Can you please clarify? Is there a reason why your son can’t take AP Physics in his school? Because that is the obvious solution to your son’s “problem.”
Additional points: the classes are accredited and the grades become part of the permanent record for better or worse. UC accepted. All four AP Physics classes are included. Some schools will pay for the classes if they authorize it. But you don’t need your school’s permission if you take/pay on your own.
There are many valid points on this thread so consider them before you enroll and if this opportunity fits your needs.
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if this opportunity fits your your son’s needs.
Made what, imo, is a warranted correction.
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The school says they don’t have enough space to accommodate him.
Yes I just checked it out. It looks really good.
If I look at students in Asian and European countries, they start taking physics in middle school. The content of AP physics 1 is really just middle school physics in other countries. In American private schools they also take AP physics much earlier than public schools.
Not in my European country. At least not for the masses. Yes, they teach physics in MS, but it’s similar to “Physics First” that some US schools offer freshmen.
Not necessarily. For many, it’s the standard 11th grade course.
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Which is really just an excuse to get you off their back. They don’t want to order the exam, so they think it’s easier to just say they can’t accommodate. Regardless, their school, their rules.
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Again, is he unable to take the actual class AP Physics at school when he is in 11th grade? It’s hard to believe that as a 9th grader, he has already been told he cannot take the class in 11th grade.
Are you saying he is unable to take the AP physics class at school? I am not talking about taking the test. Why can’t he take the class? Does the school offer no AP Physics classes at all?
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Colleges are going to expect him to take a physics class. They won’t look at him taking an AP test as having done a class. Will your high school allow him into an upper level physics class based on taking an AP test? My guess is no. So that means in 11th grade ( or whenever they do it), your son is going to be taking AP Physics 1 in school anyway.
It’s great that’s he’s interested in this and wants to challenge himself but you seem to be attaching outcomes to taking the AP Physics 1 test that just aren’t there.
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@tangentspace will your son be able to take AP physics 1 as an 11th grader at his school? If so…please consider this as an option.
On this point I totally agree with you. It’s just an excuse, and everybody knows it, but it’s their rule, so we suffer.
He can take it at 11th grade. He’s not allowed to take it in 9th grade. Again, many students in his school take like 10 AP exams in 11th grade. I hope to spread things out a bit.
Again, many students in his school take like 10 AP exams in 11th grade. I hope to spread things out a bit.
Physics 1 is equivalent to the regular honors physics class in our HS.What science class is he taking now? Instead, most kids will take AP physics C in 11th or 12th grade. If he does this there is no reason to take physics 1, it adds nothing.
As has already been stated, it is 1000x better for him to get a high grade in a rigorous course such as AP physics than for him to self-study this test. It is 1000x better for him to get a grade from a teacher in a class. If he is as strong as you think he is, he might even get a great teacher recommendation out of it.
I will be blunt: you are prioritizing the wrong thing. There is no benefit to your son in NOT taking the AP physics class offered at his high school.
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So students take 10 AP classes junior year?
If he really wants to self study and get his 10 AP exams out of the way (which is not necessary, given that he can’t take an AP until 11th grade), then let him self study ones that are not available at his school.
For your perusal, here is the list of APs ranked by difficulty. Notice that physics is #1. All the more reason why he REALLY wants a grade in that class. There are people out there who think it’s easy to get a 5 in Human Geography, for example, but you can see that just over half of students who take it get a 3 or higher. What Are the Hardest AP Classes and Tests? | BestColleges
Whatever your thinking is on students self-studying exams, colleges don’t admit students based on AP exam scores. Not Harvard or anyone else. Best of luck to your son.
I agree. It sounds like you are expecting your son to apply to and be accepted to a top college…when the time comes. You need to understand…with very few exceptions…these schools are not just looking for academics academics academics. They are looking for other ways these students will contribute to the college community.
So…while you are pushing AP scores…I hope you also are pushing involvement in some ECs…the arts, sports, a job, community service, volunteer work. Things OTHER than academics.
The top colleges have plenty of top academic kids…way too many to accept. So…what else is your 9th grader doing?
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I was under the impression he had already studied the Physics 1 content which is why you are looking for somewhere to take the exam? So would be prepared for competitions?
At any rate, local middle schoolers have done well in National Science Bowl competitions before officially taking any AP courses or exams. That’s the kind of thing I was thinking of.
I am sorry but I have to disagree with your opinion.