AP Exams

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

So I am a sophomore in high school. I get mostly As. I had a 3.8 GPA before my AP class, which I got a B in.

I was disappointed in myself but after talking to the principle, he said the circumstances set us up to fail. No one got an A, but the point is about the Exam itself. Because we weren’t taught right, I’m worried that I am not going to do well on the exam.

I’d be okay not getting the credit for the class, but I don’t want it to affect my chances of going to College if I don’t pass. I want to go to a private university and eventually enter into the medical field.

So, if I “fail” my AP exam, how much will that hinder my chances of getting into a good college?

2

Colleges don’t ask for AP exam results until after they make admission decisions, so it shouldn’t hurt you. However, some students do share great scores as part of their application. Do the best you can, and take advantage of additional resources if necessary - this year there are many additional tutorials that could help bridge the gap for those with not great teachers. Kahn Academy is also helpful for many. Good luck!

3

Thank you so much for the advice/feedback?

4

Can you explain what you mean when you say the class wasn’t “taught right”?

Are you aware the AP exams are being changed in format and content, to align with instruction which was taught before the nationwide school closures due to Covid-19?

If your instructors were able to deliver instruction to every student in the class in accordance with the schedule of the instructional rubric from which they work (given to them by the College Board), the exam should be one for which you and your classmates are considered prepared.

5

Also - be sure to do the demo provided by College Board and read up on the difficulties some kids are having submitting their answers. Make sure your browser is updated, make sure you understand how to convert what is on your phone into a PDF, etc…

6

Has there been more discussion of the submission issues on CC?

7

Yes @sunnyschool. This is a hot topic on several threads, including this one: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/sat-act-tests-test-preparation/2186662-ap-trevor-tweet-about-cancelling-ap-tests-for-a-ring-of-cheaters-p1.html

8

Thanks, any others?

9

If you do not pass the college board exam you are not required to send the scores to a college. Some colleges may ask for your test scores regardless because they can see if you have taken the exam. Your score won’t hurt your chances of getting into college. If you do well it will help you but doing bad won’t affect your chances of going to a private college. Colleges are also looking for the fact that you took the opportunity of taking an AP class. It is great to do well on the exam but if you don’t they will still notice that you took a college-level class as a sophomore.

10

@elmer6825 College Confidential wrote this article to cover the topic in depth. This topic may not be quite related to your case but just wanted to share to give you a general idea. You can read more at this link: https://insights.collegeconfidential.com/how-to-prepare-for-ap-exams