Self-study for 7th and 8th graders

ridethewave
Fri, 21 Sep 2012 21:21:29 +0000

gnasty gnorc:
"Are middle school kids even allowed to take AP exams?

They could do AP Human Geo…and that is the only one I think they should do. Though really it sounds a bit drastic to encourage a 7th grader who is what 13 to take a college level course."

1) Yes. I imagine some schools balk at the idea, but young students may and do take the exams, although not very often.

2) It depends on the thirteen-year-old, you know? Should they be pushed to do it out of some desire to prove something or achieve prestige? No – but that’s not the best motivation for doing anything. If the student is ready for the material, interested in the material, wanting to move on past AP level in the material, it would be just as wrong to deny them the opportunity as it would be to force them to take the exam if they lacked the interest and/or the ability. I think the key issue is whether the motivation is coming from the student or the parent.