Taking AP Class but not AP Test (US History)

Test Preparation AP History & Social Sciences
1

Hi! I’m taking AP US history this year as a junior. Although I have an A, I don’t think I will be very prepared for the AP exam since we don’t really do much in class. I’m really worried that it would look bad if I didn’t take the AP test. Should I just take it and risk the low score?
(and if you suggest me taking it, do you have any suggested test prep books I could study from?)

2

Take it for sure. Even if you get a 3, that’s better than not taking it at all. By not taking it (and having an A), colleges already know the reason; your A is fake and you would’ve gotten a 2 or 1. So take it and prove them wrong!

Prepare for the test with Barron’s A.P. U.S. History, I liked their World History book and I trust their brand in general.

3

thanks for the advice!! :smiley:

4

I’m not convinced that admissions automatically conclude that students didn’t take the exam because they were unprepared. It is very possible that a student doesn’t take the test because the exam conflicts with another exam offered at the exact same time. I know this happened with my son last year and he was unable to find a school that was administering the make up test/date. He opted to not take the test for World History as he already had several scores in the area of social science. If it is a student’s only AP class and the student doesn’t have a score, that might be a different story.

5

Nothing wrong with not taking the test. I got an A- in AP statistics and never took the AP test

6

I say take it. You can prepare yourself with prep books since it’s a history class. And you don’t have to send in AP scores.

7

Take the exam. The worst that will happen is you’ll get 1 and won’t report it to colleges since scores are self-reported. Remember that AP exams do have very generous curves. You’ll probably get a better score than you think you will.

8

Take it! Classes are not necessary at all. I self studied for this exam and got a 5. Use Barrons.

9

I have 3 AP classes, two that I am sure I can pass, however there is one class, where we do not do much, and I know I will not pass this AP test. Should I take it and fail it? Or not take it at all?