News Staff Writer
Already taking six classes, attending weekly viola lessons, participating in a varsity sport and suffering from a severe head cold, many under-formers may be asking themselves, “Why on earth did I sign up for this AP exam?” Good question. What with the stress and extra studying that are inevitably a part of the AP, the decision to take the test may not necessarily be right for everyone. However, I have found that there are several advantages to taking an AP that make the stress—as well as looking pasty white and missing out on a few spring days—worthwhile.
Primarily, it can give you a competitive edge in the application process. The more elite the institution, the more it will be looking for and prefer applicants who have taken advanced courses and have shown mastery of the material—and what better way to show off your academic finesse than earn a 5 on the AP exam? Perhaps you’ve taken a course in which an AP test is available, but would rather sit the exam on a later date. But rather than take an AP on old material during the notorious junior spring, why not take it sophomore year--when the material is still fresh? It doesn’t matter if you do badly, because AP scores are not automatically sent to colleges. Taking an AP now can familiarize you with the test format and serve as valuable practice for taking the exams in the future.
Preparing for the AP’s is often a helpful supplement to class work. Studying for these tests forces you to review an entire course’s worth of subject material in a shorter amount of time. In revisiting and condensing information, it’s often easier to understand the larger concepts and make connections you may not have recognized in studying for your term exams. Reviewing the entire year can reveal overarching themes—rather than the small details covered in class—and bring cohesiveness to a course.
Studying for AP’s also gives you a head start on preparing for the end-of-term exams. And after the lengthy and arduous AP exams, an SAT II in the same subject will seem like a stroll across Mem Field.
Taking the AP leaves a lasting impression. Teachers and colleges alike look favorably on under-formers that are motivated to challenge themselves and dedicated enough to their learning to take an AP.
From providing in-depth knowledge to rounding out your college application, taking an AP exam is certainly worth a little stress and sun-deprived skin.
