<p>Hi everyone!
I'm a junior this year, and I cannot decide if I should retake the AP French test. I took the test as a sophomore because I was only taking one other test last year, and I went through a French Immersion elementary school, so even with no preparation I expected to do moderately well on the test. I received a 4, which is great. This year, however, I am actually taking AP french and have gone through a lot of preparation. My teacher told me I have a good chance of moving up to a 5, but of course she can't be sure. I would love to improve my score, but I am already taking three other AP tests, and although there is no studying involved for the French test it is still very stressful to take. Is it a good idea to spend the time retaking the test for a chance of a better score? Do 5s look noticeably better to colleges, even if they accept 4s for credit (or no AP credits at all)?
Thanks!
Note: language is a specialty of mine (taking Spanish 3- only my second year ever, and Chinese 1 right now) so it should be a high point of my application. Looking at colleges such as Georgetown, Tufts, Claremont Mckenna, William and Mary, American, George Washington, etc (looking to major in IR)</p>
<p>Unless it matters for language placement at any college you may attend (and they usually have their own placement tests if you come in without AP credit anyway), retaking a 4 to get a 5 may not be of much value. On the other hand, it should be low cost, as it is just one test that you do not need additional preparation for (since you are in the class). However, the cost may be higher if you tend to get overstressed by tests.</p>
<p>Since it’s no extra preparation and could save you one semester in college, plus it’s a specialty for you, it’d be worth it in my opinion.</p>
<p>a 4 is JUST FINE.
Concentrate on getting equally good or better scores on the other 3 AP’s this year. </p>
<p>I have mixed feelings - I don’t think that getting a 5 on the French test instead of the 4 is going to make any difference in whether or not a college accepts you, honestly. But it could be the difference in getting course credit at some of your prospective colleges (meaning a 5 could give you a semester’s credit whereas a 4 only lets you skip a lower-level Spanish class). For that reason only, and the fact that you probably would not need to study much for it, if and only if the 5 could get you course credit whereas a 4 wouldn’t, then I would retake it.</p>
<p>This is from Claremont Mckennas website:</p>
<p>"Students who earn a score of 4 or 5 on an appropriate Advanced Placement examination receive elective credit toward graduation and a waiver of the general education requirement in foreign language.</p>
<p>And I checked the websites of a few other colleges as well. U of Chicago gives Language credit for an AP Score of 3,4,or 5. </p>