Throughout high school, most students take an Advanced Placement class, which is a college-level course. Taking this class grants students the opportunity to take an AP test, which can reward students with college credit if they reach a passing score that qualifies at their future college institution.
Many students are unsure about the AP test on whether it is worth taking or not, mainly because each test costs $103 and there is no guaranteed return on the investment. There are other benefits of taking the AP test and the class itself beyond gaining college credit; for example, AP classes are graded on a five-point scale, which rewards a GPA boost.
Having taken AP classes is also a strong area of interest for college applications. As stated by Milford High School counselor and AP coordinator Gina Pryor, “It can be a talking point. For example, if you’re applying to U of M, maybe they just give you general credit.”
Taking the AP test itself is also a valuable learning experience, as Pryor emphasized, “I think it is just the experience of testing and developing those skills, like time management and deeper thinking, that you could apply to future tests or classes.”
Overall, while some students may not get the credit they desire, AP testing helps push students to advanced learning and complex thinking.
When it comes to taking the AP test, it is essential to be aware of the registration deadline. The deadline this year is on November 7th, and there is a $40 late fee.
Information on how to sign up for the AP test comes from each teacher or counselor through a Google document.
The AP test consists of a multiple-choice section and a written section, and covers the entire year’s curriculum. Different colleges take different AP scores on the AP tests. For example, Michigan State University would take a 3 on AP Human Geography, but the University of Michigan would only take a 4 or higher.
Teachers at MHS recognize the various pros of the AP test. “As a teacher of a ninth-grade AP class, I feel like it’s helping to set students up for experiences as AP students that they’re probably going to have as sophomores, juniors, and seniors,” AP Geography teacher Mrs. Rogers reflected. “They’re learning a little bit about a process that will become part of their experience through the rest of high school.” Rogers also recognized the cost and benefits that the AP test can potentially provide.
“Taking the exam involves a fee that the College Board charges…but that fee, compared to the cost of college credit at a university, is a fraction.” The AP test can help students save money on college, but if students do not earn a score high enough for the college or colleges they are applying to, it may not count towards credit, which will result in money lost on the test.
However, Rogers says that the outcome of the test is not necessarily more important than the outcome of the class. “The experience, the learning, and the growth as a student– all of those things far outweigh just the bottom line of your score.”
AP Government teacher Kyle McGrath also recognized the value of the AP test and AP class in general, stating: “You get to be around other top-level students, you get more enrichment, and you get more time on the topic. Being in the AP class, I think the data has shown, leads to much better scores or results [outside of that experience].” McGrath added to his statement by explaining the benefits of the actual test, and how it can help students pay for their college classes.
The cost of the AP test also acts as an incentive for students to become better students. “It motivates you to then try hard and be more successful. So in that case, signing up for the test could be beneficial,” McGrath said. In general, the AP test not only gives the potential to ease the expenses of university, but also provides students with the necessary skills to succeed post-high school.
In the experience of students, such as Senior Lily Hardin, the test was worth the time and money. “I think it’s worth it because you can get rewarded for your hard work during the year by sometimes getting college credit,” Hardin explained. “And it can help you get into college in general.” Aside from the benefits, it provides for students entering college, Hardin believes that the AP test helps students gain useful academic skills. “It teaches you how to study on your own because a lot of the time, teachers don’t have a lot of time to prepare you.”
Overall, the AP test serves as a valuable tool for high school students to get a head start on college and save a significant amount of money in college.
High school students often save thousands of dollars on their degrees. Students don’t just gain money, but they also gain a valuable learning experience, learn how to think critically, and go through tough academic challenges. Students who take AP classes and tests rarely regret doing so because it helps them become more prepared for college.