<p>Some of the older AP tests like English Literature and Calculus BC made sense due to the existence of significant numbers of students who would be bored in high school without the chance to take university freshman level courses, and are fairly well accepted. It is the proliferation of AP tests of dubious value like Statistics, Physics B, and Environmental Science that can make people wonder if it just helps students inflate their weighted GPA with “AP” courses that are not really that rigorous.</p>
<p>There also seems to be a trend of forcing students who are two grades ahead in math (i.e. the top math students in the school) to take calculus over two years (AP Calculus AB in 11th grade and AP Calculus BC in 12th grade) instead of letting them have a one year AP Calculus BC course that they should be capable of handling easily (remember, the two grades ahead students are the top math students). Perhaps this is done to inflate a school’s count of AP tests and courses taken. Schools can also double-dip by designating 11th grade English as AP English Language, and 12th grade English as AP English Literature. Another double-dip is designating regular or honors high school physics as AP Physics B, to be followed the next year by the “true” AP Physics C course.</p>
<p>Interesting that people claim that AP Lit is one of the harder ones. I took the class and test in high school, and I honestly couldn’t have found the test any easier. Read passages, answer the questions, write an essay on a book selected on a list–what’s hard about that? There’s no studying involved–just reading some books that are likely to be on the list and bam, you’re done.</p>
<p>idk, I’ve always found English easy. Maybe it’s just me.</p>
<p>“There also seems to be a trend of forcing students who are two grades ahead in math (i.e. the top math students in the school) to take calculus over two years (AP Calculus AB in 11th grade and AP Calculus BC in 12th grade) instead of letting them have a one year AP Calculus BC course that they should be capable of handling easily (remember, the two grades ahead students are the top math students).”</p>
<p>my school -_- that’s partly why I want to self-study</p>
<p>by the way thanks to everyone who replyed! you’ve been alot of help :)</p>
<p>A Dean of Admissions at a competitive school talked to me about this. He said that they want to see success in the classroom while taking rigorous classes, not the ability to perform on tests.</p>
<p>It kind of makes sense, since for some subjects just reading a review book and cramming is sufficient for getting a 5.</p>