<p>I'm taking some AP tests for the first time this year, and it struck me as odd that such a low percentage of test-takers get 5s.
Specifically, only around 8% got a 5 on last year's APUSH exam. There's a pretty wide margin for a 5 though, apparently it's equivalent to a raw score of 114-180. Basically, getting 80% of the multiple choice correct and writing mediocre/above average essays would most likely get you a 5. And it's not like just anyone can take an AP course, you have to be at least somewhat intelligent or studious. So why are 1s and 2s so prevalent? Are the exams really that hard?</p>
<p>"Are the exams really that hard? "</p>
<p>Yep.</p>
<p>“And it’s not like just anyone can take an AP course, you have to be at least somewhat intelligent or studious.”</p>
<p>This is where you’re wrong.</p>
<p>The exam questions are often very difficult, yes. College Board says themselves that they expect the average to be around 50% on the MC and get around 50% on the essays. Believe me, if you can get 80% on any AP test, you DESERVE a 5. </p>
<p>However, don’t fret. As long as you’ve studied all year, and pick up a prep book to help study, you’ll do well.</p>
<p>i’m pretty sure everyone who actually tries (as in studies well in advance and/or goes through an entire prep book) gets a 5 </p>
<p>most of us just don’t care that much</p>
<p>I think that no, getting a 5 is probably not as hard as it SHOULD be, but most people go in trying for the 5 (or the 4, depending on their relative strength in the subject). If they miss it, they’re genereally a really high 3 and a really high 4. THAT’S what makes everyone sad. XD As for the 1s and 2s…well, some schools actually pay for their students AP tests, and everyone in the class takes them whether they really should or not. And hey, it’s just the school’s money, not yours. :F And at least at my school, you can get into an AP class whether you’re qualified or not. Honors courses have require recommendation, but anyone can sign up for the class/test.</p>
<p>There are several reasons why scores are low.</p>
<p>On average, the tests are not so easy. There are many students who are not very studious. For example, there is a kid in my class who doesn’t know the 100% asked question of Marbary Vs. Madison. In addition, people forget all the materials, do not want to study, have no motivation, and just have not learned all the materials/stuff in there classes.</p>
<p>It really surprised me just how many people (around 25 percent of test takers) get a 1 on the APUSH exam… I mean are APUSH classes really that poorly taught in the US? And do kids really understand that little about history?</p>
<p>yes…ap us history classes are probably the worst…not many classes ever finish learning up to the 21st century…!!..</p>
<p>pear, u must be surprised because you are on CC. The majority of that 8% are probably on this board!
Remember the other people : P</p>
<p>I agree with Indianjatt. In my AP Chem class, on the first day of class, many of my classmates gave up on memorizing the ions and doing the first four chapters of the book for their summer homework. Moreover, they also have trouble understanding the concept. As a result, we were unable to finish the whole course in two terms (my school uses the block schedule system: nine weeks per term, four terms per yr). Now, some of them are planning to do the AP Chem exam this year. I doubt that any of them would get a 5.</p>
<p>While a low yield of 5’s on AP tests can partially be attributed to a lack of motivation, etc. etc., we must remember that Advanced Placement tests are STANDARDIZED. The results are supposed to resemble a bell-curve. Other standardized tests like the ACT and SAT result in the same situation-- that being, very few people can score at the top, and the highest scores will usually result in the middle; in this case, a 3.</p>
<p>Some of the tests you can’t really prepare for. The Calculus tests often require simple logic; the Stats tests sometimes require it. I, for one, am not a logic person: if it wasn’t taught to me, I won’t know how to do it. The English Lit essays are really difficult if they aren’t your strength; and, even if they are, they still require some level of organization.</p>
<p>I’m sure if you start studying, and I mean seriously studying even 2 weeks before you can get a 5.</p>
<p>I didn’t do that. I’m trying to read AMSCO in a day. I remember some stuff, not most. Pg. 500 now. I want to shoot someone (jk, jk)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In order to earn a five you need to:</p>
<ol>
<li> KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE MATERIAL</li>
<li> Devote a full year of seriously study of the subject in a class.</li>
</ol>
<p>While yankeedoodle is jesting, there are many out there who believe that last-minute cramming, or memorizing, or self-studying can provide enough material to earn a 5. Not usually. Occasionally? Yes.</p>
<p>None of the AP courses are easy. They all require honest scholastic effort in preparation, not a quick review of the “best” review book.</p>
<p>In some schools, it’s mandatory to take certain AP courses. In other schools, like the other international school in my city (the one my cousin goes to), maintain their high AP grades by only allowing the top 50 students to take APs (to me, that’s tyranny; I’ve urged him to find another school). In my school, anyone can take it if they so wish.</p>
<p>Three hour tests are exhausting and if people don’t think they’ll pass, they’ll probably give up. Like my friend in French…we were taking the test and I noticed that she fell asleep during the speaking portion. The next day, she admitted to falling asleep during reading and listening too. Heh. We all wish we didn’t waste our money now…</p>
<p>8% is a huge HUGE # of kids if you take it into perspective.</p>
<p>most kids think they can rely on pure intelligence to get a 5 on an AP which is not true. You actually have to know ALOT of details and information, which means getting a 5 involves studying and preparation not just smarts.</p>
<p>I really do not see how AP US History is a “bell curve.” If you look at AP Calculus, for example, the distributions of 1,2,3,4,5 falls into a normal curve, with about 50% of the scores above the mean, which was a 3 last year, and 50% below. The AP US History exam on the other hand had a mean of 2.6 (so say close to 3) and then about 20% of the scores are above the mean the rest below… This doesn’t make sense at all. The same goes with AP Literature. Compared to some of the other AP exams there really seems to be a skewed score distribution.</p>