Are AP tests worth the work?

For years now, Oceanside High School has offered many Advanced Placement tests. Ranging from World History to Environmental Science, AP tests are administered in a variety of subject areas.

For many, AP classes can be defined as “lots of work”

or “useless.” Students throughout the school can agree on one thing: it is a lot of work. But is it really useless?

The high school released the number of AP tests taken in 2009. Of the 1,105 tests taken, 696 scored a three out of five. However, a three is worth college credit in only a few schools, usually state schools. In others, though, a four or five is worth college credit.

Four-time AP student Chelsea Borsack does not think the classes are worth the work because “the majority of colleges don’t take AP credit, but if they do, it is as an elective. The work absolutely outweighs the ‘prize.’”

Borsack also added that the information is “useless because the teachers focus on spitting out the material rather than helping the students understand it. Even though it taught me time management and how to deal with stress, I don’t think that justifies offering such a tough and time-consuming class.”

AP World History teacher and Social Studies Department chair Mitchell Bickman said, “The AP Test, while I believe it’s important to know about the world, is more about the skills you learn than the actual class.”

Considering that students bust their brains over the five multiple-choice answers and extremely difficult essays, doesn’t it seem a bit unfair that the most often earned score is a three — which is just satisfactory — and that APs only serve to teach skills and test knowledge that would only really be found as the answer to the “Daily Double” on JEOPARDY?

As opposed to all the Advanced Placement classes, OHS should begin to offer more Honors classes for students that are stuck between Regents and AP. For example, Chemistry is offered as Regents or Honors, and if a student wishes, then they can take the AP version of it. With Social Studies classes though, with the exception of ninth grade Honors, one cannot take an Honors class; they have to take Regents or AP.