In spring, while high school students are enjoying sports outside under the sunshine, a daunting season begins within the school’s walls. Every year, there are two AP weeks in May. Is it worthwhile to take the AP exams, considering they are difficult and expensive?
First, compared to college fees, taking AP exams is cheaper. One AP exam costs 92 dollars and, since many students take more than one, a lot of money is spent on taking exams. It is true that the AP exams are expensive. However, college is much more expensive. If you pay for the AP exams and get a score of 4 or 5, you may earn credit for that course, so you won’t need to spend money to take that class in college.
Second, a year’s worth of knowledge is put to waste if you take the AP course but not the test. More and more students choose to take AP classes in order to attain a challenging experience, but are afraid and choose not to take AP exams. Nonetheless, all the quizzes and tests in AP classes are in the same format as one would find them on an AP examination. Granted, many AP teachers throughout MCPS choose to curve tests and quizzes that reflect AP material. If one does not take the AP exam in May, the teacher will require that person to take the final exam for the course when people who take the AP exam are exempt and can rest. On the other hand, everyone works hard to study for the AP course, so the AP exam should be their final goal.
Third, AP exams develop your skills. Due to the fact that AP exams are long, taking them is a life skill which teaches patience and concentration. Most of the AP exams contain two different sections: multiple choice and free response; the multiple choice section expects students to read carefully and the free response expects students to think critically.
Yes, taking the AP exams is really worthwhile. It saves money, develops important life skills, and gives meaning to AP courses. Prepare for the AP and challenge yourself.
Article by MoCo Student staff writer Tiffany Pei of Quince Orchard High School