As AP tests are fast approaching, many students find themselves struggling with the sheer amount of knowledge they must cram within these last few days. The question each student asks himself or herself is, Why do I have to take this AP test?
On the AP Central College Board website, under the tab "Working Towards College Success," is a little blurb on the merits of AP classes: "Deciding to take an AP course lets colleges and universities know that you have what it takes to succeed in an undergraduate environment. When admissions officers see 'AP' on your transcript, they know that what you experienced in a particular class has prepared you well for the challenges of college. Taking AP is a sign that you’re up for the most rigorous classes your high school has to offer."
Granted, there are many merits in taking an AP class. For one, after the tests are over, many kids find themselves in AP Nap class. Another bonus is the truckload of fascinatingly useful information, such as what Frederick Barbarossa, a Holy Roman Emperor, accomplished or how to take the derivative of an absolute value function 100 different ways. On top of all these amazing benefits, an AP class' number one requirement is that No Child Gets Sleep. Who wouldn't want, no, crave all these benefits?
In all seriousness, though, there is a limit to how much a high school student can take. Amid the studying, cramming, sleeping and futile attempts at maintaining some sort of social life, many students are left floundering, stressed and generally unprepared for college. There are elements in college that one does not and cannot find in a high school. While a high school student has to wake up at the same time every day and spend seven straight hours at school, a college student may only have one class a day, which they may or may not attend. While a high school student is expected to finish "only one hour of homework" for every single class, a college student may not even have the traditional homework, at all. The question remains, how does the College Board expect students to be able to meet these tiresome, cumbersome challenges each and every year?
Maybe the simple answer is that the College Board does not expect students to meet their far-reaching goals. Maybe the College Board is the evil villain in the fairytale and the students are the beautiful princesses and dashing princes conquering their nemesis. Maybe the College Board just wants students to fail, but logic prevails against these pessimistic, yet somewhat plausible answers. As stated in an article sponsored by the National Education Policy Center and written by Kevin G. Welner and William J. Mathis, professors at the University of Colorado Boulder: "There is now a parent-led backlash against over-testing, and politicians in both majorparties are paying attention. These parents point to the time spent administering the tests themselves as well as to the diversionary effects of high-stakes testing on curriculum and instruction -- which include narrowed curriculum, teaching to the test, and time spent preparing for the high-stakes assessments." While it would be easy and simple to pin every student's problem on College Board, in reality, it is not that simple. There needs to be a push towards better education and College Board jumped to fulfill that need, but they may have jumped too early. Over-testing has not and most likely never will be the answer to America's declining educational average. It was one solution that at one point seemed like the savior.
As for the AP's lasting effects on American students: stress. If testing continues to be the norm in society, there will be lasting traumatic effects. So, College Board, it might be time for a change.
