AP Testing Deadline March 1st

AP test deadline is March 1st so DS needs to decide which AP tests to take...He will be taking the AP English (there was another thread which spoke of the benefit of validating the plebe composition class) and AP German. Based on the advice of several current cadets and graduates, DS has decided to not take AP Chemistry or Calculus. The rigors of these plebe classes present more than enough challenge for DS and he doesn't want to bite off more than he can chew.

My question is regarding validating History(another thread spoke of doing this to open up more room for electives in Firstie year). DS is taking AP Government this year...in order to validate History at WP can he do it taking the AP Government exam? Or would he need to take the AP U.S. History exam even though he has not taken AP History? Any advice would be appreciated!

From the USMA website:


Policy:
"Cadets may be excused from (validate) certain core courses if they have sufficient knowledge of a subject to meet appropriate department’s standards. Credit earned in other colleges, Advanced Placement Examination scores, and tests administered at the Military Academy are considered in validation decisions. Advanced Placement Examination’s scores may be used in mathematics, physics, chemistry, history, social sciences, and foreign languages. Validation of core courses allows a cadet to substitute an additional elective in place of a core course. If a cadet shows unusual ability or has prior knowledge of the subject, but does not validate the course, he/she may be enrolled in an advanced or accelerated version."

Advice to Parents:
The AP test scores will be used by academic departments as one piece of information to determine advanced placement or validation for new cadets. USMA also provides its own testing for new cadets to determine if they will be scheduled for the standard course, the advanced course or if they can validate the course. Five different departments provide USMA placement testing/validation opportunities to new cadets during the month of July. For example, an AP score of 5 in European, US, or World History is necessary to proceed to validation. An AP Calculus, AB or BC, score of 4 or 5 is important in validating Calculus. An AP Chemistry score of 4 or 5 can be important in validating chemistry. English requires an AP score of 4 or 5, and a high SAT-V score for consideration to validate English composition.

RoadKing I just realized the above may not answer your question - as to the exact history - but it looks like it has to be US History of World History. Sorry if I gave you info you already had...

Certainly a good question, maybe a quick e-mail to a FFR could clear this up for all of us?

I would re-think chemistry: validating plebe chem gives you the option to start language early or take physics as a plebe instead of as a yuk

Can only tell you what happened with our son now a plebe. He had taken AP US History and AP European History and scored 5's allowing him to validate out of both plebe history classes. He is in a Jr year class called the Art of War - a full long year history class on the history of "wars". Tough being in a class with Firstie's.... but is really enjoying the class. He didn't take AP Chemistry in HS but was tested during Beast and they pushed him into honors chemistry. The point is, you can read the validating rules and apply the AP test result rules to your situtation, but until you take the tests during BCT to measure your knowledge it is tough telling you where you might land with validating.

AP Economics and AP Government?

I was wondering if it is recommended to take the AP test for Economics or U.S. Government. Does West Point consider these subjects at all?

krboar95 said:

I was wondering if it is recommended to take the AP test for Economics or U.S. Government. Does West Point consider these subjects at all?

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Good question, I might be taking both of those next year (although probably only Macro Econ) and this would be good to know.

krboar95 said:

I was wondering if it is recommended to take the AP test for Economics or U.S. Government. Does West Point consider these subjects at all?

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Both are normally yearling courses, so to my knowledge they don't test at CBT.

I know Econ can be validated with an AP 5 working with the prof. Was not automatic, and had to be initiated by the cadet.

DS had an AP 5 in US Gov, and did not validate. DS's experience was that American Politics (US Gov) was an intense but interesting class with mock congress, etc. I've not heard of cadets validating it, but you never know.