AP Courses and Changes for 2011 and beyond
One of the most difficult curriculum strategy issues facing students and parents today is deciding whether to add Advanced Placement (AP) courses to their schedule. The classes are rigorous, often more rote learning and time consuming than the actual college classes they parallel. Beyond that, the colleges give mixed messages as to the value of AP vs. standard classes. For example:
- Many elite colleges are looking for a "demanding" curriculum from the student. This is a nebulous term with no real standards or measurements. When pressed, the admissions officers will confide that they expect the student to have a minimum of 4-5 AP classes in order to be classified as "demanding". In fact, "85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student's AP experience favorably impacts admissions decisions."
- When asked is it more important to have an "A" in a regular class, or "B" in an AP class, the admissions officers almost always respond "The "A" in the AP class is best of all." However, when speaking offline the admissions officers will state that unweighted GPA is important. This implies that the "A" in the regular class would be superior to the "B" in AP. At least until the curriculum (see above point) is taken into consideration.
- A 2008 study 2008 study showed that students who had taken AP English Literature were 62% more likely to complete a bachelor's degree in 4 years and have higher GPA's.
- However, it is becoming more and more difficult to apply that AP course credit to college graduation. While the American Council on Education (ACE) recommends recommends that college credit be applied for a score of 3 or more; Many schools are now requiring a score of 4 or 5 in order to gain college credit. Additionally, many universities are now encouraging students to retake the class in college in order to have a "consistent" experience at the school's later classes.
Against this confusing backdrop, the AP program is going through a number of changes over the next few years, that will have significant impact on today's high school students and their choice of AP classes.
For 2010-2011, AP tests have new scoring standards. AP multiple choice test questions will no longer be graded with deductions for a wrong answer. So a wrong answer and no answer both result in no net change to the score. This should encourage to students to attempt every question offered rather than skip those of which they are unsure of. This is of immediate interest to any student currently taking any AP course.
Starting with 2011-2012, there are significant curriculum changes to the following courses and their tests: AP World History, AP French, and AP German. In 2012-2013, AP Spanish and AP Latin will be revamped. Science curricula is not exempted, plans will be published in February, 2011 for the modifications of AP Biology. AP Chemistry and AP Physics B plans are complete and are being rolled out over the next 2 years.
Current high school students should consider carefully which APs to take before the program change and which to delay to take advantage of the new program. Students and their parents must also seriously consider the training of their teachers in the new program as well as any first year "beta" type errors in the process.
There is no easy one size fits all answer to the question of which and how many AP classes a student should add to their curriculum. An honest evaluation of their academic fit, academic passions, school ambitions, stress capacity, and extra-curriculars are just a number of things that need to be factored into this increasingly complicated decision.
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