A Closer Look At Advanced Placement Classes & Tests

Every May, high school students across the country take the Advanced Placement (AP) exams on one or more of 34 different topics.  The AP exam is the culminating step for students having completed the underlying AP course. The combination of completing the rigorous course and achieving a score of 3 or above out of 5 on the AP exam can lead to high school students earning college credit in the subject.

Increase In Test-Takers

According to the College Board, the number of U.S. public school students taking Advanced Placement classes has nearly doubled over the last decade. In fact, the Class of 2013 took 3.2 million AP exams.  The College Board recently released data showing that only about 57% of those 2013 AP exams had a score of 3 or higher, which is the grade many colleges and universities require to award college credit, compared with 61% a decade earlier. However, many more students who graduated in 2013 took the AP exam which resulted in 20% of the 2013 class achieving a 3 or above on the AP exam while only 13% of the 2003 class managed to reach that level of performance.

Locally, Greenwich Public Schools was one of 477 districts in the United States and Canada recognized by the College Board for increasing the number of students taking the AP examinations as well as increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams. The District stated since 2011, the Greenwich Public Schools has increased the number of students participating in AP courses by 132 (21.7%) while improving the number of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher by 106 (19.7%).

Just this week U.S. News & World Report released the results of their high school rankings. One of the metrics used in the methodology is participation in AP classes. Click here for the national rankings and here for the rankings of Connecticut schools. 

Why Do Students Take AP Classes?

With all this emphasis on increasing access to AP courses, does it mean that all students should look to enrolling in such courses as opposed to the standard courses offered at the high school level? Motivation for taking AP or Honors classes may extend beyond simply taking the AP exam, for example, it may be driven by a wish to drive up a student's GPA.

A student's academic record is obviously a major determining factor for College Admissions Offices. In some school districts, AP classes (along with Honors classes) are weighted differently than regular classes. For example, an A in Advanced Placement United States History at Greenwich High School would count as a 5 instead of a 4 when calculating a student's GPA. For some students, earning an A in U.S. History is more desirable that a B in AP U.S. History; after all in a weighted situation both grades would count as a 4 in GPA calculation and the standard course may be perceived as less difficult than the AP or Honors class.  However, for the more ambitious student who believes they can achieve better than a B in the course, the possibility exists of achieving a weight above 4 in their GPA calculation that in turn will drive up their overall GPA. But, does it really matter and do colleges really accept such a calculation?

Weighted Grades Are Unweighted

In reality, many colleges un-weight students' GPAs when analyzing transcripts or re-weight the GPAs utilizing their own formulas, which may give the AP student less weighting in calculating the GPA than their high school may have given. However, along with a student's GPA, it is the rigor of the courses that the student takes on during high school, which will raise the attention of admissions counselors. Since advanced courses require a higher level of critical thinking and analysis, success in an AP course is considered a good indicator of a student's preparedness for college and therefore will benefit most students in the admission process.

Regardless of the motivation behind any student taking an AP course, it is always important for students to prepare themselves for the challenge of taking on an AP test.  According to Kate Guthrie, Director of Academic Services for Greenwich Education Group, among the steps recommended for students to undertake in order to prepare are the following:

1.  Learn the test structure - this includes the time period and directions of the test you will be taking. All 34 AP tests have their own specific framework so before the test; check out all the details on CollegeBoard.com.

2. Take timed practice tests, and review the results with a tutor or testing professional - the more, the better. Book an appointment, bring your test results, assess your skills, and form a plan on how to strengthen your weak points. Your tutor will be able to help you pinpoint where you need to focus the most, whether it is your subject vocabulary knowledge, your 'test' mindset, or your writing skills. They will be a helpful and knowledgeable third party in drawing out a plan of action for your testing success!

3. Guess if you have to  - and if you DO skip a number, make sure to circle that number in your testing book (not on the scantron). Stray marks can confuse the machine, so always be careful to erase.

4. Know how the test is going to be graded - on AP tests, you won't lose points in the multiple choice section for incorrect answers or unanswered questions.

5. Review 15 minutes daily with a classmate. Or if everyone is too busy, review with a team online at a time that best suits you! Funnelbrain.com is one of the handiest educational websites for students that I have come across. You can search any school subject, and join a review team. You can quiz one another, share flashcard decks, and create a blog of study techniques specific to your subject.

For more information on AP tests and preparation, contact Kate Guthrie at KGuthrie@GreenwichEdGroup.com or 203-661-1609.