<p>How big a deal are Ap test for admission? It seems like all the admits have 5's on most of them. I know a few 4's won't hurt, but how do colleges look at you if you mostly had 4's? What if you even had some 3's? I mean Ap tests are optional, so do elite colleges mark you down for not getting a 5? Is it better to not take the test at all then get a 3? I know it's not really about the number you take (like if you only took 3) but will taking more then anyone help you? </p>
<p>I'm gonna have 10 ap tests under my belt by the end of junior year. That is more then anyone in my class. I'm wondering, how much will this help me? also I dont think i can get straight 5's. Im betting i can get mostly 4's, some 5's and a few 3's. Ive noticed that most people getting in have almost all 5's. Is it better to not report the test then report the 3? I should mention (to you) that my record last year was 4,4,3. Also, considering that the ap test is totally optional, will it be a boost to get a 3 versus someone who did not even take the test? I do know that colleges look down on you if you dont take the test at the end of the year so im planning to take all the tests that im taking classes for. Thanks!!!!</p>
<p>i think someone not taking the test might be looked on more favorably than getting a 3 (just because its hard to assume what they would have gotten). that said, taking ap tests, even without straight 5's, shows initiative and commitment so id say go for it. i had 8 aps by the end of junior year, and i know how stressful it can be... so good luck!</p>
<p>I would definitely report everything, if you're going to at all. (all or nothing). but then, all is better; not reporting will make it seem like you're hiding something. Just be honest.
I took 8 my junior year, and got all 5s. very easy to prepare, and it's...really not that hard; so don't worry, study well, and get that 5's so you don't need to worry about not reporting any or feeling embarrased about a score when u do.</p>
<p>yeah i suppose it would be better to just try to do well instead of assuming im gonna fail. kinda sucks though in bio i thought i was set with a 5, but i got a 4. dang. oh well. and i know i dont know any physics at all. my teach doesnt do jack. sad cause im doing a physics sat2 and ap. to bad i stink at physcis.</p>
<p>yeah if you get a B, but also get a 5, it evens out, but what if you get an A, but a 4? im good in class, but during tests i panic and majorly suck! does that just mean grade inflation? i mean, i got a A- in my english class, and i thought i knew the info, but i just paniked on the test and got a 3. i took the act and even though i had a perfect answer for the essay, i still blew it. i suck at writing and standardized tests in general. so how does a A in class but a 3 on the test look? i mean it cant be good. that is the situation im in. I guess it just means grade inflation and that im not good enough for mit. oh well, im depressed.</p>
<p>If you get as A in a AP course but a 3 in the exam, colleges will think your class is a joke. AP exams are more standardized and thus more significant.</p>
<p>4's and 5's are fine. 1's and 2's are not so fine. 3's aren't great, but they're also not going to be a huge negative.</p>
<p>"If you get as A in a AP course but a 3 in the exam, colleges will think your class is a joke."</p>
<p>Not necessarily. Some people just don't test well in that context, for whatever reason. I've seen folks with A's at very difficult high schools who get 3's on AP's.</p>
<p>well... the "BC calc" for my high school yielded many A+'s who eventually went on to get 1's on the exam... by that token, MIT shouldn't have taken anyone from my high school, no? my school was a bit of a joke.</p>
<p>In my Physics B class everyone with an A got a 1 or 2. No one got a 3 or a 4 in US History either ... so, yeah, albeit an anecdote, scores v. gpa does tell you something.</p>
<p>no... no it doesn't... i got a b in my physics class, maybe b- and i got a 5... where as i got an a+ in bio, but got a 4... neither are horrible grades/scores, but grade certainly doesn't directly correlate with score</p>
<p>Ben Jones, you are the best person ever. I totally stink at standardized exams. I just took the Act, and on the essay, it only took me a minute to think of this multi dimensional, complex, excellent answer. Then when i started to write it-i had the luxury of 29 minutes of easy writing to get a 6. and something happened. i totally blew it. i knew i was writing a 3 as i wrote it. it went terrible! It was so embarassing-no one else knew about it, but i just knew i just blew the best opportunity to excel i had ever gotten on a standardized test. I have a few times to take the act again and im confident that one of those times, im gonna rock it, but until then i have to live with the shame knowing I blew it.</p>
<p>Basically in class im great, but when it comes to standardized tests, i blow them. i had an A in bio all year and i got a 4. i had an A in apush all year and i got a 4. I had a B+/A- all year in English and i got a 3. I think my abysmal handwriting might have something to do with it but oh well.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me know that bad ap tests arent the end of the world. i know that buisness freak is right, but still its nice knowing i still have a shot even though my exams go terrible.</p>