AP Scores

Test Preparation AP Sciences
1

Hi everyone.

I have been a straight A student for my entire life and have never received anything lower. I am the top in my class and have always been looked highly upon my my teachers and my classmates. I’ve always had a 4.0 (unweighted) GPA and a 4.8 or higher weighted GPA. I’m also well-rounded and have positions in extracurriculars. I’ve worked incredibly hard to achieve these grades and I am proud of what I have accomplished.

Yet, I received one of the biggest blows to my self esteem this year.

AP PHYSICS

I’ve got to say, this course was one of the toughest classes I have ever taken. The teacher could barely teach, but I managed to earn all A’s the entire year. I was considered as one of the best students in the class, even though I completely dreaded the course. However, when AP testing came near, I was extremely nervous. I expected at least a 4, given my past accomplishments. Unfortunately, I freaked and realized that I completely bombed the free-response portion of the exam and received a score of 2.

Yes, a 2. Typically, what you would receive in the class, would correlate with your final AP score. So basically, I couldn’t understand what had happened. This was the biggest blow I’ve ever received. I felt like a failure. It damaged my self-esteem, my self-perception, and my reputation. I dreaded that class so much, yet I took it.

I know some may say it’s not that big of a deal, that the test itself has a very low passing rate, or that I still have my chances, but I’m not so confident anymore to be honest. I guess this is a time i need to self reflect.

But anyway, I do have some other concerns. Should I retake the exam? I will be taking 5 AP exams next year, so I’m not sure if I’ll be able to fit it in. It’s also $90+ for an exam. However, if I end up not retaking it, should I send in my score? It’s definitely NOT a good score, but some say colleges still want you to send it in. And of course, I’m definitely not planning on majoring in anything physics-related by the way.I want to apply to the top 15 schools in the U.S and I don’t know how much or if any, will my AP exams really affect my acceptance. Well, I did get an A in the class the entire year, and the AP exam is only a 3 hour test on certain topics covered that year. Anyway, if you got this far, thanks for reading this. I’m really depressed right now and I am beating myself up emotionally, but at the end of the day, it already happened and it’s only one score. But please, if you have suggestions, please please let me know! Thanks again.

2

I wouldn’t retake the exam. The likelihood of your score increasing a whole year after taking the class is very slim and you’re much better off focusing on studying for your other APs.

Please don’t beat yourself up over this, you’re clearly very intelligent and have fantastic grades. Read through the admissions and high school life forums and see that there’s several other students who are devastated about poor AP scores and read all of the comments telling them that AP scores don’t have much of an impact on college admissions and you don’t even have to report that score. It’s really up to you- I don’t think an admissions officer would turn you down for having one bad score among other great ones.

Try to move past this and enjoy your summer :slight_smile:

3

Thank you for such an encouraging message. I really do appreciate it. :slight_smile:

4

Many AP courses do not cover all the material on the AP test. AP scores reflect the amount of material taught and the quality of teaching. Unless you are familiar with all the material on the test ( either by classroom instruction or self-teaching) it more difficult to get a really high score. I would not retake, focus more on ACT or SAT’s. Hang in there!

5

Also, you can fill out a form from the AP testing website to not send that result to schools when the time comes! One of my kids did that for a low score.

6

You don’t have to send any score till enrollment. So, don’t.
Do NOT retake. Colleges are more interested in your grade in the class anyway.
Is that the only AP you took this year? (There’s a trend of kids taking 4or 5 AP exams and being surprised ty didn’t score well on most of them…)
Do NOT take 5 APs next year. It’ll make doing well on each extremely difficult. Focus on APs that you find either very interesting or necessary for your future major.

7

@schoolsdifficult - R-E-L-A-X! You scored a 2 - so don’t send the score - because you won’t get college credit for it.

My son also received zero college credit for AP Physics junior year - even though he scored a 5 - because as an engineering student, his college only gave credit for AP Physics C. So he took AP Physics C senior year, along with AP Chem and 4 other AP tests and scored 5’s on all of them. So it can be done! :slight_smile:

Good luck, and stay positive and focused!

8

Don’t beat yourself up. There’s another thread about this exact topic going right now (maybe your mom?? LOL). Find that thread; someone posted the results from this year’s Physics I AP exam and I believe 20something% got a 2. Move on!

9

Not to sound cold-hearted here, but get used to some imperfections in life is not a bad thing, your self-esteem should not be dependent on your grades/test results. Go out for a run, jump into the pool, cook a meal for your family… you are still a good student, relax, and move on.

10

Let it go. It is one test, on one day, it is not reflective of your ability as a whole. No one has to see the score, you don’t have to submit it. That said…if you are applying to the top 15 schools in the US, I am not going to tell you that it is not going to be noticed at some of the schools, but I honestly don’t think it is going to tank your application. If you are planning a STEM major the 2 is going to hurt a tiny bit more.

Some perspective neither of my kids applied to elite/top schools; most were ranked #50-#100. My eldest (2016) did not submit nor self report a single one of her 12 AP scores. She was accepted at every one of the schools she applied too (12 in total) for direct entry DPT/Biomedical Science, here are the ones I recall: Pitt, Purdue, Marquette, Drexel, College of Wooster, Ohio University, Quinnipiac, Duquesne, Baldwin Wallace, Seton Hall.

My youngest (2018) submitted/reported her 9 AP scores; all that she had at the time, including a 1 (yes a 1) on her Physics I AP. She was accepted to all but one of the schools she applied too for Psychology (16 total): University of Florida, Florida State, Texas A&M, Loyola Chicago, Trinity University, U of South Carolina, Auburn, College of Charleston, Fordham, LSU, Ole Miss, Clemson (waitlisted, ultimately accepted), UT (capped) U of Washington (denied), High Point, SFA.

I have just listed 27 great school that were happy to accept a student without knowing their AP scores and/or didn’t seem to be bothered by seeing a 1. A low AP score is not the end of the world. I am sorry you didn’t receive a score that you hoped for, but it will be OK. Move on. Schools will be more impressed by your resilience.

11

You never have to submit a score. It’s the class and grade that matter. The test is for credit purposes or if you got a five and you think it helps at the margins.

Michael Jordan got cut as a sophomore in high school. He used it to fuel his greatness. And your high school academic rep among friends is an illusion. More important that your kind and nice to your friends and others.

It’s a big world with talented leaders like you in each and every of the 37000 high schools in America. And the rest of the world it’s in the millions. You’ll be fine. Check you ego at the door and keep on truckin. You’re doing great.

12

First off, take a deep breath. You are really, really smart (I would kill to have that GPA). One test doesn’t define you! You don’t even have to send it into colleges, so I wouldn’t retake it.
What matters is that you did well in the class, and that’s what people are going to look back on. You don’t even have to tell your classmates, or anyone, about your grade unless you want to!
But, if you are still down on yourself about this, don’t think too much of it. If you need some things to do to distract yourself, here are some suggestions that always help me: binge Netflix, go for a run, play with your pet (if you have one), read a book.
Just know that you are doing amazing so far and are going to continue to do amazing, just keep working at it and don’t let one exam drag you down!