<p>Is it worse to take the AP exam if you've taken the class, even if you fear a failing score, or does it look worse to not take the AP exam at all? My son is in AP Computer Programming. Last year he was in the beginning programming class. He did fantastic on all the actual programming and badly on all the tests. This year is looking the same way. We have a Barron's AP Exam study guide, but I don't know if it will help.</p>
<p>If he continues to do poorly on the tests the whole year, should he skip the AP exam, or take it anyway?</p>
<p>Different points of view on this. But be aware, you don't usually have to report AP scores on college apps. You usually can if you want, but you don't have to send score reports for your application. You only send them to the school where you eventually matriculate and only AFTER you are accepted and usually only IF you want credit for that AP course. </p>
<p>I wouldn't worry about it at all if I were you. Many kids whose hs don't require them to take the AP exam (some do require it) don't take the test for a variety of reasons, cost being one of them ($84 or some crazy thing PER TEST!)</p>
<p>If your son is a senior now, the college won't see the AP score until after the admissions process is complete. If he does poorly, it won't matter, and if he does at all well, he may get credit. Even a score of 3 will often count as elective units. If you're not bothered about the test fee, it seems like a good idea to take it.</p>
<p>missypie,
The high school our kids attend requires the students to take the AP exam if they have taken the class, and says that credit for the course can be withheld if the student fails to take the exam. As others have said, if your child happens to be a senior, the scores aren't even reported until July, so there's no way the college would know about the score. Many applications give the student the opportunity to "self-report" the scores, so if he's a junior and finds out the score this summer, he can make that decision then.</p>
<p>Probably the only good thing about attending an inner city public school...free tests!</p>
<p>Anyway, colleges don't require you to report AP scores, and your kid can do that way after college acceptance. So take/don't take as many as you'd like.</p>
<p>I keep reading that colleges don't require AP scores but the UC applicaiton does ask for them. It's an electronic form and part of it is to list the AP courses and the score received. You should check with the schools you want to apply to.</p>
<p>Actually, our son's AP chem teacher discourages the kids from taking the test if they plan to go into chemistry as their major. He feels the kids should just retake chemistry in college, because part of being a chem major is getting to know the professors in the department.</p>
<p>"Actually, our son's AP chem teacher discourages the kids from taking the test if they plan to go into chemistry as their major. He feels the kids should just retake chemistry in college, because part of being a chem major is getting to know the professors in the department."</p>
<p>Ours encouraged taking the test AND repeating the course in college. Why? Because it really, really helps the student. It's like jumping into the pool knowing the water temparature and depth in advance. Old hat...</p>
<p>I would advise taking the test, if you score great and don't feel good about it, I don't know of any college that will FORCE you to take the next level of classes. If you score poorly, at least you have prior experience the next time around.</p>