college Spanish class unless she’d really be learning something from it. I bet there are more useful ways for her to spend her time that would also look better on a college application.
I think (IMHO, only) that 5 is better than 4. Especially, since it doesn’t take much effort.