Quite a large number of students take Advanced Placement (AP) courses here at Paint Branch. AP teachers base their teaching around the test that is given by College Board at the end of the year. When deciding whether or not to take that exam at the end of the year, students must evaluate numerous factors.

Perhaps the most glaring reason to take that AP exam at the end of the year is for the potential college credit that comes from scoring well on it. Granted, some colleges only accept scores on certain exams for credit, while others don’t accept any score on any AP exam. A majority of colleges do accept a minimum score on the test, so earning this college credit can save a student money heading into college and can also allow a student to skip some prerequisite courses and get him or her started sooner on his or her major courses.

Another positive that comes out of taking the AP final exam is exemption from the MCPS course final. If a student takes the AP exam, s/he does not take the MCPS final. Most AP teachers give a final project, which represents the final exam grade on one’s report card. Those projects are some of the easiest “A’s” a student will ever receive in an AP class. With the AP exams taking place in May, a student does not have to return to school for that class’s final exam later that month.

Lastly, taking an AP final exam is good test preparation for a college test. Taking the class for the full year is already good preparation for a college level course, and taking the test is just another step to getting ready for college.

There is only one reason to not take an AP exam, and that is money. The exams cost $80, which is a lot just to take a test. If the student and his or her parents cannot afford the test, then by no means, should that student struggle for money to take the exam. However, if a student can afford to pay that $80, it would be a very smart decision for him or her to take that test. Some students will argue that they have no chance of passing the test, but those students must study harder than usual in the hope of possibly earning college credit. Skipping the AP exam and taking the county final has no benefit because if the student truly is not prepared, s/he is going to fail the county final with absolutely no chance of earning college credit. At least if the student takes the AP exam, there is a slight chance s/he does well and earns credit. On top of that, they don’t get the easy final project grade; they have to take a test for their final exam grade.

Other students say there is no reason to take an AP exam because the college they plan on going to does not accept AP credit. Those students need to refer back to the point about being exempt from the MCPS county final. It is worth it to take the AP exam if it means getting an easy final exam grade and not having to come to class on that one day during finals.

Deciding whether or not to take an AP exam should not be a hard decision for a student.  Unless the student legitimately cannot afford the AP exam, he or she should always be taking the test, no matter what.