So does it look bad to take an AP class as a junior, but not take the test? Specifically, AP chem… if I don’t take the test, do they (colleges) even have to know? Or will they recognize that I opted out of the test and take that as a sign of laziness? ps. I’ll be taking 3 other APs and will be taking the tests for all of those
Why didn’t you take the AP Chem test in first place and why aren’t you planning on taking the retake?
Well, if your transcript lists a class as “AP Chemistry,” then colleges can certainly figure it out. By not taking the exam, you run the risk of colleges think one of three things:
• Financial hardship prevented you from taking the exam
• You were not motivated enough to take the exam
• You took the exam and performed poorly
The first one will not affect your application; the last 2 may raise an eyebrow. AO’s can, and have, contacted GC’s to explain why there is not an AP score reported for a corresponding class.
if you think you can score well enough on the exam to get college credit, and the school’s you are considering offer credit for the exam, take it. If not, don’t. Don’t worry about it beyond that. Each AP exam costs over $90 (some high schools cover that cost, ours didn’t). Not everyone can afford to throw away that money for scores that are self-reported to colleges and not required for admission, and lots of people take more AP classes than exams. For my kids, the AP classes are the most rigorous available to them and that’s why they take the classes, the opportunity to earn college credit is a bonus.
Why not take it if you can afford it? You can always choose to not send in your score if you do poorly, and then if you do better than you expected that grade can be used to better your application. I say go for it if you can, why not?
It does look bad to take the ap class and not the exam, which is why taking the AP exam is usually required when taking an AP class. Take the exam
What’s the point of that though…
Some people don’t take the AP test because they’ll be taking the class in college anyway (my friend is a bio major, premed track, she has to retake ap bio, chem, physics), so the only STEM focused test she took was calc. She got into UCLA…don’t worry too much. If you know you can get a high score, then take it.