Advanced Placement (AP) classes will be harder to drop because of a lack of space in their non-advanced counterparts starting next school year.
But to alleviate this issue entirely, Cal High should start requiring students to take an entrance exam prior to sign-ups for all AP class to assess whether students are prepared for these courses.
AP courses offer high school students the opportunity to engage with college-level material, potentially earn college credit if they pass the exam, and enhance their academic profiles.
As it stands, Cal and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District other three high schools don’t require entrance exams for AP classes. Some classes recommend achieving certain grades in lower-grade classes, but that’s about it.
In the past, some classes have suggested that some students get a teacher’s recommendation, but it’s not an official policy.
Requiring a test before students sign up for AP classes could be a valuable approach to ensure students, especially those who are taking their first AP class, are prepared for the rigor of the coursework. Additionally, exams could also help determine if students possess the necessary knowledge to succeed in that course.
Implementing these entrance exams could provide a measure of readiness, potentially reducing disparities in access to advanced coursework among students, meaning that those best suited for the class are able to take it, without spaces being taken up by students who would later drop the class.
By ensuring that students who have demonstrated proficiency enroll in AP courses, students are less likely to find themselves overwhelmed with work, because they can get a taste for what the class has to offer before they are officially admitted into the class.
Entrance tests also could help guide students toward courses that are better fit, rather than classes that would look better on their transcript. This could help students end the year with a stronger GPA, rather than taking classes that look more rigorous but impact their GPA negatively.
Some students may not fully grasp the intensity of AP courses and enroll without realizing the commitment required. This can result in a misalignment between the students abilities and the expectations of the class, which ultimately hurts the students academic experience.
This process of better decision making while registering for courses would consider students’ long term goals better and prevent an environment where students are stuck with bad grades on their transcripts because they weren’t entirely sure about a class going into it.