The last month of school is a time for celebrating, preparing for summer and enjoying the springtime sun. However, for Advanced Placement (AP) students, May is a time for studying, notes and possibly tears, all in the hopes of earning college credit through AP exams.
AP classes are a popular way to show colleges that a student is ready for college-level coursework. To a college admissions officer, even a B in an AP class can be more impressive than an A in a regular class. For highly selective schools, the average number of APs is seven to 12, and for less selective schools, one to five is typical.
The exams happen in May, and scores are released in July. These exams are completely optional and don’t affect a student’s GPA or grade in the class. They are taken on a testing application called Bluebook, which also includes studying resources and practice tests for students.
The first AP classes ever were created in 1955, and since then, the program has grown exponentially, quickly becoming an unofficial requirement for being accepted into top colleges. Ida B. Wells-Barnett High School currently offers 24 out of the 38 possible AP classes across a wide range of subjects.
Since AP classes are graded on a scale of five instead of the typical four, they can boost a student’s overall GPA above a 4.0. This also means that a B in an AP class equates to an A in a normal class. Typically, a student’s GPA, including grades from AP classes, is called a weighted GPA, and colleges often consider both weighted and unweighted GPAs during admission processes.
Taking AP classes can also save money on future college tuition. Many colleges will accept a four or a five on an AP exam as college credit. Those credits are often equivalent to introductory classes that don’t need to be taken and paid for in college. College textbooks alone can cost as much as $400, which is much more than the $99 fee to take an AP exam.
Since AP classes are meant to be very challenging, it’s often more beneficial for students to take fewer AP classes and score high than to take too many and drag their grades down. The most important thing to consider when choosing an AP class is whether or not a student has the interest and passion for the subject. “If you have that internal drive, it will really carry you through the class,” said Amy Durham, an AP Spanish teacher at IBW.
As for the actual tests, they contain multiple sections and are typically two to three hours long. They consist of a multiple choice section, referred to as the MCQ, and a free-response essay section referred to as the FRQ. The structure can vary test to test, for example, the AP Spanish exam has three parts consisting of listening and reading MCQs, an essay section and a speaking section.
Students are given a 10 minute break between sections during which they can get a drink of water or a snack. They are not allowed to consult textbooks, notes or other external resources during the exam.
While studying for AP exams can be stressful, there are many resources for students, starting with their AP teachers. “In my class, we started test prep during class in late March and early April, and we did a lot of practice for each section of the test,” said Durham. The College Board also recommends using practice resources in AP Classroom as well as testing previews in Bluebook in order to prepare for the AP exams.
While taking the test, it is crucial for students to stay calm and remember they are prepared. “We did a guided visualization where students close their eyes, and they did breathing exercises, and then we went through, mentally, each part of the test. And they had a little bit of a mantra where they’re like, I know how to do this,” said Durham.
Overall, AP classes can be very beneficial but also very stressful. It’s important for students to choose classes that match their specific interests and passions, and take the AP exams they feel prepared for. To find more information about AP classes at IBW, check out the Interactive Course Guide.
For students deciding what AP classes to take, think about what subjects you are already interested in and want to be challenged more in. Not every AP class is for every student, and students shouldn’t take AP classes for the purpose of stacking their GPA and college application. Instead, consider the workload, your personal academic and career goals and ask your counselors if you are unsure.
