I don't think that the AP exams are as universally required of the AP courses as they seem to be at your daughter's school. Especially after the College Board did a nation-wide audit last year, every AP course now teaches with a certified curriculum, so taking the AP exam doesn't really mean that you got a better education from that course. It just means that you want the college credit for it. Or advanced standing at Harvard. And at my school, they don't care if you took the exam. As long as you did "B" or "A" level work, they'll give you a little boost.
AP exams really weren't meant to be "achievement" tests in the sense of the SAT or ACT. Even on the College Board website, here's their list of reasons to participate in AP:
Quote:
Gain the Edge in College Preparation
* Get a head start on college-level work.
* Improve your writing skills and sharpen your problem-solving techniques.
* Develop the study habits necessary for tackling rigorous course work.
Stand Out in the College Admissions Process
* Demonstrate your maturity and readiness for college.
* Show your willingness to push yourself to the limit.
* Emphasize your commitment to academic excellence.
Broaden Your Intellectual Horizons
* Explore the world from a variety of perspectives, most importantly your own.
* Study subjects in greater depth and detail.
* Assume the responsibility of reasoning, analyzing, and understanding for yourself.
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Nowhere does it say that colleges heavily consider the exams. In fact, under the "Stand Out in Admissions" heading, it emphasizes the actual courses, not the exams. Colleges want to know that you can handle the material, and your grade in an AP course is much more reflective of that than an exam on a single day.