<p>If I remember correctly, I said that it simply can distinguish the true top from the herd. If I said that it is TO distinguish the true top from the herd, then I misspoke, I meant the former.</p>
<p>In my case, it is true. It’s all relative, of course. However, I’ll use my Calc BC class, when I took it, as an example. Exact same situation, used AP styled questions, every unit test was a compilation of AP styled questions specific to the chapter. No curving, no nothing. In fact, many students would get so mad (when first starting out, because they would always forget) when they don’t label their graph as f(x) and such, as not doing so would result in already the first -1 on their test (labeling graphs on AP exam is worth a point). However, the average grades in the class remained above an 85, with *over<a href=“can’t%20give%20specific%20value,%20but%20I%20remember%20it%20was%20more%20than%201/3”>/i</a> 10/30 students getting A’s in the class. Homework should be accounted for in obtaining the A, but in this class the tests were predominantly the grade-determiners. (This teacher, at the end of each course, requires students to answer ~30 questions in FULL detail - not being in full detail would result in no credit, AKA simply saying No or Yes without explanation - which was considered an essay. This “essay” revolved around providing the teacher suggestions for future years, what worked during the year, what didn’t work, what should be utilized more, what shouldn’t, etc. so that she could make each year better and better).</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m not trying to come off as an “elitist.” I must say that I was lucky to have been blessed with teachers who took their AP class seriously, and knew how to teach.</p>
<p>I agree. My AP courses certainly were taught in a similar fashion. There was a lot of homework however, but our tests & exams were all formatted in the same manner as you have described. Many students received A’s as well, especially in classes like AP Chem, Bio, Calc AB/BC. However there was one class with few A’s, only ~3/20 students in my class typically received A’s (my teacher treated it like a true weed-out class… in HS!). But those 3 and a few right below them consistently hit high 5’s on their AP Physics C exam, likely possible for a 6 - certainly possible for the top 3 students. Their composite scores were outrageous -.-</p>
<p>Seeing as how the AP scores are not the main focus in college admissions (a 2 on one test won’t affect your application), but more of a test to determine whether you deserve credit on the courses, I really don’t see much of a point in the 6th point. I mean, if you can get a 6 on an AP test, I’m pretty sure you shine in other areas. Why do you need another test to show you do well on tests?</p>
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Do you have data to support this?</p>
<p>I’m not trying to argue against this, I agree that a 2 won’t affect your chances very much, but this point has not been researched completely to reach a conclusion like yours. This is an unsupported opinion.</p>
<p>I think subject tests serve the purpose of providing a more careful means of measuring one’s score. I guess more subject tests to cover AP subjects, like calculus could achieve a similar goal, or maybe making subject tests harder?</p>
<p>I would Like to know as well… </p>
<p>will a 2 on one test affect your application? what about two 2’s? or even three 2’s?
A friend of mine has a 3.9 GPA and is around 30/ 600 in our class. Got an A in the class yet he got 2’s on two AP classes. (I’m guessing the teachers were not very good).</p>