Are there any disadvantages of AP classes? You must know the pros and cons before you commit yourself to AP classes that demand a lot.
According to an article by The Mirror, AP classes pressure high school students with unbearably rigorous and stressful course matters. But academic rigor is part and parcel of student life. So, why do so many individuals think, AP is disadvantageous?
Hang in and learn about the cons of Advanced Placement classes, which one can’t ignore.
3 Major Disadvantages of AP Classes
AP classes, though highly popular come with their own sets of challenges. Students often complain that after enrolling in AP classes, all they have to do is mug course material.
On the other hand, parents complain that AP classes are expensive and often burn a hole in their pockets. Below is a list of 3 significant disadvantages of AP classes and how it affects students’ lives.
1. AP Exams are Expensive
Price is one of the biggest downsides of AP courses. Research says that since its inception, AP exams have been for elite students. With time, middle-class parents, too, started enrolling their children in AP.
Worried about how expensive AP classes are?
They can cost a bomb. Know exactly how much you will need to pay.
But that didn’t bring any change in the AP pricing structure. According to College Board data, the cost for each AP exam is increased by $1 as of 2022-2023. Here is the total cost breakdown.
| Exam Fees by March 2023 for November courses for students living in the USA, Canada, DoDEA | $97 |
| Exam Fees by March 2023, for November courses for students living in other regions | $127 |
| Exam Fees by March 2023, for November courses for seminars and research | $145 |
| School Rebate | $9 per exam |
That’s not all. Students must pay an additional $40 if they are late ordering the exam. If a student takes more than one AP class, it would cost them more than $100 which becomes stressful for several parents.
Tanya Jones, a single mother of two high schoolers, says,
“Both my daughters are in high school and take AP classes. My eldest has taken AP English, AP world history, and AP Spanish and my youngest has taken AP Math and AP physics. It has cost me more than $1k to order their exams”.
Other parents like Tanya pay a hefty amount to order an AP exam. And while one can argue there are many financial aids available, receiving them isn’t a cakewalk. You either have to be exceptionally brilliant, or at least 130% below the poverty line.
2. AP is Time-Consuming and not Perfect for Gaining Knowledge
AP courses demand a lot of students’ attention. Hence, if you are unprepared for the workload and cannot manage your time accordingly, AP can be highly excruciating and time-consuming.
Several students took multiple AP classes and regretted their decision throughout the year. They had to finish school homework and study for SAT and AP.
Recent research shows students who take only AP classes are more likely to succeed in exams. However, several students have honors subjects and extracurricular activities in their junior and senior years. Thus, it becomes a problem for them to manage it all.
Moreover, not all AP classes are in-depth. Students complain that AP courses don’t help them receive the knowledge they want.
Gabby Mason, who had taken an AP class, says
“AP classes have several advantages. However, there is one downside I need to talk about. I enrolled in the AP US history course in high school and learned nothing valuable from my class. AP classes focus on practice and prompts and give little to no value to information.
Later I fell sick and had to drop out of my AP classes and join normal US history classes. I was amazed to see how in-depth the courses were. I wanted to learn about our history, and I could do it, thanks to my high school classes.”
If scores and college are not your only purpose in high school, then you would get disappointed by AP classes.
Can you get into college without AP?
Yes, you can. Know what you need to get into college without AP.
3. The 3-Score Difficulty
Credit is one of the primary reasons why students take AP classes. A good AP credit will help them skip a few college classes.
Sadly, many schools only accept AP credits if it’s 3 and above. Look at the list of the top 3 universities in the USA and their requirements for AP:
| University Name | AP Score requirement |
| University of California | 3 or higher on College Board |
| Harvard University | 4 or higher |
| Cornell University | 4 or higher |
Only some students can score 3 or higher in AP exams. In such cases, the AP scores affect their GPA transcript poorly.
College Board data claims, almost 17% of students score less than 3 in their AP exams due to challenging AP courses.
Harvard fellow and Professor James Leland Harp says,
“Students who don’t have what it takes to study college-level courses are encouraged to study AP classes. Thus, their grades fall and affect their GPAs. It’s much better to receive an A in a normal class than a B in an AP”.
He also blames teachers’ incompetency on students scoring poorly. Professor James Leland Harp continues,
“Most students, who get an A in AP classes, score 3 in AP exams. This indicates that their teachers can’t prepare them for AP exams. Hence, I believe students are more likely to get a college admission if they choose college-level courses that don’t require exams.”
Teachers are a few of the many necessities to survive AP classes successfully. Their inability can also be considered one of the downsides of AP classes.
Check out EnthuZiastic AP Courses to learn with the best teachers.
FAQs
I was thinking of taking AP physics, AP calculus, and AP chemistry in my senior year. Will it be a good choice?
AP cal, AP physics, and AP chemistry are all challenging to crack. Taking these subjects won’t leave you any time for your extracurricular and self-study. You are most welcome to take this course if you have strong time management skills. You might select other courses if you can’t manage the time.
Can I receive a waiver on my AP exam fees?
Wavier services are available for students, who fall at least 130% below the poverty line, or have high GPA records. If you fall are one of such students, then you have a chance of receiving aid. Otherwise, your chance of receiving a grant is low.
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Summing Up
AP classes are great for earning extra college credits. And if you take only AP classes, you should go for it.
But if you want to participate in other classes or extracurricular activities, then AP isn’t the best option.
Your chances of success in AP exams are also dependent on your teachers. It would be best if you enquire about a teacher’s efficiency in teaching the subject before enrolling in the AP class.