Finding a School That Will Let Me Take the AP Music Theory Exam There

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I am a twelfth grader who is self-studying AP Music Theory. This is my first and last time self-studying AP material, so I’ve run into some issues regarding taking the exam at another high school. I have heard of this course being offered at nearby schools, but regretfully, the research that I conducted a few months ago was not enough to alert me to the fact that the one school that usually offers it just happened to not offer it this school year. I have already spent hours trying to find a school that I can test at, but for each school that I looked up, one of the following situations would occur: 1) AP Music Theory (or APs in general) are not offered, 2) the course is offered but outside students cannot test there, or 3) I have to email (not knowing when I’ll get a response) or call them (which might not work either, but I’ll try tomorrow).

I have already contacted College Board to ask for a list of AP Coordinators in my area, but I can’t trust that I’ll receive an answer in time. I also emailed the person at my school who takes care of AP exam registrations, but I was told that the exam couldn’t be administered at my school and that I would have to ask other schools myself. I resorted to Google and this website’s forum, trying to find answers that were still relevant (I keep finding discussions from like 2012), until I thought that I might get an answer faster (if at all) if I made an account and created a post myself.

I’m getting different deadlines for when the Last Day to register for AP exams is (for reference, my school won’t order any more exams after the 26th of this month, but I’m not taking this exam there anyway, and other schools have other deadlines; plus, AP Coordinators must be contacted by March 15th, according to the AP bulletin), so I’d like to get it done as soon as possible.

I’m also doubting if taking the exam is worth driving an hour or more to the place. I’m planning on studying both linguistics and music (the composition/theory aspect) in university; this might be unrealistic, but I honestly can’t imagine foregoing either subject since the two make up basically my whole identity (although I am fine with music being my minor) are what I am passionate about. One of the universities I applied to responded today with a conditional offer: I must pass two AP exams, one with at least a 4 and the other with a 5; otherwise, I had received my other offers with the condition that I get at least a 4 on one exam. I am only taking a total of 2 AP exams this May. I haven’t decided which school to go to since I haven’t heard back from all of the seventeen schools I applied to (probably excessive, but my mother let me get away with it since I’m the first child and all), so I’m not technically obligated to strive to fulfill the more ambitious condition, but I want to keep my options open. Plus, I have other reasons for taking the AP Music Theory exam. I would list them, but this post is long as it is.

Any advice and/or help (such as how I can research possible testing locations more efficiently) would be appreciated :smiley:

2

There is no more efficient way. You just have to do the legwork. As you said, the CB can help narrow it down by giving you the names of the AP coordinators, but there is no guarantee that a particular school will order a test for you; they are not obligated to. Compounded with that is that relatively few schools offer AP Music Theory and the exam requires a bit more work on the school’s part since it is not simply an “Open your book and begin” exam; it requires that the school have a language lab/ computer lab to run part of the exam and a proctor that can troubleshoot computer issues and process the digital recordings for submission. So the reality is that the closest place that will accommodate you may be an hour or more away. It’s up to you if you want to go through the hassle.

3

Also think that an hour drive is really not that much price to pay for all the studying you have done and possibly getting college credit for a course.

Call the office at large schools in your area and ask.

4

I would find all the large high schools within reasonable driving distance. Then call College Board asking for the coordinator name for each of the schools. Or you could probably call each school yourself and ask for the AP coordinator. Hopefully you live in an urban area with a few schools to choose from.

You might start with the school(s) where you took your SAT tests (hopefully it’s a HS) - I’ll be willing to bet that that school would offer AP MT.

5

If you were homeschooled, you would have a similar issue.

College board says:

Prepare a list of the exams they plan to take.
No later than March 1: Contact AP Services for Students to get the names and telephone numbers of local AP coordinators:
888-225-5427 (toll free in the United States and Canada)
212-632-1780
apstudents@info.collegeboard.org
No later than March 15: Contact the coordinators identified by AP Services for Students.
Inform the coordinator they are trying to locate a school willing to administer AP Exams to outside students.
Notify the school of any accommodations they may need.

https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/ap-coordinators/exam-ordering-fees/ordering-materials/home-schooled-students