<p>AP is not a program like the IB program. Standardization means the same test is used for the same material covered for a given AP course, regardless of where in this country it is taken. The scale is a numbered version of the A,B,C… grading. AP courses can be equivalent to college courses, the average, not the elite colleges (ie, not the typical colleges CC posters ask about). Admissions committees notice whether or not a student takes advantage of the “most rigorous” curriculim available to them. Across the country (ie not the elite northeast HS’s) many students will have limited AP courses available to them. Those who are used to an “AP culture” have to realize not all areas are like theirs.</p>
<p>Our high school does come to a bit of a standstill because so many kids are missing day to day. In 10th grade, it’s not a problem, because there are only two AP tests and so school goes on as always the other days. But in 11th and 12th grade, so many kids are out for so many different tests, that it become difficult to cover any new material without having gaps in knowledge for a lot of students.</p>
<p>I may not be reading the article carefully enough but I’m not understanding if these are changes being thought about or actually in the works. Also, when are these changes to go into effect?</p>
<p>(Have a high school student about to enter the fray of AP testing next spring)</p>
<p>Sewhappy, it was unclear to me too. I asked a couple of pages ago when bio would go into effect but didn’t get an answer. Anyone?</p>
<p>Post #7 indicates the Biology exam is not due to change until 2013, with other sciences to follow.</p>
<p>Thanks, Wildwood. The post by mathinokc sounds pretty authoritative. I’m hoping my second kid can use her older sibling’s AP prep books.</p>
<p>Oh, thanks for the date. DH and I were walking today and talking about AP changes. DS has been studying his tail off for the AP bio final tomorrow. We were wondering how it could change for the better as you can’t really grasp concepts apart from formulas, etc. You can’t understand photosynthesis and glycolosis and all of that without learning the formulas and the formulas are useless if you don’t understand the concepts. I can see making changes in history or language, but science seems pretty solid the way it is.</p>