Why should I take AP classes?

AP classes give student the chance to challenge themselves by taking more rigorous coursework while in high school.  If they do well on the AP exam, then students have the opportunity to earn college credit.  Students who take AP and IB classes also earn an extra quality point on their transcripts, thus giving them the opportunity to earn GPAs out of 5.0 quality points instead of 4.0 quality points.

Research also shows that students who take AP classes tend to do better in college.  See the below findings from the Center for College Readiness at Rice University (http://collegeready.rice.edu/ap-and-college-readiness):

 "According to the largest-ever study of the effects of AP on college success, University of Texas researchers found that students who take AP courses in high school are more likely to graduate from college within four years and have higher grade point averages in college than similar students who did not take AP courses. Hargrove and Dodd (2007) found that students who successfully participated in one or more AP exams and courses significantly out-performed their non-AP peers. These comparisons were made among peers with similar levels of academic ability and family economic status. Students who took one or more AP courses and exams had higher college GPAs, earned more credit hours and were more likely to graduate in 4 years or less. The findings indicate that even AP students who took the course and scored two out of a possible five points on an AP exam will still tend to do better in college than a student who did not take AP courses or who skipped the AP exam (Hargrove and Dodd, 2007).

 Additionally, data suggests that AP exam scores of 3 or better are strongly predictive of a higher rate of college graduation. A study by Dougherty, Mellor and Jian (2005) assessed college-graduation rate differences between matched AP and non-AP students and found that AP students were significantly more likely to graduate from college than their matched non-AP peers. These results indicated that African-Americans scoring a three or higher on the AP exam as opposed to the non-AP student were 21 percent more likely to graduate from college, Hispanics were 27 percent more likely, whites were 19 percent more likely, and low-income students were 32 percent more likely."

How do I find out my scores?

During the AP Pre-Registration period and exam sessions, students should carefully and consistently fill out their AP answer sheets in order to prevent delays to score access.  Prior to July, they should sign up for a College Board account at apscore.org.  If students have already created a College Board account for a previous AP exam, PSAT, or SAT, they do not have to create another account.  They just need to make sure they consistently provide the same email address on their AP answer sheet as on their SAT, etc. answer sheets. 

 In July, students will use their College Board account username and password and their AP number to access their scores from apscore.org.  Scores are released on a rolling basis, so students should check their College Board account and email to see when their scores will be available.  AP numbers change each year, and students receive a card at pre-registration with their AP number.  It is important that students keep up with this number.  Therefore, we often recommend that students take a picture of the card with their phones.  Students may also elect to use their Grimsley High School Student ID number to access scores during the pre-registration period.

What is considered a passing score?

 A score of 3 or higher (out of 5) is considered passing for an AP exam.  Each college and university has different requirements for which scores they accept and how much credit they will award.  You can find out this information on the admissions website for the universities and colleges that a student is interested in.  We have also included a quick link to the policies from universities most frequently attended by Grimsley graduates on the "Can I Get Credit for That?" webpage. 

How will the scores for any AP course I take be sent to universities?

 Each year students take AP Exams they receive one free score report by designating a college, university, or scholarship program on their first or “pre-registration” AP answer sheet. The institution they pick receives their official score report, containing scores from every AP Exam they have ever taken, unless they have requested that one or more scores be withheld or canceled.  If they wish to send scores to additional colleges, each report costs $15. Reports with rush processing cost $25 each.  More information about AP exam reporting can be found here.  We recommend that students wait until their senior year to send their scores since that is when they will know where they will attend college. 

 What if I want to take an exam for a course that I am not enrolled in?

Students can elect to take exams for courses they are not taking, but it is the family's responsibility to notify the AP Coordinator of this wish by the end of January and to pay the required exam fee of $94, so the exam will be ordered before the first deadline.

What if I have a conflict on the day of my AP exam?

College Board provides a list of acceptable reasons to take a late AP exam.  Please note that some conflicts incur a late exam fee of $45, and some do not.  If a late exam fee is incurred, it is the family's responsibility to notify the coordinator of the conflict as soon as possible and to pay the fee prior to the ordering of the late exam.  If an exam has already been ordered, an unused exam return fee of $15 may also be charged to the family depending on the circumstances.  Please note that oversleeping, getting caught in traffic, and misreading the exam schedule do not qualify for a late exam.  Students who miss an exam for these reasons, will pay the $15 exam fee and will not be able to take the late exam.

College Board-approved reasons for taking a late exam that do not incur a fee include:

-Conflict with an IB exam

-Emergency-Serious injury, illness or family tragedy (doctor's note or parent written verification required)

-Religious holiday/observance (parent written verification required)

-Three or more AP exams on the same date

-A conflict with another AP exam

-A conflict with a district sponsored academic contest/event or athletic event (written notice either in email or handwritten required)

College Board-approved reasons for taking a late exam that incurs a $45 fee include: 

-A conflict with a non-district sponsored academic contest/event or athletic event

-Family or personal commitment