As a student of a very competitive high school, I'm one of those kids who loves to fill herself up with AP, or Advanced Placement classes. Not only do they look great on a college resume and have the potential to give me some college credit, but they could allow me to stimulate my mind like never before, to experience a new level of thinking.
At first, I was very excited for this mind stimulation. Don't get me wrong, I learned a lot, and the classes were definitely a challenge. But then I learned the structure of these classes. They're based on a single AP test taken on the end of the year, that combines multiple choice questions and a few written essays.In fact, a large amount of class time is dedicated to preparing for this test, learning how the essays are structured, taking practice tests, etc. When learning the material, we are taught it in the same fashion as it will appear on the AP test, so we best know how to succeed on the test.
Long story short: we are not learning about the subject at hand, we are learning how to take a test.
I strongly disagree with this ideology. I take AP classes in hopes to get a broader understanding of history, language, and the social sciences. But I instead find myself wasting precious class time writing practice essays. Yes, I feel that writing essays is important, but the amount of time spent learning how to write these essays and other bits and pieces for the test is unequal to the benefits they provide in the long run for learning the subject. Plus, the fact our entire score is based on an assortment of a few essays, and multiple choice questions is completely unfair. One test does not accurately measure one's ability.
A class for higher learning shouldn't be based on a single test. Credit for that class shouldn't be based on a single test(especially one that costs money, which puts lower income families at a disadvantage). A better way to structure AP classes would be to base college applicability on an average grade from both semesters. For example, if a student managed to get an average As for both semesters in the class, they should be awarded with a 5. An average of Bs would earn a student a 4, Cs a 3, etc. That way, a student can earn credit for performing well in the class itself.
Now I open up the question to you. What do you think of the way AP classes are currently structured? If you've had any prior experience with AP tests, what did you think of them? Which idea for structure do you think would work better, how it is now or with the "in class score" option? Let me know in the comments below!
I love school, and I love learning, but I understand what you mean. In AP French, we do work that prepares us for the tests. We do mini test simulations once a week. We spend time talking about what will be on the test. It seems that the whole course revolves around the test. Frankly, I find it frustrating that we spend our time learning what will be on the test rather than learning about French culture. Sure, we study a little bit of it, but only enough to get us through this test.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I agree with you. I don't think it is ever excusable to "teach the test", and I've found that that's often how AP classes are run. However, I think that how much the test is taught depends on a couple things: 1) The teacher teaching the class 2)The area/district/school in which the students are being taught and 3)The subject matter being taught. However, as far as the practice essays part (I don't like doing them either), I can understand why we write them. I just think that the way we are taught to write them can be changed. I think that we shouldn't be shown examples of other students' writing and their scores. I personally view this as a "this is how you should write , so copy this format" kind of thing. I also agree with the "in class score" idea. I think that it's a lot fairer than the current system, and that it would allow for more actual learning on the part of the student.
ReplyDeleteCollege board, the company that prints the AP tests is the same company that does the SAT and it shows. The AP test is just the bigger meaner brother of the SAT or the ACT and while I do agree that the grading system is beter for the AP tests, it's still a test that encourages teachers to teach it instead of stuff that will help us later or will continue our interests in the subject area.
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