For some students, nearly 180 days of seemingly endless homework and countless hours of studying all come down to one test: the Advance Placement (AP) test.
The AP Examinations are administered every May to test the culmination of college-level work done by students in a high school setting. Students are tested on the rigorous curriculum developed and outlined by committees of college and AP high school faculty.
Junior Omid Afshar said, “The whole year you basically study the concepts that are expected to come up on [AP] test. The whole curriculum of the class is devoted to prepare for that one test.”
Numerous colleges and universities give college course credit based on student’s performance on AP test scores. Based on a five point scale, most colleges give credit if a student scored a three or higher.
According to Total Registration, in 2013, 65 percent of students passed their AP test scoring a three or higher.
Students, like sophomore Tyler Luk, believe the AP classes are a beneficial program. “For kids who want to get ahead, AP classes let them challenge themselves and give them a higher GPA,” he said.
Luk is referring to the extra grade point added to student’s GPA from AP classes. AP classes are five points, whereas regular classes are four points; thus, the student is able to exceed a 4.0.
For some, this is an important factor in the decision to take an AP course. Sophomore Claire Grundig said, “I took AP Euro mostly to get an extra point for my GPA, and I like history. It wasn’t so much about the college credit for me.”
The testing environment this year at Carlmont has been defined by the warm weather and the duration of the test.
Carlmont math teacher, Kim Callan said, “With AP test, there is a lot of pressure. It’s a very long test.”
Grundig said, “It was really hot in the Scot’s Gym, which is where we took the test, and I think that made the testing more difficult.”
Despite the fact that AP classes are particularly formulated to prepare students for the test, students worry about their resulting scores.
“The AP Euro test was harder than I thought it would be. Hopefully I didn’t just waste 90 bucks on buying it,” said sophomore Erin Alonso.
Others students are confident in their scores.
“I’m not that worried about failing. I’m just glad I took AP Euro. I really like the class and Mr. Waller,” said sophomore Seena Sebt.
Whether it is for an extra point on your GPA, to receive college credits, or to get ahead, rigorous AP classes will continue to be readily available for students up to the challenge.
