AP Scholar and Expunged Scores Question

Test Preparation
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<p>The question: If a student takes a number of AP tests but has one score cancelled (expunged), does that exam figure into the calculation for AP scholar status? </p>

<p>IOW, if student takes five AP exams, gets 4 on 4 of them, but a 1 on one of them and has that 1 score expunged, is that exam included in figuring the average? (4 APs with scores of 4, 1 AP with no score, yields an average score of 3.2 [16/5], whereas if the exam with the expunged score is not included, the average score would be 4 [16/4].)</p>

<p>I'm hoping for an answer from someone with experience in having a score cancelled.</p>

<p>Yes, I've called the College Board; I got basically the same info as is on the web site. (AP:</a> Grade Reporting Services and AP:</a> Scholar Awards)</p>

<p>TIA!</p>

<p>~~~~~~~</p>

<p>The above is the question; my reason for asking is below, in case anyone's interested:</p>

<p>S is currently a freshman in high school, and is considering taking the AP Psych test this spring though he hasn't taken the course. He took Cognitive Psych last summer at CTY (nerd camp) and has read a standard intro to psych college textbook. Should he take the test, he'll probably read through some test prep materials, too. In general, he tests well and his writing is okay, but not at the level it is likely to be when he's a junior or senior.</p>

<p>My hope is that he'd do okay, of course, but if he bombs the exam, I'd hate to think he'd blown AP Scholars with Honors or some such if his score is cancelled.</p>

<p>Info on AP Scholars is here:
AP:</a> Scholar Awards</p>

<p>The wording that concerns me is "average grade of at least 3.25 [3.5, 4] on all AP Exams TAKEN..." (emphasis mine)</p>

<p>I don't want to encourage him to take this exam and then have it hurt him down the road. I'd like to encourage him to take it so he learns what AP exams are like, since he'll be taking two AP courses next year and will HAVE to take those AP exams. A better-than-okay grade on AP Psych is gravy.</p>

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<p>My son did a similar thing last year, though never had any classes. So if you get a prep book and some practice tests then he will be fine. My son ended up with a 5. Good Luck. I do believe Psych has a pretty generous curve as well.</p>

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<p>The wording seems clear enough to me. Anyone can retake any AP test. The AP scholar awards are given (at various levels) to students who maintained specified averages taking into account all tests those students have taken.</p>

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<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>tokenadult, thank you! Yeah, that’s kind of what I was thinking, too – all tests taken, so the expunged test would be included, even if it has no score. </p>

<p>2by2, thanks! I think my son is likely to do at least okay, not bomb it completely. We have the Princeton guide for this exam and I’ll suggest he look through it between now and May.</p>

<p>I’m coming around to the notion that I shouldn’t be worrying about this. He’ll do however well he does, and that’ll have to be okay!</p>

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<p>Owlice, I’ll check with my daughter -she did the AP Psych last year as an independent study and I think the Barron’s book was particularly helpful, covered a great deal of information that was on the test. She ended up with a “5” - a B in the course as her mentor noted she was capable of better work. You can bet when she got the 5 she asked him how much better he expected her to do!</p>

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<p>I don’t think the award of AP Scholar means anything at all. I think colleges will look at the scores he’s achieved on the various tests (which are self-reported on the application, by the way), and either be impressed or not. He can leave off any low scores if he so chooses. Whether he gains the “scholar” title is, IMO, irrelevant.</p>

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<p>Sabaray, </p>

<p>Congratulations to your daughter for her excellent score. Do you think she actually needed a mentor? It sounds like the mentor wasn’t completely clear regarding what the goals of an AP class are.</p>

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<p>She probably didn’t need a mentor at all- it was simply the school’s insistence that someone ensure that she completed the work “necessary to be successful on the exam.” </p>

<p>I don’t know that AP Scholar holds any weight at all in the admissions process- personally I feel it demonstrates interest and achievement in a variety of subjects, particularly as the student progresses to the w/honor, w/distinction - there are only so many AP science and math courses one can take. At some point you have to venture out of your natural comfort zone. I want my daughter to be a well rounded individual, accomplished in math, science, the humanities, literature, foreign language - challenging herself in a variety of areas. Is being an AP Scholar a goal to aspire to? Yes. Is it the end of the world if a poor test result means you’re not an AP Scholar? No. </p>

<p>I say have your son go for it. Let the chips fall where they may. I’m sure when he applies to college there will be a great deal more than AP scholar to put on his resume.</p>

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<p>Thanks, all! I’m downloading podcasts on Psych 1 from Berkeley now and have the Barrons prep book in my cart at Amazon. :-)</p>