I’m currently a junior, and I attend a residential high school that teaches college classes. The school is only for the last two years of high school. I transferred to this school this year since I applied as a sophomore and was accepted.
It’s a great school and the classes are very rigorous. However, the classes don’t exactly go by AP curriculum. For example, I’m in chem 1 and calc 1 right now, and next semester I’ll be in chem 2 and calc 2. I think I’ll be able to handle the AP tests for calculus, physics, and chemistry, but the one I’m concerned about is APUSH.
Our American History teacher is an intelligent guy, but he just does whatever he wants. He’ll lecture one class. talk about current events the next class, then show a video for the next class. I think we’re wat behind where we should be. Plus, I don’t think his lectures are 100% historically accurate either, but we have to accept what he says since that’s what we’re tested over. I’m kind of nervous about attempting the APUSH test in the spring.
If I had stayed at my home high school, I’d be in 5 or 6 AP classes this year. So I’d like to take as many this year as I can do well in. What do you all recommend I do?
Many students, like myself, took AP tests when the school did not offer AP courses in certain subjects. Math/Chem/Physics are generally straightforward, but for humanities classes, like USH, you would be well-served buying/borrowing a prep book to at least get a sense as to how the tests are structured. Additionally, look on the CB site for past exams.
https://advancesinap.collegeboard.org/english-history-and-social-science/us-history
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2089.html
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/225908.html
Unfortunately, since I took the test before they redesigned it last year, I can’t tell you if reviewing the older FRQ’s would be worthwhile. Good luck.
You should be alright for math/science, but I’d advise against it for humanities classes, because IMO you really need an experienced teacher grading your essays.
Does it harm me at all to not take the humanities AP tests? I’m technically taking “American History” and “American Literature,” not APUSH and AP Lang. Does it matter if I don’t take those AP tests?
Or if I do take the tests and do poorly, can I just choose not to report those scores?
yeah, but study really hard
Will your GC rate your schedule as “most rigorous” without taking those classes? If yes, then it will not hurt you.
Yes, you can choose not to report certain scores.
I self-studied AP: Euro, and got a 5. I think that if you’re going to self-study a history AP as long as you treat it like one of your real classes you could easily pull off a 4 or 5. I wrote practice essays from past FRQ’s and used the Barrons and Rea books and felt over prepared so i’d definitely recommend it, especially if you feel you like USH.
@KrazyKing5461 You can choose to cancel your AP exam scores. Colleges cannot see cancelled scores. If you have a realistic plan for studying for the APUSH exam, then I advise signing up for the exam. If you do poorly, you can still report your good scores and cancel your US History score.