<p>Brcxx: same in our district. AP kids take exams throughout the year. This is how they earn the classroom grade. What you need to understand is that grades vary between one teacher teaching the course to another teacher teaching the same course. Grades policies vary from one district to another. The AP test however is used as a standard testing method. The grade of A in one classroom may be the equivalent of a B in another classroom. The AP test grade of a 3 from a student in your classroom is the same as the grade of a 3 in any classroom nationwide–it is a standard just as the SAT or the ACT is a standard means of comparison.</p>
<p>My son will be taking AP Physics and AP Calc next year. I haven’t said anything to him, but I have real mixed feelings about “making” him take the AP exams for those classes. He is going into ENGR and every school we have talked to has recommended accepting any AP credit given for history, English, languages, etc but NOT accepting any AP credit for Phys or Calc. OR…if a student is eligible for credit in 2 calc courses because of the AP exam, they recommend accepting the credit for the 1st calc but actually taking the 2nd calc.</p>
<p>Rather frustrating.</p>
<p>He could take the AP exams but not worry too much about them and not report the scores to colleges.</p>
<p>So - what would be the purpose of taking the exams?</p>
<p>I do understand that all teachers are different and that the AP exam is a standardized grade. But its not like this isn’t the case with all classes everywhere. If the student is not going to receive or use the college credit what difference does it make if they test? The AP test grade doesn’t count toward the HS class grade. (except in this case where it is the distinction between weight and no weight and that is just for participation not for results.) If the student doesn’t care about the credit they are not likely to be studying more and learning more to take the test. It seems that the real learning should be taking place all year in the classroom and students are graded on this. If the students can benefit from AP credit and the student has the confidence to take the test, because the class was well taught or because they prepared on their own then the test serves a real purpose, otherwise it is just a costly empty exercise. In cases where the student isn’t concerned about earning the credit I cannot see how testing enhances their education. The reverse is however not true, the student’s education is enhanced by taking the class whether or not they test. The AP classes do prepare students for college whether or not they test or get the credit. Isn’t that the intent of the program?</p>
<p>For those of you who feel that taking the AP test is a critical component of the AP program why do you think this and what if anything do you see that the students get out of the experience in testing if they will not get or use the credit? In other words how does this enhance their education?</p>
<p>“It seems that the real learning should be taking place all year in the classroom and students are graded on this.”</p>
<p>“…the student’s education is enhanced by taking the class whether or not they test. The AP classes do prepare students for college whether or not they test or get the credit.”</p>
<p>181818 - I agree completely. </p>
<p>To me - it’s the daily interactions, discussions, arguments, assessments, etc that provide the real learning. Yes, students need to be able to do well on the final exams/tests/assessments (whatever) …but we ALL know that there are students who can ace those final exams and still have no clue about what was really taught in the class.</p>
<p>^^For those of you who feel that taking the AP test is a critical component of the AP program why do you think this and what if anything do you see that the students get out of the experience in testing if they will not get or use the credit? In other words how does this enhance their education? ^^</p>
<p>I can’t answer this, because I don’t think taking the AP test is a critical component of the AP program. Although students at my D’s HS are required to take the AP test as part of the course (and pay for it), they are graded based on their performance in class and on the teacher’s exams, NOT on their performance on the AP exam. The only potential benefit of the test is that perhaps kids will spend extra time studying for the AP test, thus enhancing their learning, but I have to think that the same kids who want college credit for the course will also want to do well on the teacher’s cumulative exam and get a good grade for the course, and therefore study just as hard. I think taking the test is a waste of time and money for a kid who either knows he can’t pass, knows he wants to take the class in college even if he could get AP credit for it, or is going to a school that will not give credit for the AP course regardless of the score.</p>