<p>I think the key here is that an AP test is like a final college course exam - if you would encourage your kid to take a college final without prep then it would be the same thing. The kids who take the practice exams are "familiarizing" themselves with the exam just like you would be familiar with your prof's exams by the time a final came around. Sure if you don't put in a lot of prep time - you might pass. But for some people just getting by is not their goal. A 3 is a C. If getting a C and not putting much into it is okay then no prep is needed. I would rather see a C knowing that I had done my best rather than a C because I didn't value the class or parents money(or whoever- somebody pays believe me!) enough to put forth the effort to study. All that said - we have teachers who are great teachers who don't teach to the test...we have rotton ones who don't teach. Everyone has to decide whether or not to take the iniatitive to prepare on their own. In the end it is the students responsibility to be prepared for the test.</p>
<p>I truly believe it depends on the student, the class, the teacher ... all of it, as well as what the student hopes for out of the exam. I know at my d's school we just had to sign contracts that our kids would actually take the exams. If they don't, they need to pay the $95.00 the state picks up for each student/exam. I know that some of these kids will go into the exam with no preparation as well as very little ability in the subject because they really don't care. Others will be frustrated because some of the teachers/classes haven't taught to the exam, and these students do not want to put in the independent work required to fill in the holes. Others, like my d, will study ... but not go crazy in prep. because she's just one of those kids who tests extremely well, has a phenomenal memory, and is disciplined to keep up with the material as she goes. So far it's served her well, as she's only tested "5's." We'll see this year, as she's taking four exams for the first time. Between the SAT's, ACT's, subject tests (in June), AP's in May ... this is definitely her huge semester, and we've talked about getting geared up for the final few laps even though it would be easy to start senioritis now. So far she's focused; thank goodness. <g> </g></p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>Taking the exams for free should not factor into whether you take the exams seriously or not. Everyone should put in their best efforts regardless. And not all the kids who have to pay for the exams are affluent. Not all districts can afford to cover all their kids.</p>
<p>I dont think anyone is saying not to take them seriously. It appears that some kids go nuts - getting the books and taking and retaking "diagnostic" tests over and over.
I have had kids breeze through AP tests and some struggle - it just depends. </p>
<p>Not every kid has time to do this the first week in May. AP Test schedule is a whole lot different for many hs kids than finals week in college.
the junior/senior year is winding down and many kids are in spring sports.
It is playoff time and kids are still going to practices, nevermind taking their regular classes and tests and preparing for hs finals.</p>
<p>My daughter is in band. The spring concert is May 8th. The night before is a MANDATORY band rehersal. She is taking both the English Lit test on May 8th and the APUSH test on May 9th. Not a lot of cramming will be done.</p>
<p>If you are a senior and know that your class will not get you meaningful credit then you may be not as motivated to study and cram for the test.</p>
<p>Here was our "rookie" mistake: My son's freshman year, the choir went to Orlando. Our son was on the flight that got back at 11 pm on a Sunday night. 8 o'clock the next morning: His AP Human Geography exam! He got a 4, and the trip did motivate him to get through the review book early.</p>
<p>At my son's school, review depends on the teacher. Our AP History (he teaches Euro and U.S.) and AP English (Lit. and Language) review the final two weeks before the tests. But they have been giving the kids information/packets all year. Most of the kids have had the English teacher for three years, the history teacher two. So they know what to expect. Don't know about U.S. Government but I'm sure he does some review. </p>
<p>The AP Calculus teacher does not do a session with the kids, but the kids do not care. They take the AP exam for the weight to their GPA. Personally, I'd like to see that changed. If an underclassman scores a 3 or better, he should get the weight.</p>
<p>Do you mean that he should ONLY get the weight if he scores a 3?
How do you change the gpa after graduation?
Why should one test given by an outside agency have an effect on his gpa when his grade is a result of performance for the teacher.</p>
<p>Look, I think kids should and most do take AP tests seriously. They can have real benefit in college regardless of the score received.
Sometimes kids think they will get all this credit and be ahead etc. But then they get to college and find they really don't get ahead. They still take 4 years to graduate and some classes they must take over anyway.</p>
<p>The real benefit of taking an AP class - for your "average" college bound high school student - is exposure to a rigorous class, rigorous expectations and a rigorous exam. </p>
<p>just curious - missypie : are you saying that your rookie mistake was allowing your son go to Orlando?</p>
<p>BTW, you do not have to take the course to take the exam, and do well. A friend of son's took the AP US History exam before he would have taken a HS course, he got a 5 (and was exempted from US History requirement). He obviously had done some reading on his own. Too bad some schools won't let students take courses/tests based on arbitrary criteria. The best time to take the test is the year you take the course. Our school system finishes the year a month after the AP tests are given, teachers have to fill the time as well as administer a final exam in June. It doesn't seem fair that some schools start in mid August while ours starts in Sept, but students do do well on the AP tests if they study.</p>
<p>The AP courses are like average tier college beginning courses, not as tough as elite or Honors college courses. A student who found the AP course easy may not find its sequel that easy at some schools, or may repeat it with a tougher college course. Still, they are valuable in providing a consistent standard for courses (as opposed to the unknowns of "honors" courses, which may be better or worse than the AP version depending on the school) with the exams' scores comparable among schools.</p>
<p>JustaMomof4, our rookie mistake was agreeing to the trip without so much as glancing at the AP exam schedule. As the parents of a freshman-our eldest-we knew nothing about AP exams, where to find the schedule online, etc. We probably would have let him go on the trip anyway, but it would have been an informed decision. AND, we would have lobbied for him to have been on the plane that landed at 8 pm instead of the one that landed at 11 pm. They could have easily put the few kids who had AP exams the next morning on the earlier flight.</p>