Is it worth retaking AP CS to get a 5?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I took AP Computer Science A last year and got a 4. Is it worth retaking it to try and get a 5 to apply to schools like RPI, Carnegie Mellon, etc?

2

Also, should I take the AP CS Principles test to hopefully get an easy 4/college credit when I’ve already taken AP CS? My school doesn’t really have APs.

3

No. A 4 versus a 5 is not going to be the deciding factor in your admissions decisions. I’m sure you can find a more productive use of your time.

It’s up to you. Again, it won’t affect admissions decisions, but depending on the college, you might get credit.

4

Colleges don’t really use AP scores for college admissions. Many people don’t take AP tests until senior year, after you are admitted. It is more about the grades you get in the class.

AP Test scores are used for credit.

At a Carnegie Mellon or top school you would probably better off taking a beginning Comp Sci again than trying to jump ahead. You would get some credit with a 4 on that test.
http://www.cmu.edu/hub/registration/docs/ap-credit.pdf

At CMU, a 4 on CS A gets the same credit as a 4 or 5 on Principles.

5

Thanks everyone. I’ll just take the Principles test for hopefully more credit.