The Advanced Placement program offers college- level courses for high schools throughout the United States and other countries. These classes are very helpful for students because they don't only challenge the students intellectually, but may also provide college credit. According to College Board, an organization that provides educational services, programs, and standardized tests, "Through AP's college-level courses and exams, you can earn college credit and advanced placement, stand out in the admissions process, and learn from some of the most skilled, dedicated, and inspiring teachers in the world." However, the downside to taking an AP class is the AP test, a test that consists of the many concepts that have been taught in that class, which basically means that it's designed to pick at students' brains.
Although I support high school AP programs for students because they are supposedly enriching, I completely disagree with the taking of AP tests. AP tests don't actually test our knowledge to the fullest extent if there are time limits given because some people, like me, do not work as well under pressure. Also, students usually cram their study time for these tests, especially if they are involved in sports and other extra- curricular activities and have to do homework and take tests from other classes. Therefore, it is difficult for students to properly prepare and take these exams because planning one's life around it for the month or even the few weeks before it is practically impossible. Students also constantly worry about failing the AP exam because it means no college credit which translates into, "I just failed a difficult class for no reason at all despite my hard work throughout the school year." I'm not saying that it's the fault of the AP exam for a student's inability to sufficiently study, however I think that there should be a better way to show whether or not the student has passed the class in order to obtain college credit.
So what's the solution to this problem? AP exams should be eliminated and the only possible way to achieve college credit is to pass the class with a B or higher in each semester, which includes 2 quarters and a final exam per semester. However, some might say that a B is harder to obtain in an AP class than a regular class, which is probably true. Well, the thing is if you were able to make it into that AP class in the first place then you are more than able to obtain atleast a B for both semesters. Wouldn't life be so much easier as the stress that usually accompanies the dreadful two weeks of "AP exam season" disappears? What do you think about these tests?
Here are some really good tips for studying and doing well in class.
http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fancher/STUDY.HTM
Here's more information on the AP program and its history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP_test
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AP exams are necessary because AP courses themselves are not standardized. Each teacher has a different way of teaching. Some methods are better than others and some clases are easier than others. The AP tests are a way of leveling the playing field, since one may fail the exam but still have an "A" since the teacher was very lenient and the class was easy.
ReplyDelete私は言えばいいのか知らない何を…
ReplyDeleteAP exams are necessary, and saying that the ap tests do not test our knowledge to the fullest extent is wrong. Just because your working under pressure, or have several other classes, or many curricular activities doesnt mean that these tests are not benefitial. Colleges are looking for well rounded students who can manage their time well and can still deal with the other outside activities they do. If the student crams, its the students fault for not preparing himself/herself. These college credits dont come easy.
ReplyDeleteStudents who complain about this set themselves up for it anyway; I'm pretty sure at some point they were told it was a "rigorous, college-level course."
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that AP tests don't fully test someone's knowledge, due to the fact that there are time restraints. For example, the writing portions. It would be extremely difficult for one to write a well developed essay under time restraints. I would imagine that they would be thinking too much about how much time was left, rather than thinking about the content of their essay. In that respect, I do believe that AP tests should be redesigned so that they can properly test one's knowlegde.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. Say there's an AP Civics course in a Los Angeles high school. If there are no pre-requisites for entering said AP course, and the hardest thing in that class is to take notes and write an essay every month, then getting an A for the semester is incredibly easy. On the other side of the country, in a Massachusetts high school, an AP course for the same subject requires a background of internship at the state capitol for anyone who wants to apply for it. And, if the students gets into the class, he or she must take daily quizzes, write weekly essays, and do monthly projects and tests to make sure they know the subject.
ReplyDeleteIf you were to compare both students, would they get the same amount of credit for their knowledge of the subject? No.
Standardized tests are completely necessary.