AP Testing season is upon us. With that, some people may be relieved that they didn’t take an AP Class. And some are cramming in last-minute studying. But some may wonder what really is the point of an AP class? What do AP classes even do?
This year at Tahoma, 1461 AP exams will be taken by 882 students for various different classes. I myself took an AP Test this year for AP Human Geography. AP Tests are generally long and take a few hours at a time. On average, an AP Test is 2.5-3 hours long.
The original idea for AP classes came from the idea that there should be a system for students to earn college credits in high school. According to AP Human Geography teacher Mr Baker, “Advanced Placement is managed by the College Board of Directors and College Professors. . . The first AP Exam was given in 1954, and AP Human Geography was first given in 2001; however, the first year AP Human Geography was given at Tahoma was in 2011.
AP Tests are graded on a 5-point scale. Getting a 3, 4 or 5 is passing and earning college credit. Some tests may be easier than others, making it easier to get a 5. But getting a 5 on an AP Test is challenging. There is no real classification of the ‘hardest’ AP Class. But some AP classes are seen to be more challenging. AP Physics 1 is classified to be as renowned hard AP class by many.
AP Testing is very old, it is a 70-year-old idea that is still holding up to this day. Over the last 70 years, many AP classes have emerged. The College Board offers 40 AP Courses for students to take. For the 2024-2025 school year, Tahoma offered 21 AP classes for students to choose from. These classes could vary from history, English, art, and much more.
Are AP Classes Good?
AP Classes are generally harder and more rigorous than usual classes. If you accept the challenge and work in AP Classes, then they are for you. Mr. Baker says that he recommends AP Classes for those who are ready for a challenge. “It is a great way to better prepare yourself for the workload of college and possibly earn college credits. Taking AP classes can help boost admission into college.”
Even though AP Classes can be challenging, they are beneficial to your future. If you want to do a high-demand and good job outside of an important college, then AP Classes can be a way for you to boost your transcript and GPA.
At some schools, where they graduate with their weighted GPA, AP Classes can help their GPA surpass 4.0. But at Tahoma we do not graduate with a weighted GPA.
Another way to graduate high school with AP status is graduating as an AP Scholar. AP Scholars have to pass 3 or more AP Tests with a 3 or more. An AP Scholar with Honor needs an average score of at least 3.25 across all their AP exams, and a score of 3 or higher on four or more exams. An AP Scholar with distinction has to have an average score of at least 3.5 across all of their AP exams, and a score of 3 or higher on five or more exams.
All in all, AP is a course that can be taken for various reasons. It could be for academic gain, challenging courses, or just overall curiosity. But no matter what it is, they are worth it.
