How do AP's compare to college.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am currently taking AP Bio and AP Chem as a junior in high school. I have an A for the year in Bio and an A+ for the year in Chem. How do these courses compare to Introductory Biology and Chemistry in college? Also, if i end up getting 5's on each exam, and go on to take the college version of these courses, do you think i would have any problems receiving A's?</p>

<p>FYI:My Bio teacher mentioned that we have 10 hours less all year than the Boston College version of this course, so the pace of the course is almost the same.</p>

2

<p>If you get a 5 on the AP exam, BC may not allow you to take the equivalent course.</p>

3

<p>Yea, but if i ended up at Tufts or Ivy, they would make me take the course over again.</p>

4

<p>Not at all. Currently taking a course at a Public Ivy and just… no. You will have it easier in those courses, but it will NOT be easy by any means. Especially because I assume you’ll be going to a more rigorous school than a Public Ivy.</p>

5

<p>It will be much more difficult in college because science classes are usually graded on a curve. </p>

<p>A lot of students who attend the Ivies (READ: overwhelming majority) would have received a 5 on the lousy AP exam so a 5 is more likely a B than an A. The professor isn’t handing out A’s to half the class.</p>

6

<p>what is “graded on a curve?”</p>

7

<p>An example of a curve would be:

  • top 15% of class receives an A
  • next 45% of class receives a B
  • next 30% of class receives a C
  • bottom 10% of class receive a D or F</p>

<p>There is no standard “curve” amongst universities or professors, but most science /engineering / math courses I have been in put the 50% point (middle of the class) at a B or B-. </p>

<p>There are very few such professors who will curve the 50% student to a B+ but there are a number of cruel ones that will curve the 50% point to a C or C+. </p>

<p>Humanities courses do not adhere to curves and often hand out A’s rather liberally.</p>