As the school year progresses, students are faced with the question of whether or not to sign up for their AP exams in the spring, the sign-up deadline for which is Oct. 31. AP exams are both a great recourse for students in terms of saving money in college, and also a source of incredible and arguably unnecessary stress.
Jack Wiesman (12), stated “I signed up for the AP exams mostly because of peer pressure and I also heard that some colleges don’t like it if you take the AP class but not the exam. I signed up for APES, Lit, and Gov. The website instructions were also very unclear and confusing.”
The Total Registration website opened at the beginning of the school year for students to begin signing up, and the deadline was said to be Halloween night. This is true information, and students were warned that if they do not sign up by midnight on Oct 31, they would have to pay a late fee.
Even so, students who stayed up too late on Halloween night reported no issues or late fees in signing up the following day.
Aside from the sign up website, the actual implications of signing up for AP exams so early also offer their fair share of stress.
Sra. Hokama, who teaches AP Spanish IV, explained, “my only concern about AP exam sign ups is that they are too soon. Students must decide whether or not to take them before they have gained the confidence necessary to be sure of themselves.”
It is difficult, especially in the beginning of the year, to determine whether one will actually be equipped and knowledgeable to the extent necessary to justify spending over $100 per AP exam. Although technically, spending the money on AP exams now will pay off in college if the credits align, it is still not an easy decision to make.
Students who cannot make such financial commitments can apply for a change which drops the price to just $5. This is a wonderful resource and testament to the increasing accessibility of such examinations. Even so, it can be argued that the college board does not need as much money as they are receiving every year. It occasionally feels as if they are using student and parent stress about the future for capital gain.
That being said, AP classes themselves are an excellent opportunity for students to advance their academic curriculum, preparing themselves for college and the world at large. AP exams demonstrate proficiency in these equally beneficial and rigorous courses. If able, students should take advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and pay less money in college by taking their AP exams.
