AP Score freakout/need help

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi all,

I am a high school rising Junior recently taken the 2018 AP Human Geography exam (my first ever AP exam) in May 2018 (as a Sophmore). I just found out today I scored a 4 (Four) on it. I am quite sad about this, as I expected Human Geo to be one of the easier AP’s and I studied pretty hard on it. I am scheduled to take AP United States History, AP Statistics, AP Environmental Science, and AP English Language and Composition as a Junior. Scoring a 4 on presumably the easiest AP exam, my confidence is dropping for my upcoming Junior year classes. (especially APUSH, as I heard it is extremely rigorous and challenging.) I am afraid I will do very poorly on the APUSH Exam in 2019. Can anyone give me any insight/tips on what I should do? PS. Yes, I’ve bought Barron’s books for AP Stats, APUSH, AND AP English Lang. (Not APES, since I have heard people saying Barrons for APES is not the most useful.) Any insights/tips would be helpful.

2

4 APs would be too many - I’d advise you drop at stats or APES. If you do well in your 3 APs Junior year, add that one to your senior schedule as an elective.
That being said, a 4 is good. Scores of kids ended up with 2s.

3

I took 4 AP classes my junior year and I fared pretty well. (I had 6 scheduled at first, one wouldn’t fit in my schedule and the other had a buffoon for a teacher so I dropped it) I took AP Lit, AP Calc AB, APUSH, and AP Seminar.

Lit, in my opinion, is far more difficult that Lang. You will do fine in Lang as long as you understand what each type of essay is asking for, and if you’re not comfortable with multiple choice I would practice that (timing is very important, it flies by during the exam!!).

I would assume Stats is easier than Calc, I’m taking Stats this next year as a senior so I guess I’ll find out then.

I’ve heard that Environmental is a popular self study exam so you should be fine with the actual class.

And APUSH. It really comes down to whether or not you’re actually interested enough to learn the subject. My state, and I would assume others, requires a US history class to be taken, and my school requires it junior year. Tons of juniors sign up for the class thinking it will be easy, but it’s an AP class. I scored a 5 but I think I only did so because I love history. Just read what your teacher assigns, watch videos, and buy the crash course book for APUSH!!

You will do amazing with your classes if you make sure you have the time to study and focus on the classes. Your schedule doesn’t seem too difficult compared to students who take AP chem, physics, calcs. (Not saying your schedule is bad, everyone has different pathways. I personally have never taken an AP science class, and my hardest one has been AP Calc AB, which I got a 2 on lol. STEM is not for me.)

Sorry if this doesn’t make sense, I kind of typed everything altogether, but I wanted to help you because I was in your position last year.

4

I also agree with ^, jumping from taking 1 AP to taking 4 APs is a challenge. Also, keep in mind it is just one test, don’t give yourself too hard of a time. What is your reasoning behind choosing AP Environmental Science and AP Statistics? Is it relevant to a major you’re interested in or is it something you like? These questions will help you decide. Also if you could provide classes you’ve already taken I can help you with making the best choice.

5

My reasoning behind taking stats and APES is that those courses are some of the most helpful courses going into government and policy. My courses: (down below) *in 9th grade, we were required to take same courses for both semesters

9th Grade:

  1. PE
  2. Video Production
  3. Biology
  4. World History
  5. Algebra I
  6. English 1

10th grade: (Fall semester)

  1. English 2A honors
  2. Latin 1A
  3. Computer Programming
  4. Physics
  5. Geometry A
  6. PE 2A

10th grade: (Spring Semester):

  1. English 2B honors
  2. Latin 1B
  3. Health
  4. Physics
  5. PE 2B
  6. AP Human Geography (one-semester course)
  7. Geometry B

Projected 11th grade: (Fall semester)

  1. Latin 2A
  2. Algebra II
  3. AP United States History
  4. AP English Language and Comp.
  5. AP Statistics
  6. AP Environmental Science
  7. TA (teacher’s assistant)
6

Based on the schedule above, you can drop AP stats and still have all your core classes (English-patterned math, foreign language, science with social science).

The progression in rigor is extreme: you only had 4 academic classes freshman year; sophomore year, 5 academic classes including 1honors and 1 ap. Going to 6 academic classes including 4 APs is too big of a jump, odds are very high that you’d crash and burn.
Frankly I’d replace both AP stats (with something related to video production since you took level 1 freshman year?) and APES (save it for next year and take chemistry regular or honors).

7

I plan on going into government and policy as well, If I were you I would drop APES for something else unless you plan on going into Environmental Policy. Maybe find another class that would prepare you better. Does your school offer any type of research based class, or debate, etc?

8

No. here are links that may help you give me some tips on what other courses I could take.

English: https://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1300090434568

Math: https://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1275747746574

Science: https://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1376458949480/1239686294907/7944463569009208268.pdf?filename=Lowell_Course_Offerings_2018-19.pdf

History/social science (descriptions at the bottom of page): https://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/SocialStudies

World languages: http://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1239842288208/1239686294994/6360763352336663042.pdf

Visual/Performing arts: http://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1239842288208/1239686294994/529564363825730447.pdf

Thoughts? Thanks!

9

I saw your school offers AP Comparative which would be very beneficial with your career track. I’m self studying it as a senior, and as I’ve read into it it doesn’t seem to difficult. Taking AP Comp. Gvt would be much more beneficial than APES. And I also saw that you’re taking AP Stats concurrently with Algebra 2. It is recommended at my school to only take AP Stats after Alg 1, Alg 2, and Geometry. Are you able to handle the 2 math classes?

10

I used Barrons to study for APES and I found it helpful. I made a 5 and would definitely recommend it. It covered a lot of stuff that we didn’t go over in class, so depending on how in depth your class is, I would encourage you to get it.

11

Did you notice that my school only offers gov for seniors? I am a rising junior. Also, I’m taking a summer algebra 2 course that is not for credit but will cover most topics taught in the first semester of algebra 2. I think that might be beneficial. The only topic from algebra 2 that is in Stats that we will not cover in the summer class is probability, from which i will probably have to self study.

12

You dont need to know probability to take stats as the course I’ll cover everything.
I’ll check your school’s catalog to see what would work best.
What universities are you aiming for?
Is dual enrollment at a local CC possible?

13

Your school’s course catalog says that 11th-12th grade can take AP Comparative gvt. I guess it might just be a typo, or an older version of the catalog. If you can’t change the APES to to AP Comp. gvt, then I would personally take chemistry, either standard or honors. I highly advise against jumping into AP or organic without a previous chem class.

14

Sorry about the link: this current link will be for the most current school year, ad probably for many years down the road: http://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1239842288208/1239686294994/1084819298739225052.pdf

It includes math and science, so make what you wish out of it. My junior year is set, so I won’t be able to change anything. Senior year I will probably take regular chemistry, as honors goes a lot faster and goes more in depth, causing it to much more rigorous. Check out the new link I posted above, and I think you might be able to give more advice. Thanks!

15

Did you check my school’s catalog? As for dual enrollment at a local cc, it would NOT offer me any credit at my school. I asked the department head, and he didn’t seem to like the prospect of taking classes for credit outside of school…I am aiming for Georgetown. Thoughts?

Ps. This link will tell about course PRE-requesites: http://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/file/1239842288208/1239686294994/1084819298739225052.pdf

While this link is for course DEScriptions: https://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1275747746574

16

Here is my school’s typical mathematics PROGRESSION options : https://lhs-sfusd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1450003487033

17

I think you’ll be fine. I’m going to from 1 honors class to 4 AP’s junior year. I’ve decided I’ll do what it takes to do well and so I will. Just be persistent and you will do well. No slacking