AP Tests :(

[CronoTriggerfan]

Well, my first one is this Monday, and I'm currently cramming. It's AP US Government and Politics. It's my personal passion, but for some reason, I feel like I'm not ready. Despite the fact that I need to answer only 50% of the questions right to get a 3, there's just this little thing eating away at my brain that tells me failure is inevitable.

I've taken 5 AP classes so far (History, Gov, Econ, Comp. Network/Maintenance, and Java), but this is my first experience with the actual exam. I got a 96% in the class, but again, I'm feeling a bit uneasy. I'm going over all my notes and an AP prep book I picked up at Border's today.

I know several of you here have taken AP tests before, some of you may have even taken this one. I get the numbers breakdown, but I've never heard any clear personal assessments. How are these things? I've heard dumb kids say they're a breeze and kids within the top 10% of their class say they're killer. So what's your opinion of them? How did you study? (If at all..... Skyler. ) What should I expect going in? Thanks a lot, guys, looking forward to the opinions!

[project_failure]

I never taken it but I have to say that you will probably never feel quite ready.

When it comes time to sit down and take it, just relax. I'm sure you will do fine.

[gannon]

Good luck with the APs, my school didn't offer any AP courses unfortunately

[Tibia]

Sounds like you don't need to worry. I had a hard time with AP Government, but I was also just doing enough work in HS to maintain a D+ average. AP English was a total walkover, though. Maybe it's because I like English.

If it's something you genuinely are interested in, and you did well in the class, you'll do just fine.

[Black Six]

The only AP history type test I took was US History, and I only got a 3, so I can't really offer much god advice. I find the math and science ones are easier since they're less subjective, no essay writing and such (that's what hurt me most on the history, I wasn't familiar enough with the topic to write a good essay). In AP Lit it's easier to just BS and still do fine, so I did alright on that.

[ganonbanned]

Sounds like hell... well, good luck on that...

(I'm happy im dumb.)

[Gamelver]

5 in AP Calc, 4 in AP Physics....

I didn't study much for calc, and basically not at all for physics . Also, I was sick the weekend of the physics exam. Still, a 5 in the AP Calc exam, not bad, eh !

[vskid]

I find the math and science ones are easier since they're less subjective, no essay writing and such

I was hoping there wouldn't be any essays on them, I'm taking AP calc and AP physics next year.

I'm glad I didn't take AP US history this year. I'm doing great in the normal class, but I'm horrible if it goes into extreme detail and its not about something I'm interested in.

[Skyone]

So what's your opinion of them? How did you study? (If at all..... Skyler. )

Dude, I dropped out of AP/H. So not even close to worth it.

[slimjimmy]

Took the US HIstory, Biology and English Lang. and Comp. exams last year. I got two 3s and a 4 on the Biology one (I am also going to have 3 more this week). Personal advice: I wouldn't worry too much about it, it's not going to count against you in the class, and if you do get a 3 or better, then kudos to you.

Besides, would you feel like taking some of these classes in college again anyway?

[timmeh87]

Whats this ap business?

Standardized tests suck, Im glad my future is in no way determined by them.

[ghosstt]

Whats this ap business?

Standardized tests suck, Im glad my future is in no way determined by them.

Advanced Placement Classes. They are classes that you get college credit for if you take them in high school.

[Life of Brian]

Hmm, let's see:

US History 4
European History 4
US Government 3
World Government 4
English Language 4
English Literature 4

And I don't remember if those are the correct names for the classes, but I did pretty decent. I went to a regional college and they offered me 21 credit hours! Sweet. I didn't have to take any history or English classes since starting college so I think AP classes are great! Sounds like you've been working hard this school year, CTFan, so I think you'll be fine.

US Government... *shudder* That one was hard.

[Black Six]

Hmm, let's see:

US History 4
European History 4
US Government 3
World Government 4
English Language 4
English Literature 4

And I don't remember if those are the correct names for the classes, but I did pretty decent. I went to a regional college and they offered me 21 credit hours! Sweet. I didn't have to take any history or English classes since starting college so I think AP classes are great! Sounds like you've been working hard this school year, CTFan, so I think you'll be fine.

US Government... *shudder* That one was hard.

Yeah I know what you mean there Brian. Thanks to AP classes I got out of Calc I, Physics I, Intro to Comp Sci, and a Lit Class. It can boost you pretty far ahead and gives you the opportunity to take more classes to double major or get a grad certificate or something. Or you can just be lazier.

[CronoTriggerfan]

US Government... *shudder* That one was hard.

You're killin' me, Smalls!

Still studying, the test is in 9 hours. The stuff they want you to know is just so tedious...

And Brian, it seems you got on board with AP at exactly the right time. I read an article the other week that a huge amount of colleges are putting much stricter requirements on acceptance for credit. Many schools now only accept a 4 or 5 for class placement options, and a 5 only for actual credit. Their thinking is that instead of actually letting people skip courses or gain credits, they just weigh AP classes heavier in your GPA for admission standards. Lame, IMO. Besides, I've always been under the assumption that an AP class is more rigorous than a college course of the same material, simply because the testing standards are higher and there is more material to be learned in a shorter amount of time? Maybe I'm wrong, that's just what I was told by my teachers.