The Mycenaean

The AP (Advanced Placement) program, managed by the College Board, provides high school students with the chance to take college-level courses and exams. AP exams are typically held in May, based on each student’s course schedule.

At the start of each AP course, the teacher enrolls students in the AP College Board Classroom, which also automatically registers them for the AP exam required for potential college credit.

It’s important to note that the final class exam and the AP exam differ significantly. The key distinctions include:

Final class exam	AP exam
20% of your average class gradeTeacher or state made (if CTE); Can not opt-out (unless senior exemption);Always given at the end of the semester class	It does not affect class grades or GPA; Administered by the College BoardCan opt-out; Given in May (no matter the semester the class was taken in that school year); Helps college placement and college credit

The key difference between AP courses and the AP College Board exam lies in their impact: while the AP exam determines if a student can earn college credit, it does not affect their GPA or class average.

Scoring well on AP exams can lead to college credit, correct college course placement, or both, depending on each college’s specific policies. This potential benefit often motivates students to take the exams, but some may opt out for various reasons, such as feeling unprepared or not needing the credit.

At Leesville, all first-semester AP students are automatically registered to take the exam. However, students who wish to opt-out must complete and submit an opt-out form to their teacher by November 12. Students who miss this deadline but later decide not to take the test will incur a $40 fee per unused test.

For questions about the AP exam opt-out policy for May, students and parents are encouraged to contact Mr. Greene at egreene@wcpss.net.