With the start of Advanced Placement (AP) exams on Monday, May 4, many Bishop’s students finally sat down to take the exam they’ve spent months preparing for. Considering the time and dedication that is associated with taking an AP exam, it begs the question: why do students choose to take AP exams, especially since Bishop’s does not offer AP classes?
At Bishop’s, honors classes are offered instead of AP classes; some, such as Honors United States History (HUSH), follow the AP curriculum. Others, such as Honors Chemistry and Honors Latin IV, follow their own unique curricula.
Despite this, the interest in AP testing remains high. According to Bishop’s AP Coordinator Ms. Rachel Garcia, in the 2024-2025 school year, Bishop’s students ordered 627 AP exams.
One of the most common reasons is the potential for college credit. Director of College Counseling Mr. Jim Sargent explains that “the actual meaningful purpose of the APs is in awarding college credit to students.” High scores can sometimes allow students to skip introductory college courses, giving them more flexibility in deciding their schedules later on.
Collegeboard.com, the not-for-profit organization in charge of administering AP exams, states that students who earn at least a two out of five on AP exams are prepared for college-level coursework. Those who achieve scores of three or higher are generally more successful in college and more likely to graduate than students who did not take AP classes.
Additionally, students who participate in AP courses and exams have a higher likelihood of finishing their degrees on schedule, which can reduce the need for extra years of tuition. Among students with similar SAT scores and high school GPAs, 61% of those who took one AP exam graduated in four years, compared to only 45% of those who took no AP exams.
For many students, however, the decision is about completing what they started. Chris Zheng (‘27) explained that after taking a course aligned with AP material, “it’d feel like a waste to not take it.” Similarly, Ryan Park (‘27) noted that because he took Honors U.S. History, “the content was about the same, so I didn’t need to spend that much time studying.” For these students, the AP exam feels like a natural conclusion to a year of work rather than an additional burden.
Others base their decision on how manageable the exam feels based on their schedule and experience. Tejas Gluth (‘28), who chose to take the Computer Science A AP, said, “I already knew some coding, and I had free time, so I decided I might as well.” With some APs demanding significant work put in outside of the classroom, students have to weigh the time commitment against their existing responsibilities.
At the same time, social pressure can play a significant role. As conversations about studying and exam schedules become more frequent, Chris Zheng pointed out that “it feels like everyone tries to take as many APs as possible,” highlighting the competitive atmosphere that can influence students’ choices.
With the competitive nature of the Bishop’s School, Mr. Sargent noted that, “(he) thinks some students worry that if you leave that stone unturned, you’re not doing everything you can to be the strongest possible applicant.”
While AP exams offer certain benefits, they are not the most important factor in college admissions. A 2023 survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, surveying 185 different colleges, found that grades carry far more weight than subject test scores such as AP exams. 74.1% of the colleges listed cumulative high school grades as having considerable importance in the college admission process, while only 1.1% of colleges had subject test scores listed as considerable importance.
Additionally, 50.8% of colleges said that subject test scores did not affect the admission process. Still, AP scores can be valuable in specific situations, particularly for students considering colleges outside the United States. Mr. Sargent explained that “If you’re applying to schools outside of the United States, AP exams can be really important. They’re viewed in some countries as our version of A-level or the Abitur.” A levels and the Abitur are the UK’s and Germany’s national testing programs, respectively.
In the midst of AP testing weeks, Bishop’s students weigh these different motivations: college credit, a sense of completion, confidence in their knowledge, and peer influence. Ultimately, the decision to take an AP exam is a personal one, shaped by each student’s priorities as the school year comes to a close.
