<p>My school offers ~10 or so AP classes, with students typically taking 2-4 per Junior and Senior year. The only AP class available to Freshmen is Human Geography, and the only AP class available to Sophomores is World History. However, after lurking CC for a few months, I'm really confused about the importance of the actual AP tests.</p>
<p>I'm currently a Sophomore, and I'm in WH. Last year, when I took Human Geo, the exam was offered but NOT recommended. My teacher stated that, "if we do well on the exam, then it'll help us with college. But, if we get a 1 or 2, it can greatly hurt our admission processes." (something similar to that)</p>
<p>Is this true? Only 3/~40 took the AP exam out of sheer curiosity; one 3, one 4 and one 5. I'm concerned whether or not it's important to take the exam or not, and what the actual purposes are.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about AP’s, but here’s what I do know:</p>
<p>AP classes are generally courses that are considered the equivalent to freshman classes in college. A passing grade on an AP exam (3,4, or 5) can be used to obtain college credits in most colleges. With these credits come some other benefits. Going into colleges with credits already earned can “free you up” to take classes that you normally wouldn’t have time for. If you get enough passing grades (somewhere around 5-8 AP tests) you may even be able to graduate early, saving you a whole year’s worth of tuition. Even if they don’t grant you credit, they you may be allow to take more difficult classes in their place.</p>
<p>As a parent, that would be a big red flag to me that the teacher wasn’t doing a good job teaching the class. The teacher should want the kids to show mastery of the subject by taking the test. The teacher can show competency and confidence in her teaching by test scores. </p>
<p>Our school is the opposite. You have to take the test, even if you are getting a D in the class. It brings down the score averages for the school but it is their policy.</p>
<p>AP test scores are not required by any college for admisssion so they can not be heaviliy weighed in the admission process. At the very top schools they may come into play as a “tiebreaker” between two otherwise evenly matched canidates, but I would think that would be a rare case.</p>