Validation Question

brewmeist

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The USNA website has a chart on what AP scores are needed to validate certain classes. It is pretty clear. But at the parent session at CVW, the head of the math department said that all plebes will take a math test on the first full day of Plebe Summer. Is that a validation test, or a placement test? I just figured I'd check before laying out any more $ to College Board. They have already made a mint from me over the years.
 
Adding on to this I noticed that the academy will accept a 5 on the AP biology exam. I was wondering what that would validate if there’s no biology major.
 
The USNA website has a chart on what AP scores are needed to validate certain classes. It is pretty clear. But at the parent session at CVW, the head of the math department said that all plebes will take a math test on the first full day of Plebe Summer. Is that a validation test, or a placement test? I just figured I'd check before laying out any more $ to College Board. They have already made a mint from me over the years.

Take the USNA placement tests, and go where they place you .... They know best.
.
Btw: Brush up on your Linear/Non-Linear Alg, Trig, Calc, Physics and Chem.
.
I say forget the AP tests.
 
If I recall it’s technically both. Score well enough you can validate. Score a certain amount and start in Chem or Calc 1. Do poorly enough start in pre-Calc and pre-Chem and have a spot saved in summer school.
 
And even though USNA doesn’t have a bio major it does have biology courses someone would take as either a core course or elective.
 
If I recall it’s technically both. Score well enough you can validate. Score a certain amount and start in Chem or Calc 1. Do poorly enough start in pre-Calc and pre-Chem and have a spot saved in summer school.
However, PreCalc (SM005) is a 4 credit course that can pull up otherwise low GPA while the Calcs (1, 2 and 3) are 3 credit courses.
 
If I recall it’s technically both. Score well enough you can validate. Score a certain amount and start in Chem or Calc 1. Do poorly enough start in pre-Calc and pre-Chem and have a spot saved in summer school.

That’s how I read it:

https://www.usna.edu/Academics/Candidate-Information/Course-Validation-Policy.php

At CVW, admission said some students test out but decide to take the classes ... build foundation of understanding and help grades.

Not sure how true that is ...
 
Yep agree to all above! DS took placement exams just last summer.

On the USNA website, there is Information about validation. When we looked into it junior year, we decided to forgo AP exams, and enjoy senior year a little more. So much studying is required, and generally a score of 5 is needed for ones they allow in. And some still require testing in addition to AP exam scores. So we saved our money.

There is also further decisions to be made about the placement testing strategy. Study vs not. Try to be placed higher vs not. DS decided to take them cold and let the chips fall where they did. But another strategy is to study hard in order to be placed in more advanced classes. Lots of ways to do your 4yrs there. Just depends on ones goals.

But no matter where you are placed, 49 months later you graduate.
 
I didn’t take pre-Calc, but I did have the privilege I’d taking Calc 1 twice! I tested high enough for Calc 1 but should of taken pre-Calc.

Honestly don’t over think this. A lot of the AP exams require a 5 and will help them validate an elective in some cases. The placement exams are given for Calc, Chem, Physics, English if I remember right which covers the core courses and allows someone to move forward. In the end it allows a minor, VGEP (if being offered), and schedule flexibility.
 
It’s a personal choice. There isn’t anything wrong with trying really hard to validate. If that’s your thing. Another outlook is that there is some bonding and peer benefit (according to DS a Plebe) to being with your peers in peer level classes. If you are particularly gifted in one area, you can help others out. It’ll earn you peer points.

DS had intentions of studying up a little bit in math before Iday, and it didn’t happen. Instead he made every minute of those last days count with his buddies. And he is perfectly placed in his classes.

And I cannot express enough what a relief it was to not have to have those AP exams looming over our house. Senioritis had hit BIG time 2nd semester.

I’m pretty sure there was an online timed test I’m recalling that he did before he left. I’m not sure what that was since he did all his own stuff.
 
I didn’t take pre-Calc, but I did have the privilege I’d taking Calc 1 twice! I tested high enough for Calc 1 but should of taken pre-Calc.

Honestly don’t over think this. A lot of the AP exams require a 5 and will help them validate an elective in some cases. The placement exams are given for Calc, Chem, Physics, English if I remember right which covers the core courses and allows someone to move forward. In the end it allows a minor, VGEP (if being offered), and schedule flexibility.

Best advice is what @NavyHoops says, "...don't over think ... " this because the USNA has a process that works.

I had a discussion with <a|the]> academic dean after the afternoon Oct 12 parents CVW session on "Academics", and he explained this process to me.

Bottom line: Brush up on the Math, Physics and Chem that you have taken, because the placement tests will determine where you start .... There is nothing wrong with this.

If I was a Plebe, I would be careful about going too fast too early .
 
It’s a personal choice. There isn’t anything wrong with trying really hard to validate. If that’s your thing. Another outlook is that there is some bonding and peer benefit (according to DS a Plebe) to being with your peers in peer level classes. If you are particularly gifted in one area, you can help others out. It’ll earn you peer points.

DS had intentions of studying up a little bit in math before Iday, and it didn’t happen. Instead he made every minute of those last days count with his buddies. And he is perfectly placed in his classes.

And I cannot express enough what a relief it was to not have to have those AP exams looming over our house. Senioritis had hit BIG time 2nd semester.

I’m pretty sure there was an online timed test I’m recalling that he did before he left. I’m not sure what that was since he did all his own stuff.

OMG ... "Senioritis" -- Perfect storm -- License and car this past summer (Yes, she started driving late) and Boys showing too much interest in our DD -- I installed the OBD mounted GPS/3G iPhone tractor .... I know who the Boys are, and I know where she goes to shop after school ---- She is Ok with the tracker. She knows where she is headed.

:)
 
It’s a personal choice. There isn’t anything wrong with trying really hard to validate. If that’s your thing. Another outlook is that there is some bonding and peer benefit (according to DS a Plebe) to being with your peers in peer level classes. If you are particularly gifted in one area, you can help others out. It’ll earn you peer points.

DS had intentions of studying up a little bit in math before Iday, and it didn’t happen. Instead he made every minute of those last days count with his buddies. And he is perfectly placed in his classes.

And I cannot express enough what a relief it was to not have to have those AP exams looming over our house. Senioritis had hit BIG time 2nd semester.

I’m pretty sure there was an online timed test I’m recalling that he did before he left. I’m not sure what that was since he did all his own stuff.

OMG ... "Senioritis" -- Perfect storm -- License and car this past summer (Yes, she started driving late) and Boys showing too much interest in our DD -- I installed the OBD mounted GPS/3G iPhone tractor .... I know who the Boys are, and I know where she goes to shop after school ---- She is Ok with the tracker. She knows where she is headed.

:)

LOL

My son has his first girlfriend. Her family loves him ... her father is a retired army officer. I’m sure he won’t overstep with him involved!
 
Thanks for the answers. He already took several AP exams last year and we'll let him do the same this year. His HS has a policy that if you take the AP exam, you do not need to take the final exam for the class, so it will be an early graduation gift for him. He has scored high enough to validate some classes, but I'm sure he'll end up talking to advisors once there and make the right decisions. Thanks for clarifying.
 
Yep agree to all above! DS took placement exams just last summer.

On the USNA website, there is Information about validation. When we looked into it junior year, we decided to forgo AP exams, and enjoy senior year a little more. So much studying is required, and generally a score of 5 is needed for ones they allow in. And some still require testing in addition to AP exam scores. So we saved our money.

There is also further decisions to be made about the placement testing strategy. Study vs not. Try to be placed higher vs not. DS decided to take them cold and let the chips fall where they did. But another strategy is to study hard in order to be placed in more advanced classes. Lots of ways to do your 4yrs there. Just depends on ones goals.

But no matter where you are placed, 49 months later you graduate.

47 months!
 
47 months!

Supe said 49 months later from Iday is graduation at the Superintendent brief during that Thursday of Iday. I Remember it vividly. Maybe 47 doesn’t include plebe summer? Either way, no matter where Mids are placed, they all graduate 4 years later. It’s very impressive!
 
47 months!

Supe said 49 months later from Iday is graduation at the Superintendent brief during that Thursday of Iday. I Remember it vividly. Maybe 47 doesn’t include plebe summer? Either way, no matter where Mids are placed, they all graduate 4 years later. It’s very impressive!
I Day is End of June/beginning of July and Graduation is late May four years later. You do the math.
 
Hmmmm....just asked DH what he remembered and he said the same as I. And I was recalling the info, not doing the math. Oh well. 4yrs later they have a great education, no matter where they are placed class wise during plebe summer.
 
Supe said 49 months later from Iday is graduation at the Superintendent brief during that Thursday of Iday. I Remember it vividly.

Supe may have been cross checked too many times. I know that I saw it happen a few times!
 
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