Admissions Blog

Sneak preview: College Board exec tweets 2017 AP results

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Nancy Griesemer

It turns out that Trevor Packer, the College Board’s Senior Vice President for Advanced Placement and Instruction, like our Commander-In-Chief, makes use of Twitter to communicate with his constituency—teachers, administrators, students and others engaged in one way or another with the AP program. But unlike more free-ranging “tweeters,” Packer pretty much sticks to his script and limits his comments to explanations of the program he promotes.

Over the past month, Packer has been extensively tweeting about the most recent AP exams, the results of which were officially released last week. In addition to commenting on specific questions and student response to those questions, he’s also providing interesting data on overall test results much of which could be useful for students evaluating how well they did on individual exams or how this year’s scoring patterns might suggest level of difficulty of classes they intend to take in the future.

For example, only one student out of 133,000, who took the BC Calculus test earned a perfect score. For AB Calculus, only three students out of 317,000 earned a perfect 108 out of 108, while three students out of 303,000 earned a perfect score for AP Psychology. And for the record, only one student out of 217,000 worldwide, earned all 100 out of 100 possible points on the AP Statistics exam!

Here’s a sample of what else Packer has to say about this year’s exams:

Trevor Packer ‏@AP_Trevor June 13 [2016] As a reminder, AP Exams aren’t graded on a curve. So when more students demonstrate mastery, the percentage of 3s, 4s, 5s increases.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 10 When exam scores get better, credit’s due to teachers/students achieving more, rather than the exam (equated from yr to yr) getting easier.

Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 27 The (inaugural) 2017 AP Computer Science Principles scores: 5: 14%; 4: 21.6%; 3: 39%; 2: 18.5%; 1: 6.9%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 27 The 2017 AP Statistics scores: 5: 13.3%; 4: 15.5%; 3: 25%; 2: 20.4%; 1: 25.8%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 21 The 2017 AP Calculus BC scores: 5: 42.4%; 4: 18.3%; 3: 19.9%; 2: 14.3%; 1: 5.1%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 21 The 2017 AP Calculus AB scores: 5: 18.6%; 4: 18.1%; 3: 21%; 2: 21.9%; 1: 20.4%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 12 The 2017 AP Computer Scienc e A scores 5: 24.4%; 4: 20.9%; 3: 21.9%; 2: 11.5%; 1: 21.3%. These may shift slightly as late exams are scored.

Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 27 The 2017 AP Japanese Language and Culture total group scores: 5: 45.6%; 4: 10.8%; 3: 20.8%; 2: 8.5%; 1: 14.3%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 27 The 2017 AP Spanish Language total group scores: 5: 19.5%; 4: 35; 3: 34.1%; 2: 9.9%; 1: 1.5%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 26 The 2017 AP Chinese Language & Culture scores: 5: 68.4%; 4: 11.3%; 3: 12.5%; 2: 3.3%; 1: 4.5%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 26 The 2017 AP Latin scores: 5: 12.9%; 4: 19.5%; 3: 31.2%; 2: 22.7%; 1: 13.7%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 23 The 2017 AP German Language and Culture total group scores: 5: 22.6%; 4: 24.5%; 3: 28.8%; 2: 17.4%; 1: 6.7%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 22 The 2017 AP Italian Language and Culture total group scores: 5: 17.8%; 4: 19.1%; 3: 34.3%; 2: 22.8%; 1: 6%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 22 The 2017 AP English Language & Composition scores: 5: 9.1%; 4: 18.4%; 3: 27.8%; 2: 30.7%; 1: 14%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 22 The 2017 AP French Language & Culture total group scores: 5: 16.8%; 4: 25%; 3: 33.5%; 2: 19.7%; 1: 5%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 20 The 2017 AP English Literature scores: 5: 6.8%; 4: 16.1%; 3: 29.9%; 2: 33.9%; 1: 13.3%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 17 The 2017 AP Spanish Literature scores 5: 9.4%; 4: 26%; 3: 37.9%; 2: 20.3%; 1: 6.4%.

Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 26 The 2017 AP Psychology scores: 5: 18.8%; 4: 25.2%; 3: 20.1%; 2: 14.7%; 1: 21.2%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 19 The 2017 AP United States History scores: 5: 10.9; 4: 17.9%; 3: 22.6%; 2: 23.5%; 1: 25.1%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 19 The 2017 AP European History scores: 5: 9.5%; 4: 18.8%; 3: 28.5%; 2: 31.4%; 1: 11.8%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 19 The 2017 AP World History scores: 5: 8.5%; 4: 20.1%; 3: 27%; 2: 29.5%; 1: 14:9%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 15 The 2017 AP Comparative Government & Politics scores 5: 23.7%; 4: 24.7%; 3: 20.5%; 2: 17.8%; 1: 13.3%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 15 The 2017 AP US Government & Politics scores 5: 11.2%; 4: 12.5%; 3: 25.8%; 2: 24.7%; 1: 25.8%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 10 2017 AP Microeconomics scores 5: 21.5%; 4: 28.3%; 3: 18.5%; 2: 12.8%; 1: 18.9%. These may shift slightly as late exams are scored.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 10 2017 AP Macroeconomics scores 5: 16.4%; 4: 23.1%; 3: 17.2%; 2: 16.2%; 1: 27.1%. These=the highest AP Macro scores in many years. Congrats!

Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 20 The 2017 AP Biology scores: 5: 6.2%; 4: 20.9%; 3: 36.7%; 2: 27.8%; 1: 8.4%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 16 The 2017 AP Chemistry scores: 5: 9.2%; 4: 15.7%; 3: 26.1%; 2: 27%; 1: 22%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 14 The 2017 AP Human Geography scores 5: 10.6%; 4: 17.4%; 3: 21%; 2: 17.2%; 1: 33.8%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 13 The 2017 AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism scores 5: 28.1%; 4: 25.1%; 3: 15.6%; 2: 18.2%; 1: 13%.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 13 The 2017 AP Physics 2 scores 5: 11.1%; 4: 15.6%; 3: 34.1%; 2: 29.7%; 1: 9.5%. These may shift slightly as late exams are scored.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 13 The 2017 AP Physics 1 scores 5: 5%; 4: 15.8%; 3: 20.3%; 2: 29.5%; 1: 29.4%. These may shift slightly as late exams are scored.
Trevor Packer‏ @AP_Trevor Jun 10 2017 AP Macroeconomics scores 5: 16.4%; 4: 23.1%; 3: 17.2%; 2: 16.2%; 1: 27.1%. These=the highest AP Macro scores in many years. Congrats!

For more detailed information, by state, on performance on AP exams, check out the 2016 AP Report to the Nation. There you are likely to find more data than even the most dedicated of standardized test junkies could ever hope to digest!

2017 Advanced Placement scores are now available

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Nancy Griesemer

Virginia Tech students are allowed to use up to 38 hours of AP credit towards graduation.

In case you missed the email, the College Board rolled out Advanced Placement (AP®) scores for tests taken this past May earlier this month. And by now, most AP students should have already received their scores—for better or worse!

For the record, old fashioned snail mail reports were discontinued several years ago in favor of an online arrangement that requires you to have a College Board account to access scores. In other words, to obtain scores, students must have

an online College Board account requiring registration
a username and password
2017 AP number (the number on the labels in the Student Pack) OR student identifier (student ID number) if provided on your answer sheet

Unless there was a problem with identification, scoring or test administration, your scores should now be available and will be added to a cumulative report of all AP tests you have taken to-date (you actually have to pay an extra fee to have any scores removed from the report).

If you’re unlucky enough not to have a score report, feel free to contact the College Board at [email protected] or 888-225-5427 (toll free) or 212-632-1780, especially if you haven’t received scores by September 1.

And what do the scores mean? AP scores are a “weighted combination” of results on the multiple-choice and free-response sections. The final score is reported on a 5-point scale, as follows:

5: Extremely well qualified to receive college credit or advanced placement
4: Well qualified
3: Qualified
2: Possibly qualified
1: No recommendation

You can also think of the five-point scale in terms of letter grades, with 5 equating to an “A” and 1—well, you get the picture.

And what are they worth? The awarding of credit and placement status is determined by individual colleges or universities. You can check directly with the school or on the College Board website to research this information, but note that the latter is neither as specific nor as accurate as what you are likely to find on individual school websites.

In most cases, a student who scores a 4 or 5 may receive college credit. In rare cases, a school will require a 5, and almost no colleges will accept a score of 2. In fact, the most selective colleges will not accept a 3 for credit.

For example, George Mason University will accept a score of 3 for 4 credits in an entry-level environmental science class. For 8 credits, the student must earn a 4 or 5 on the exam. Neither Georgetown nor GW will award credit for any score below a 4. In fact, Georgetown awards no credit for AP Capstone, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Comparative Government, AP US History, AP Human Geography, and AP Physics 1 or 2.

The University of Virginia generally awards credit for scores of 4 or 5, but for French will dip as low as a 3 for some entry-level exemption. The University of Maryland takes a different approach and awards credit for scores of 3 or better in Art History, English Language and English Literature but requires at least a 4 to receive credit in a foreign language.

Keep in mind that wise use of AP credit can reduce the total number of credit hours needed to graduate. At Virginia Tech, students are allowed to use up to 38 hours of AP credit towards graduation, while Vanderbilt University will only award up to 18 credits. And Dartmouth College will accept no AP credits toward graduation.

AP exam scores may also be used to meet standardized test requirements in the admissions processes of several colleges. Fair Test keeps track of this evolving trend on its Test Score Optional List and includes Colby College, Colorado College, Drexel University, Hamilton College, Middlebury College, NYU and the University of Rochester among those colleges and universities allowing APs to be submitted in place of ACT/SAT scores.

Teachers and AP administrators will also be receiving scores this month, and many high schools include score distributions in the school profiles they send to colleges along with transcripts (see Montgomery Blair High School’s profile for a good example). This is so admissions offices can put individual scores reported on applications in context with those earned by others in your class. But note that some high schools are extremely reluctant to make this information public and will routinely deny requests from families interested in evaluating a particular class or teacher.

For those new to the process, the online reporting system seems like an efficient, environmentally-friendly way to get scores. But be aware. The College Board can now connect your AP scores with PSAT and SAT scores as well as any grade, career interest or family income information you provide in the course of test registration or on their net price calculators.

And the College Board is all about mining for data that can be sold to postsecondary institutions, scholarship programs, or any number of organizations willing to pay for lists it aggressively markets.

These connections can be both good and bad. If you haven’t graduated from high school, expect to receive recruitment materials from colleges purchasing name and contact information anxious to get to know you. At the same time, don’t be surprised to hear from questionable honor societies or other organizations hoping to con you into paying for something you don’t want.

Check back tomorrow for a sneak preview of AP test results as tweeted by College Board executive, Trevor Packer.

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Is AP Environmental Science a Joke or Justifiable?

Posted on December 24, 2015 by Craig Meister

If you are taking AP Environmental Science because you see it as an easy A, don’t you think admissions officers will think of it that way too? While AP Environmental Science has gotten the reputation as a pretty easy class hardly worthy of an AP designation, it may occasionally be worth taking.

Don’t Believe the Hype Regarding the Importance of AP Exams

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Craig Meister

Taking and doing well on Advanced Placement Exams could earn you some college credits, but they shouldn’t influence the grade you earn in your AP Classes and they rarely are factored into college admissions decisions.