Hello all,
So, I am currently a high school junior (first-generation college student), and am taking AP Calculus AB and AP U.S. History. However I am worried I might fail one, if not both AP exams. APUSH is probably not going to be relevant to my major (something on computers most likely), but AP Calc AB will.
So, assuming everything else is up to spec, will they REALLY care about one or two failed AP exams? (“Failed” = A score of 1 or 2)
For context, I’m rank 2 out of 500-something in my graduating class, and have an unweighted GPA of 3.94 with an advanced course load (AP and AS/A Levels (AICE Cambridge International program)).
Why would you fail one, let alone both, of these exams? If you have a great GPA/rank/courseload, what’s going on that you would fail the AP tests?
Unfortunately, the impression it makes if you have high grades plus low scores is that either your school is not very demanding (grade inflation) or that you don’t take tests seriously. Neither of these is good for college applications. Though I suppose it looks better than low grades and high scores, which can signal a kid with an attitude problem.
AP Classroom should be available to you, with review videos and tons of practice problems. APUSH is next Friday and AP Calc AB is Monday 5/12. That means you still have time to review and do better.
People on CC will tell you that colleges don’t care about AP scores, and that is true for some colleges, but not the ones that kids care most about on CC.
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depends on the school
Will super selective schools? yes they will care. It is one of the few data points they have to compare you to kids at other schools.
I am confused why you think you will do so poorly if you are 2/500. Is your school’s classes really that poor?
Khan Academy or other resources may help you cram, too!
I would also ask, possible again, your counselors if these need to be on transcripts. That is NOT necessary or helpful.
Thank you - I appreciate your advice 
Also, suppose I should’ve added this above… We had a long period in the middle of the year without an APUSH teacher (long story short we had a long term sub and no work for a whole month and then got a new teacher who’d never taught AP), and I’ve always struggled with math, unfortunately. Tests have also never been much of a strong suit of mine…
ahh, the missing teacher explains a lot!
Seriously though, use any free time to go through online resources, you are obviously an excellent student, you may still be able to pull off a decent score
(Also, for the long-term sub, if you really do end up doing poorly, you may ask counselor to mention in their recommendation that situation and that is why a score was out of norms).
Also, another thought, do you HAVE to take the exams? A missing exam will be less of a flag than a 1. I know some high schools require you take them though…
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