Long story short, I got a 3 on an AP Chemistry Exam I know I should have gotten a higher score on.
Before you start answering my question with, “you weren’t prepared enough, or you may not have known how the test is graded,” please read my back story.
I’m dedicated to continuing a major and career in Chemistry, so I have spent long hard hours studying for AP Chemistry. Yes, I understand in class grades don’t directly correlate to the AP score, and No, the grades at my school are not inflated. Even if this in mind, I got an A both semesters. My AP Chem teacher trained us vigorously for the AP Exam with college board material(she has a reputation of the highest pass rate in our district), thus I know how they grade the test.
When I took the AP exam, it was exceptionally easy for me (my teacher’s final was harder) - both the multiple choice and essay portions were a breeze. I knew I had passed, more specifically a 5 for sure. When the scores came out, I had gotten a 3. I also decided to take the Chemistry SAT Subject test too because I knew my course materials, I got a perfect score of 800. Dumbfounded, I requested a multiple choice re-score, thinking that there may have been a mistake? Nope, letter today confirmed it was a 3.
I wanted to know if a 3 would hurt my chances of pursuing a Chemistry related field in college. Moreover, I don’t even have to send my score to the colleges, but will that show them I am unqualified?
You shouldn’t be ashamed. You didn’t do as well as you hoped on a test you studied for. It’s not a big deal, and you shouldn’t give up on your plans. I remember being aghast when I got a 3 on AP Lit and Lang back in the early 80s. It simply never occured to me to give up my intended field of study because of one test. I got my degree in English Lit. Study chemistry if that’s what you want to study.
They probably scored harsher on the FRQ’s. Not saying you weren;t prepared but they probably found really specific reasons to not give you the points that you may have deserved. The CB can be very picky on FRQs. When I went over an FRQ in class from an old exam, two students basically wrote the same thing, but one student got the point while the other didn’t because of something small. I don’t think a 3 would hurt your major especially if you did well in the class.
Please don’t ever be ashamed for doing your best work on a given day. The previous posters have given you great advice, I just want to encourage you to think of the big picture. You are obviously a great student, don’t be so hard on yourself. Look at the big picture and give yourself some credit.
It’s one test on one day, don’t worry too much. You obviously knew the material given that you got A’s and you got an 800, and that’s the important thing. Report the score or don’t, it doesn’t really matter.
Definitely don’t feel ashamed! If it gives you any consolation, my sister took that test this past year too and didn’t score as well as she would’ve liked; her teacher said that the test this year was harder than those of previous years. Also, colleges like to see that you tried hard for the entire year (hence why taking a class is better than self-studying), and you still got excellent grades! Plus, your SAT Chem score is amazing, too. Take a breather, and don’t stress too much about it.
Your AP score of “3” is considered good. Approximately 26.1% of the Students who took the APChem Test received a “3”. There was only one student in the entire U.S. who got a 5 !
@svcamom I don’t know where you got your information, but you are wrong. Yes, 26.1% of students got a 3, but 9.2% got a 5, not 1. 3 worldwide got all the points possible.
@svcamom, it is definitely not true that only one student got a 5 on this year’s AP Chem test. Perhaps you are thinking of a perfect 100% score? That’s not the same as a 5. The correct percentage of 5s is 9.2.
DD got a 3 on her AP chem test and is starting at UChicago in the Fall, majoring in…chemistry. How you do on a particular test has a lot to do on how the teacher teaches the course.
Well, too bad about the score. If you believe College Board should be ashamed, two points: 1 C B is the vehicle only and has no responsibility for the 3. It is not responsible for your score and neither would nor could write a national exam that was designed to disadvantage you personally. 2. You earned a score that was below what you expected. If you are convinced your score is too low, appeal it with CB.
I can’t imagine that your life plans can be altered by what you do over a few hours, short of a major crime. If you do find in college that you do earn lower grades, then you can think about your plans. Otherwise, keep on. Shame is not now nor ever a reasonable reaction.
“Tech companies”, if you mean computer companies, are largely irrelevant to the job prospects of chemists. “STEM” is not a useful category to talk about when referring to job prospects.
However, the chemist job market is not particularly good, though probably not as bad as biology.
Not many posters want to say this, but I think you probably overestimated the quality of your preparation and missed some nuances of the questions. It is not something to be ashamed of, but is more something to consider as you move forward in other academic endeavors.
@eternaleaf Make sure they see the 800. Consider having the chem teacher as one LoR writer. She can rave how you’re a great student, blah blah, make the right points- and how your AP score is not representative of work she has seen from you, etc.
