My kid took the following sequence: honors Bio, honors Chem, AP Physics, AP Chem but she could also switch the AP chem to AP Physics sequence and it would have been ok too. I don’t think it’s weird, I think she might have done better in Chemistry subject test. I think the subject test is more important than the AP test.
Generally, they are not. AP scores are mainly used for credit and/or placement. Many HS’s do not off AP exams because they do not have the resources, they do not want to teach to the College Board syllabus, or for a number of other reasons. These schools run the gamut from elite prep schools to low SES schools. Somehow, these kids find their way into colleges. 
Again, the scores play little to no role in admissions. Anyone can say they had 1000 hours of volunteer work or were captain of the soccer team too. It’s when they get caught that the fun begins.
If she’s not interested in science anyhow I would recommend AP bio over AP chem. I think the material she would learn is more likely to be helpful or relevant to her later in life.
Our high school reports AP scores on the high school transcript, so we have no choice in reporting it.
How does one “pass” an SAT subject test?
Of course adcoms at competitive colleges can and will look at AP scores. The caveat is that they may (or may not) view them differently depending on the possible major and/or the various strengths in the transcript. Depending on the hs and its requirements, the English major who takes AP chem (and other higher level math-sci) can look motivated to challenge herself and to learn. But there can still be an expectation she would have focused the right attentions, breadth and depth, academic and outside class, on her truer interests. Just taking “the most rigorous course in her HS” isn’t what it takes.
Some logic is missing here, loading up a non-stem kid with stem classes and thinking self study is as good as a semester or two in a class setting, managed by an educator, with class interactions. And self study, pushing for a 5 on the test only, the way so many CC kids do it, isn’t going to carry so much weight. (There’ a difference, eg, when it’s a home schooled student who has created his/her own learning path.)
It’s not some “list” of rigor alone that brings admission. This formulaic thinking can backfire.
Better to let this kid get an idea of her academic interests and round out her experiences in those areas, drive to perform best in those and gain some related outside experiences. Holistic.
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She took the SAT subject test in chemistry and got a very high number. Done. Completed.
There is no “pass/fail” for the SAT IIs.
And that doesn’t seem possible. SATIIs are offered on Saturdays, not in a class. So if the student “took it in Chemistry” (meaning during classtime) it doesn’t count.
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D’s interests are in shopping and gossiping. She does understand that she needs money for shopping. She does understand that some colleges pipeline you into higher paying jobs. My sister-in-law is the day care teacher. Very bright, very intelligent, great teacher. Do you know her salary? She especially brought her latest paystub, showed it to all children, and told them to be serious about the jobs that they are choosing.
Took it in chemistry obviously means that the kid took the chemistry SAT subject test. Day care doesn’t pay well, but I have a client who runs a couple of daycares, who seems to be doing quite well.
Colleges don’t pipeline you into higher paying jobs. Students “pipeline” themselves - some careers pay more than others- big news flash. Someone whose primary interests are shopping and gossiping is unlikely to be on the DE Shaw/Bridgewater analytics trajectory, regardless of which college she attends.
You might take the energy you expend worrying about AP’s and which course to take and use it to take your D to a museum or a poetry reading or to attend a lecture at your local library or to help run a voter registration drive in your county. She’d have less time for shopping if she got excited about something else.
The OP said the kid “took it in Chemistry” and passed. Taken at its word, that’s not possible. If she means she took it in the subject chemistry, not meaning in/during the chemistry class, that’s doable (during a properly administered testing). But there is no “pass/fail”. DS#1 took SAT II Chem after honors chem in 9th grade. He did fine (740) but it was his lowest SAT II score, by a lot, and he was not happy to have to submit it.
@jym626 I think you’re digging too much into that one statement (which by the way, I can’t even find in this thread…oh well). The OP already addressed what she means in #66.
Was just attempting to clarify what is still not clear. But no matter. She “passed!”
BTW, you are quoting the exact statement that had the double meaning that was unclear.
Sorry, I guess I’m just lost…It was my intention to clarify but I guess I just muddied the waters…
In #64 you quoted the OP (I assume) as saying “She passed already the SAT Chemistry subject test.”
You seemed to have a problem with the word “passed” and somewhere the mention of “in Chemistry”. (again I lost patience looking for the original quote about “passing” so I don’t know where the “in chemistry” part is either, but you referenced and questioned that in #68 )
I understood her to have clarified that her D took the Chemistry subject test (not literally sitting “in chemistry class” but as all people do on a Saturday at a testing center) and did well or in her words “got a very high number” (i.e. in her mind she “passed”). (her post #66)
Now who is digging too much into it?? ;
This has nothing to do with the “AP cherry picking” and is veering way off topic.
“D’s interests are in shopping and gossiping. She does understand that she needs money for shopping. She does understand that some colleges pipeline you into higher paying jobs.”
I don’t think you understand the US very well. If she’s not serious and dedicated, she won’t land one of those jobs.
You seem more concerned with your daughter’s number scores than her actually learning. Why make her take three years of chemistry when she doesn’t like it? Yeah, I know you said it’s easy for her but colleges want to see students actually learning different material instead of just trying to get easy As. I’m sure she would like to explore different science courses as well. Also, AP scores do not count in college admissions at all. Finally, what is this about AP exams not taking much effort? if your daughter wants to score well, she will have to study a lot, and retaking all the APs that she doesn’t get 5s on will likely cause a lot of stress. It is very rare to get 5s on every single one of your AP exams.
I suggest that you let your daughter do what she wants. yes, it may hurt your pride if she gets a B or a 4, but in the long run you will be acting in your daughter’s best interest.
Re: Spanish
Some high schools and colleges offer Spanish for heritage speakers courses, so such a course may be appropriate for her.
Otherwise, if she is between the AP 4 and 5 level, she may be appropriately placed into a relatively advanced Spanish course in high school or college.
AP 3 or higher will fulfill the checkbox for language other than English for UC and CSU.