How bad does failing an AP Exam?

Im in AP Physics 1. I don’t have the exact stats, but to begin with, approx. 60% of test takers fail the AP exam.

Im in the first class of students taking AP Physics 1 at my school, and the school assigned the class to an honestly horrible teacher, who expects students to self teach the material, as well as that he has regular outbursts which make class stressful for me.

Finally, Im more humanities oriented, and find difficulties in math and science.

I know I should try to be optimistic, but at this point, I’m quite certain I will fail the exam (along with most of my classmates who share this belief).

Will colleges look past failing an AP exam, especially considering its AP Physics? Please share your advice/experience. Thanks

Lucky for you most colleges do not consider the AP score on the exam only the grade you got in the class which will be on your transcript and calculated into your GPA. So as long as you did ok in the class (report card grades) al year long you are good to go.

You started with a host of reasons for not taking the class in the first place:

  • a 60% failure rate.( If you don’t have the “exact stats” then where did this number come from?)
  • your humanities preference
  • the fact that you find difficulties in math and science.

So I’m kind of confused as to what you’re doing in the class in the first place.

But that’s all water under the bridge. You and your classmates are in the class… do you HAVE to take the exam or can you opt out?

Assuming you have to take it, you have 2 options: find a way to pass or fail.

This won’t be the first time you’re expected to self teach material. In fact, if you read the posts here on CC, self teaching material is something that lots of kids seem to choose on a regular basis; I see tons of posts about the expectation that kids will self teach a variety of courses.

This is AP Physics, so it’s pretty much Physics 101. It’s mid February and the AP is in the beginning of May. if you and your classmates don’t want this failure on your transcript, then it’s time to start prepping for that exam. Divide up the material, figure out who will prepare the info on what, and get going. Is there another science teacher in the building that you guys could turn to for extra help?

It stinks to have one of those “horrible” teachers… But at this point in time, I think you have to make lemonade out of those lemons.

Good luck.

The actual stats:
Yes, I was correct in that 60% failed, 20% got 3, 16% got 4, 5% got 1.
https://www.totalregistration.net/AP-Exam-Registration-Service/2017-AP-Exam-Score-Distributions.php

Unless the school requires it, you do not have to take the exam. If you do, and you fail, you do not have to list it on your college apps. Even if you do list it, it will not affect your admissions chances.

Agreed. And in life, you may have bad bosses. Nobody will accept having a bad teacher as an excuse.

I’ve covered my dissatisfaction with the College Board and AP Physics 1 (and 2) numerous times. But reading between the lines, this is the first year that the OP’s school has offered the class, and if his/her school is like many, AP Physics 1 now replaces the Honors Physics course that was the traditional 1st level physics class. I would not sweat the “why.”

Of course adcoms at competitive colleges want to see solid AP test scores. Not just the grades in your one high school. This OP has an interest in colleges that do look at AP.

But IF you’re a humanities wannabe, they’ll care less about the AP physics score. If you’re strong for humanities, I’d say, don’t report this science score, if it’s lousy. You aren’t going for a stem major, right?

How did you do with this class, first semester? Make sure your match colleges are realistic and that you have happy, affordable safeties.

AP scores are usually self-reported, and I don’t think many colleges (if any) absolutely insist you tell them every AP score (which some schools do for SAT and ACT). If you don’t give them an AP score, they will assume you didn’t take it or you got a 1 or a 2, or you’re not reporting a 3 because you think it looks bad compared to your 4s and 5s. (I’d suggest reporting a 3.)

There’s no real downside to taking the test and reporting a 3 or not reporting a 1 or 2. Of course, there’s no real upside to taking the test if you don’t get a 3, but if it’s really that hard even a 3 would probably be a positive over sending nothing.

For the very competitive colleges that do look at AP scores, would the admissions officers be aware of the especially low passing rate for AP Physics 1 in particular, such that either a fail might be less of a negative and/or a high score might be especially valuable? Or do they not get into that kind of minutiae?

Nobody knows outside of AO’s (and they are not telling), but you should assume that is we know the pass rates, that AO’s do, as well.

Probably neutral. They certainly are not going to give brownie points for a 5 on this exam versus a 5 on any other exam. They may have their own opinions on why the pass rate for AP Physics 1 is so low, but I doubt they apply it to their admissions decisions.

Having said that, be optimistic. 20% still get a 4 or a 5. Strive to be part of that 20%. You still have 3 months to prepare. If the teacher is not doing it for you, there are plenty of resources on the internet.

At “very competitive colleges,” the competition is such that adcoms don’t need to play the empathy card.

@skieurope yes, the first half of the year was the exact same material as honors physics, class was manageable, but now its the AP material which the teacher cannot teach, which has led to difficulty. Obvi my learning has to come from elsewhere.

@lookingforward I will not be majoring in stem.

Thank you all for answering