Computer science self-study student told lab necessary to sit for test

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

My son is self-studying for the computer science AP.

His school a test center but doesn’t offer computer science.

The AP coordinator informed him that the lab for the course needs to be done for him to be permitted to sit for the test.

My son is doing a lab on his own, but is it necessary to be permitted to take the test?

I read what I could at College Board, and my impression is that the lab is a requirement for teaxhing the course, but I found nothing about it being a requirement for a test taker. In fact, they say, “The 2015 AP Computer Science A Exam will not have specific questions that focus on the new AP Computer Science A labs and will continue to assess the concepts and skills outlined in the Course Description.”

So is this requirememt something the coordinator just made up?

2

I don’t believe that’s true. Many students at my high school took the AP exam without taking the class. It may be a school specific rule or perhaps the AP coordinator doesn’t understand the test.