Starting this year, San Benito High School students taking advanced placement classes will be required to take the AP test at the end of the school year to receive a grade bump for their grade point average. Previously, just being enrolled in an AP class earned the student the grade bump, meaning that if they received a B for their coursework they would get credit for an A. Students receiving an A in the class would receive five grade points instead of four based on a 4.0 scale.
Students who pass AP tests receive credit for college classes. Acccording to the AP website, more than 90 percent of colleges and universities offer college credit for qualifying AP exam scores, which can help a student save money in tuition and skip introductory classes, many of which are overcrowded. Many schools give college credit based on a score of 3, 4, or 5 out of 5 on an AP exam. To see individual college policies for AP exams, click here.
“I like the idea because everyone should take the AP test anyway; you would be a fool not to try,” said Eric Tomasetti, a 2013 SBHS graduate and Chico State sophomore who took three AP classes and all the AP tests that he could. Approximately one-third of students who graduated in 2013 took AP classes.
Dr. Tom Rooth, who teaches AP English and psychology said, “I think that number will stay relatively the same,” with the new requirements, which were approved by the board of trustees this past summer. There are AP classes for biology, physics, U.S. history, math, English, economics, art, psychology as well as college prep elective courses.
SBHS sophomore Dante Tomasini, who takes advanced and honors classes, said, “I am still going to take all the classes I was going to take; this does not affect me in the least bit.” Tomasini added that he is pleased that the school offers the classes and that he has the chance to get college credit before completing high school.
Each AP test costs a student $85, so in order to encourage more students to take the tests, the school board this year set aside $10,000 to help offset the cost and encourage more test-taking. Curriculum Director Cindi Krokower said that many students take AP courses, but end up taking only exam. The grade bump incentive and financial assistance to take more exams are designed to reverse that trend. Many college-bound seniors will have a lot of tests to take, but it will pay off if they pass the tests.