<p>Is there a reason a student should take both?</p>
<p>Someone has suggested to my S that he do so. He's already signed up to take the CS AB test; should he consider taking the CS A test, too? (He'd take A on May 5, and AB in the late testing period.)</p>
<p>Or would taking both mean he’s a glutton for punishment? :D</p>
<p>^not sure what that second post means</p>
<p>There really isn’t any reason a student should take both. Comp Sci A covers like really really basic stuff. If your son isn’t ready to take the early AB test, then maybe taking A is beneficial if it can push the AB test to a later date, and it’ll be a good practice. Otherwise, no need to have him sit through an extra 3 hour exam that isn’t going to impress colleges since he’s going to take the harder one anyways.</p>
<p>That’s like saying “Take the Calculus AB test with your BC test even though most colleges won’t offer any additional credit for AB” if they allowed it.</p>
<p>Well I’m taking both this year, but I’m only doing A because it’s free since the state pays for it because I have the class. I’m self studying AB pretty much, since it’s not really much more.</p>
<p>Only take one of the exams. No reason at ALL to take both. Whoever recommended that he take both doesn’t understand those tests. </p>
<p>The AB exam is the A exam material with about 5 additional topics added on.</p>
<p>The AB topics are actually some of the easiest stuff. Not worth taking both. Some colleges will give the same credit for getting a 4 or 5 on the A as a 3 on the AB and more, sometimes twice as much, for getting a 4 or 5 on the AB.</p>