AJC.com > Blogs > Get Schooled > Archives > 2005 > January > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USAP: It’s About Essays, Not Memorization
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The College Board’s report on AP courses gave me a chance to talk to Trevor Packer, executive director of Advanced Placement. I got to ask two questions that have been bugging me for a long time.
Q: Teachers say they have a hard time covering all the material in an AP course. They fear that as more borderline students are encouraged to take AP courses, they will spend more time on each topic and not be able to cover everything. What’s your response?
A. This is a big misconception. The AP program encourages in-depth knowledge of a subject, not memorization of a bunch of facts. Teachers often feel like they have to touch on every point that might be on the AP exam. But in reality, if you do really well on the in-depth essays, you [can miss a lot] of the multiple choice questions [and still] get a 5 (the highest possible score) on the exam. (In other words, teachers sometimes work too hard to cover every facet of the course, when students would be better served studying fewer facets but with greater depth.)
Q: Is the College Board profit-driven? It’s supposedly a nonprofit organization, but it’s hard to ignore the reality that at $82 per AP exam, the College Board is raking in a lot of cash.
A: We’re a nonprofit association. The College Board’s motives aren’t at all profit-driven. The main reason for the cost of the AP exam is the expensive scoring process. (The essays are graded by educators with advanced degrees who know what college-level work looks like, he explained) We invest all our profits back into the community. (He gave several examples such as training for AP teachers in schools without as many courses.)
Contest I’m accepting entries for the most annoying, bureaucratic eduspeak word. E-mail me your favorites by Friday, and you could win a very cool prize.
Comments
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By Ernest
January 26, 2005 04:23 PM | Link to this
Patti:
Good questions, especially #1. You may be aware that in DeKalb County, there is an effort to educate students on the benefits of taking AP classes. McNair HS had over 200% increase in students taking AP classes over the past year. There was an article in the Parade Magazine several months ago about a teach in Los Angeles that encouraged students to take these classes, resulting in much success. This is being done because of the statistics showing those taking AP classes having greater success in college. All school systems need to educate both parents and students about this.
Thanks for posting the achievements of SW DeKalb and AP History participants.
By Patti
January 26, 2005 04:30 PM | Link to this
Glad you liked the story!
I’m afraid some Southwest DeKalb parents took offense, because I pointed out the school’s reputation for strong band and sports programs over academics. I am sorry that some found that obnoxious, but I stand by it as a true statement necessary to provide context.
Last year, 87 Southwest DeKalb students took AP U.S. History, and 27 scored 3 or higher on the AP exam, 26 of whom were African American, according to school officials. Southwest DeKalb led the nation in this category.
By Ernest
January 26, 2005 04:58 PM | Link to this
Oh well, we can talk offline about that. The AJC did point out some things last year that there were not proud of regarding academics. They take GREAT pride in their marching band, in fact will participate in the Rose Bowl parade next year. I guess they want folks to remember they do have the other High Achievers Magnet HS program in DeKalb.
By Faye
January 27, 2005 08:55 AM | Link to this
I was thrilled to see the success at Southwest DeKalb in AP course work highlighted. My son has never done well with “busywork”in school but has blossomed in AP World History. He is challenged to think and converse. Challenged to study in a different way. I hope we’ll continue to see this type of success as more AP courses are added in DeKalb. But as Earnest stated Southwest DeKalb is one of two High Achevier HS Magnets in the county and one should expect this type of success in a magnet program. Southwest DeKalb with its success in football, band and most importantly academics should be very proud of its students. I hope it is not considered “the other” high achiever high school in DeKalb but a complete success in its own right.
By Bermira Gates
January 28, 2005 02:54 PM | Link to this
Did you know, I was turned down for entrance into Clark Atlanta University, School of Business in the early 2000’s, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Mercer University, Washington In St. Louis, Howard University for [MBA and J.D. (law and business)]?
Did you know that for several years, I have taken the LSAT, GRE, GMAT. http://www.ets.org/tests.html
Did you know that while working at AT&T & Mediaone know Comcast? I had the opportunity to get Certified in computers. Well did you know that they even paid for it, but would not even let me take time off to take the classes?