By Jennifer McKim
With college right around the corner, students are taking Advanced Placement exams in the hopes of receiving college credit. Some colleges, however, do not take AP test credit. With AP tests being difficult to pass and the possibility of not receiving college credit for passing scores, many students wonder if AP tests are worth it.
According to msn.com, success on an AP test may allow college freshmen to skip introductory courses or obtain credit toward graduation. Receiving college credit for AP classes can result in early graduation, saving both money and time. But some colleges restrict college credit given to students through AP tests, making it harder for students to get a head start on their college careers.
According to msn.com, 66 percent of colleges and universities nationwide award a form of credit for a score of a 3 (on a scale of 1-5) on an AP exam, but what about the 34 percent of schools nationwide which don’t offer the credit? According to the College Board, nearly 4,000 colleges across the United States that accept AP scores have around 51,000 separate policies on awarding credit for the exams.
A study by Paul Weinstein, director of Johns Hopkins University’s graduate program in public management, assessed the AP credit policies of the top 153 colleges. It found that 86 percent of the colleges in the study restrict AP credit for students. Three-quarters of the colleges limited which AP subject areas they accept for credit. Also, nine schools in the study didn’t offer college course credit for AP tests.
Trevor Packer, a vice president at College Board who oversees the AP program, said that students who participate in AP classes during their high school years and earn a score of a 3 or higher on the AP test perform better at a higher level than peers who do not participate in AP classes.
While some schools award credit for AP tests, the requirements are increasingly difficult. According to deseretnews.com, university representatives said that more students are taking AP classes and test scores continue to increase. With the rise in test scores, colleges make AP test credit more difficult to obtain in order to maintain competition among students. While a 3 on an AP test is considered passing, many schools require a 4 or a 5 for students to receive college credit.
Receiving college credit for AP tests would reduce the high cost of college. AP tests cost $93, which is significantly cheaper than a college course costing $1,800 to $3,000. If students receive credit for multiple classes, they can also be on track to graduating early. Kate Lyon, a 2005 graduate from Dartmouth, said that her family saved about $15,000 through her AP credits. She said that colleges that do not to accept AP test scores for college credit do not consider students who struggle to pay for college.
When colleges refuse to accept AP test scores, it can be difficult for students to afford a four-year university. According to the College Board, removing the possibility of AP credit can significantly hurt minorities and low-income students.
Trevor Packer said, “When schools have a commitment to expand diversity, eliminating AP credits cuts against those goals.”
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