<p>I'm taking AP Physics C this year and this only my teacher's second year teaching and first time teaching this class. This year is the first year this class has been offered at my school and my teacher does not really know what he is doing in regard to teaching an AP class and the AP curriculum. Almost everyone in my class took physics B last year, so nearly all of what he actually teaches is review. We are then left alone to figure out the more complex physics C problems. Actually, the problems we are given are significantly more challenging than actual AP questions. I know this because I study from two AP review books for our tests, and the questions in both books are much easier than our test questions. I have heard him, on many occasions, talking to other physics teachers, saying he doesn't know what to do with our class, and the other teachers responding "give them the hardest problems you can". This is probably the most unnecessarily difficult and worst taught class I have ever taken, and seeing as I am applying as a physics major, this class may have serious weight on my admissions decision. I had consistent high 90s in physics last year, and this year I got a 90 first quarter, 85 second quarter, and 74 on the mid-term (I'm really worried about this one. We were given much less time than an actual AP exam and he took my scantron away before I could finish filling it out. It was curved about 10 points.). What would be a good way to explain my experience with this class without sounding like I am trying to make excuses for a bad grade? I sincerely feel that this is not my fault, as I have done everything I can to try and do better in this class. I have As in all of my other classes, so this will be the only obvious issue. And I understand this is only one grade out of many, but I can't just sit by and make it seem like I was not trying. If it means anything to anyone, I was deferred EA. Again, I am really not trying to make excuses and I apologize if it seems that way. Thanks.</p>
<p>I don’t think there’s any reason to try to make excuses for a B.</p>
<p>I agree that you don’t need to explain a B. The explanation you’ve posted here puts the blame for your performance entirely on the teacher. Don’t do this (even if it’s true). However, if you really do have a new teacher who has made the class so difficult that everyone is struggling, then I assume no one in the class received an A, or perhaps only one or two students received an A. If this is the case, perhaps you could ask your school counselor to make a note of this in the school’s mid-year report; otherwise, drop it.</p>