AP Exams and validation tests

bops98

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Jun 3, 2015
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Hello everyone! I am taking six AP exams this year but I will not receive scores until July. Do these AP exam scores matter for validation? Also, how different/how hard are validation tests compared to AP exams? Should I study for them? How do I sign up for them? What benefit does validation give me?

Thank you so much!!!
 
While informative, the website does not speak to the difficulty of the validation tests, nor the issue of AP scores not being available until after I Day. So....same question from me tooooooooo!!!!!
 
Shouldn't matter, you can challenge the courses before classes start and will know which you get credit for, but I don't believe the AP score matters... anyone else?
 
The website references what will and will not be accepted for AP exams for each course or correlated course, if a plebe summer validation is administered or how it can be validated. And no, USNA isn't going to say if the rest is hard or not. It's been a long time since I took them, don't rmemeber them being that bad. In all honesty, it doesn't matter. You take them, try your best and see what happens. There are tons of old threads on this topic. So Message to Garcia and use the search function to take a look at this topic.
 
OP. I hear taking the validation tests are a very good thing - one of the few times during plebe summer you will be sitting in a quiet room with AC.

I seem to recall my mid having his AP scores either sent in or taking a screenshot of the results. Validating classes will give you many more options for double majoring, minoring, semester abroad, med school or even getting a masters. USNA appears to have many more required core classes than a regular university - so the more you validate the better.
 
So should I be stressed out about studying for them? Or should I take the validation tests with the knowledge I have? I am expecting to get at least a 3 on all my AP exams - what will this tell me about passing the validation tests?
 
Save your stress. I'm not sure what a 3 equates to on validation tests. I mailed my mid their AP scores when they arrived. Not sure if they needed them or not? I assumed college board just forwarded the scores to the college indicated. He did end up validating over 20 credits but I think he (maybe secretlywishes it was something less to make plebe year slightly more manageable.
 
Go have fun. Studying isn't really going to do anything. If you look at the matrix, 3s won't do too much to help validation. USNA wants to see 4 and 5s. Honestly go have fun, run, workout, relax, take a nap, eat pizza. Trust me, you will be angry at yourself for not napping more 12 months from now. You won't get that joke now, but in 6 months you will.
 
Make sure you send your scores to USNA. You should be able to bubble in USNA's school code at the exam on your answer sheet. They will get all of your AP exam scores. During my plebe summer, they had a spreadsheet of all of the AP exam scores of all of the plebes.
USNA doesn't care that much about AP scores for most of the core STEM classes, like Chemistry or Physics, for example, but you can test out of easier plebe classes like Government or English with 5s on the respective AP exams. Calc can be validated with 4s, especially if you do decent on the online tests that they give you before you report for I-Day - DO WELL ON THOSE! A lot of people enjoyed skipping out of some Calc classes because they can be brutal here.

Honestly, I tried to study for validation exams. And I did a little bit, but I forgot all of the information by the time the exams rolled around. You kind of forget how to use your brain in that capacity when you're getting yelled at, memorizing strange Navy jargon/quotes, and sweating 24/7. The Chem 1 validation exam is exactly the same as the Toledo national exam, so look it over and see if you think you can do those questions. If they are too hard at first sight, don't bother trying to validate Chemistry because you probably won't validate. Chem II validation test is very similar to AP exam questions in terms of difficulty. Physics I validation test is usually invite only (depending on your physics background and how well you did in HS). That validation exam is on par with the AP Physics B exam level in terms of content and difficulty.
 
So should I be stressed out about studying for them? Or should I take the validation tests with the knowledge I have? I am expecting to get at least a 3 on all my AP exams - what will this tell me about passing the validation tests?

You probably won't validate any classes with 3s. Also, it shows that you could probably use some extra classes in those subjects. To give you some context, I got mostly 5s and 4s on all of my AP exams (BC Calculus, Chemistry, Government, Physics, Econ, History, Biology) and I validated Chem 1 and Calc 1,2,3.
 
Hey guys. Does anyone know how the validation process work with college courses?

Same process. You usually have to take validation exams or use AP exams to test out. If you took military courses as a part of a ROTC unit at another university, it might count for some of the professional courses. I have classmates who are 22 and went to college for 2+ years who had to start from Calc 1 or 2.
 
DD is going through ABS, sending AP scores, and has studied the USNA website about the validation policy, etc. We have a couple of logistical questions though:

Should she bring her own calculator from home for the exams? Do they give the plebes everything they need to take the exams (paper, pencils, erasers, etc)? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but the only testing DD has experienced was by the College Board which has a whole list of supplies the student is responsible for bringing to each exam.

Since the exams are given within the first few days of Plebe summer, should DD bring any review materials? It sounds like there is little (or no) free time to study once they report, is that right?

As NavyHoops recommended, relaxing is a high priority for DD between now and I-Day; nevertheless, she wants to be prepared for the opportunities available through validation.

Thanks!
 
AP scores come in July. Academic year doesn't start until mid-August. The scores will make it to USNA in time to meet with an academic adviser and plan the academic year. AP scores matter.

If you can score a 4 or a 5 on an AP test, you can expect to pass the validation exam. They're easier than the AP tests (a lot less of a time crunch, no free response questions for the calc/chem exams, and very little writing for the English exam). The Chem, Physics, English, and Calc validation exams were definitely much easier than the AP tests.

Language tests will also be administered for all languages offered at USNA (more than the ones listed on the validation page). Maximum validation credit is four semesters of any language, but you may be placed in a higher level. For example, a native speaker might validate to 400 level Spanish, but will only receive credit for 101, 102, 201, 202 on the matrix. The 300 level is just skipped.

I've never taken an AP test for my language, but I can say the language validation exams are significantly more challenging than the SAT language tests and passing will put you around 1+ or 2 level on the DLPT. Doing very well and validating to 400 level will put you at about a 3 on the DLPT. To put that in perspective, that is the level of proficiency expected of military linguists and Foreign Area Officers, who are learn and maintain language proficiency as part of their profession. Language validation is geared towards those who are heritage speakers or have acquired high proficiency through four or more years of study; don't expect to pass with two years of high school classes under your belt.
 
Go have fun. Studying isn't really going to do anything. If you look at the matrix, 3s won't do too much to help validation. USNA wants to see 4 and 5s. Honestly go have fun, run, workout, relax, take a nap, eat pizza. Trust me, you will be angry at yourself for not napping more 12 months from now. You won't get that joke now, but in 6 months you will.
True that.
 
AP scores come in July. Academic year doesn't start until mid-August. The scores will make it to USNA in time to meet with an academic adviser and plan the academic year. AP scores matter.

If you can score a 4 or a 5 on an AP test, you can expect to pass the validation exam. They're easier than the AP tests (a lot less of a time crunch, no free response questions for the calc/chem exams, and very little writing for the English exam). The Chem, Physics, English, and Calc validation exams were definitely much easier than the AP tests.

Language tests will also be administered for all languages offered at USNA (more than the ones listed on the validation page). Maximum validation credit is four semesters of any language, but you may be placed in a higher level. For example, a native speaker might validate to 400 level Spanish, but will only receive credit for 101, 102, 201, 202 on the matrix. The 300 level is just skipped.

I've never taken an AP test for my language, but I can say the language validation exams are significantly more challenging than the SAT language tests and passing will put you around 1+ or 2 level on the DLPT. Doing very well and validating to 400 level will put you at about a 3 on the DLPT. To put that in perspective, that is the level of proficiency expected of military linguists and Foreign Area Officers, who are learn and maintain language proficiency as part of their profession. Language validation is geared towards those who are heritage speakers or have acquired high proficiency through four or more years of study; don't expect to pass with two years of high school classes under your belt.
If I got a 4 on AP Spanish, I can validate 101 and 102. But I really want to validate 201 and 202 too. I have to score really well on this plebe summer test in order to validate these next two, right? Also, I had a really good grade (>97%) each year in Spanish in high school. Will my high school grades influence whether they'll give me credit?
 
No, your grades won't have an impact. Just take the validation exam and see what happens. Heck I never took Spanish AP exams and validated 2 semesters. I actually slept through the original validation exam and then started in 101 as a 3/C. After 2 weeks the prof asked me take it again as I was getting 100s on everything.
 
Plebe summer your DD won't have time to turn around. No need for study materials or to pack paper, etc. Its all provided to them for the summer. Once she gets to the AC Year she will have access to the Mid store to buy school supplies. Not sure on the calculator. If it's on the packing list, bring it. Current Mid should be able to answer that question. If not bring it parents weekend.
 
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