retake AP Bio?

My S took AP Bio exam and scored 5 when he took BIO and self-studied AP Bio in 9th grade. Now he is considering to retake AP Bio class in 12th grade since AP bio is the only AP science class he can take and his previous AP bio score isn’t in his school transcript.

Pro: retake can study AP Bio in deep and score will be on transcripts
Con: look ugly to retake AP Bio after AP bio score 5

If he won’t take AP Bio, he will take Physiology.

Please give us some suggestion. Thanks

The AP score can be sent to schools that S applies to, so I don’t see any point in retaking the class. It’s kind of unheard of - getting a 5 when a freshman and not even in a Bio class, so wow! Why is it not part of his school transcript? They have the scores regardless of whether he took the class or not. Wouldn’t your counselor be able to verify?

High school has policy: no self-studied AP score in high school transcripts&GPA. Is it good enough to self report AP scores in college application?

You don’t self-report, you can actually just have the scores sent in. College Board does that for you (you have to pay, but it is easy). Otherwise, everyone would just self-report tons of 5s! Also, your school does have the scores. They might not put them on the transcript, but they can verify them. I self-studied Environmental Science and my GC has the score, even though there was not a class. College Board sends ALL scores to the schools, even those scores that were not taken as a class.

He should take physiology, or any other class he wants. Taking the class will be a waste of his time.

The fact that the AP score is not on his transcript matters not a whit. Many high schools do not list AP scores on the transcript.

Yes. In fact, that is the expectation.

Not for admissions purposes, you don’t. On the application, the student just self reports the scores. The official score report only needs to be sent to the college one is attending for credit/placement. While one can send in the official score report with applications, it’s a waste of money, and at many colleges, it goes straight to the registrar’s office, and admissions never sees.