<p>Many schools cannot afford to offer both honors classes and AP classes. Our hs does not have honors bio, chem, physics or ES, only regular and AP. So if a student wants to take an AP class for both the benefit of a weighted grade and more knowledge and not take the AP test, why should that be a problem? How is that “gaming” the system?</p>
<p>Our school does not pay for the exams, we have to. And while all the classes have the same requirements, it is obvious from reading the forums that some teachers are more proactive in helping get students ready for the tests than others.</p>
<p>I found this comment […sleeping through exams…] funny. For Comp Sci A, I probably spent more time asleep during the FRQ section than actually working on the questions. And I got a 5. I wrote a page long story on Calc BC; got a 5. US History had a 30 minute look out the window at the road–5. My total studying was going to my friends house and talking about how much these tests are going to suck while playing Wii.</p>
<p>My school just offers the classes, but does nothing to moderate who is teaching them. I have an Art 1 teacher for AP art History, and all she does is download slideshows from the teacher guide website and collect homework. Students who get good grades in unpopular AP classes really deserve them because they have to learn everything on their own.</p>
<p>I took the AP European History sophomore year and got a 5 with maybe one hour of studying, not even an exaggeration. That’s one of the easiest tests though. I’ve dedicated the past couple weeks of my life to studying for AP Chemistry because I want to go into science and math and want to prove to myself that I can do it. A lot of people say it’s easy, but I guess I’m not that kind of super genius. Sure the curves are generous, but I want to make sure I get a 5. As for AP Language, I’ve had the worst teacher ever this year and haven’t studied anything. I hope I can get a 5, but it really doesn’t matter to me. English, in my opinion, is pointless (sorry if I offended anyone). I should have taken more AP classes but I felt really bad about the AP Euro exam and I’ve always been horrible at history, so I didn’t bother with US. The UC system also requires art so I had to take the time out of my day to, yet again, invest in something completely pointless. I could have filled it in with an AP class. Oh well, I still think my schedule is fairly rigorous, but I got into COSMOS so I should be set for the UC system (or so I’ve heard).</p>
<p>ANYWAY, you guys make a good point. The people that come on here have to be a fairly high percentage in the country. That kind of makes me feel better about myself lol.</p>
<p>Last year, my high school along with the one in South Hadley got a 4-year grant that covers half the cost of A.P. Exams in Math, English, and Science subjects and offer award incentives for passing grades. The only conditions are that we have to attend a few Saturday classes and to take the AP Exam in May. Anyway, I’ve decided to self-study for a few more exams so that I can try to become a National AP Scholar…wait, this doesn’t have anything to do with the tread.</p>
<p>my US teacher grades AP tests, and he said it was very common for some kids to just leave the DBQ/FR blank. They’d write notes like “I’m so bored, why am i even here” or just doodle on the lines. Apparently, taking the AP test is mandatory in some school districts, so kids are completely unmotivated.</p>
<p>Did anyone notice Mr. Packer when he spoke of the increase in the PERCENTAGE of lower scores (1,2), but the even greater increase of higher scores (3,4,5)? Scores are now up to 110%, gentlemen.</p>
<p>^And yet, for AP Calculus AB, in the last 10 years the percent of 5’s has risen from about 18% to about 22% while the percent of 1’s has doubled from about 17% to about 33%.</p>
<p>Since the number of people taking the test has doubled in the last 10 years, the number of people getting 1’s has quadrupled.</p>
<p>The percent getting 3’s or higher has gone from 65% to about 55% in the same time frame.</p>
<p>So, i suppose it depends on what AP course you are talking about.</p>