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AP Trivia Questions

How many AP Exams does PHS give per year?

Have studies found that “the more the better”?

What does a 3 in BC Calculus earn you at UMD? A 5?

What does a 3 in English Language earn you at UMD? A 5?

What is the difference between an AP Class and AP Classroom?

When is the last date to cancel or register for an AP Exam?

How much do most AP exams at PHS cost?

How many different places can someone in need qualify for a partial waiver?

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Things to Know about

Advanced Placement at PHS:

Ms. Brooks – AP Testing Coordinator can assist with questions regarding AP testing: adrienne_a_brooks@mcpsmd.org.
Mr. McKenna is the AP Testing Administrator.
PHS offers over 25 different AP courses and our overall average score is a 3.85 (vs. National average of 3.01).
Last year, PHS administered over 2900 exams

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Terms to Know:

AP Class

-Registration & Decision

AP Classroom

Grade in the class

AP Exam

AP Exam scores

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Why take AP?

Overall, both participation and success in the AP program make it more likely that a student will succeed in college. Students have the opportunity to study college-level content and college-level methods.

Students with any AP scores at all outperformed those without them in terms of Freshman year College GPA and retention to the second year at an institution. (Mattern, Shaw, and Xiong 2009)
Students earning a “3” outperformed those earning a “1” or “2” by the same college measures – even after controlling for SAT and GPA data and were more likely to graduate college in five years (Mattern, Shaw, and Xiong 2009; Dougherty, Mellor, and Jian 2006)

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Why take AP?

Taking AP exams – and otherwise boosting the rigor of your course schedule – demonstrates a seriousness of purpose and specific academic interests to colleges.

That said, it is also important to consider “How much is enough?” More AP exams is not automatically better, especially if too many of them has an effect on learning, performance, and the overall well-being of a student. One study finds that the overall effect on future college GPA “flat-lines” around 5 total AP exams; students who took 5 APs over the course of high school averaged a 3.26 Freshman Year College GPA, while those who took 10 averaged a 3.25 (Ketchmar and Farmer 2013).

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How AP credits work: Observations

Students should check the specific AP Credit policies of the schools (and even majors) they are interested in.
Even common “universals” about AP credit do not necessarily apply to a given college:

“3” is passing
“AP Credit gets you college credit”
AP Credit Policy Search

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How AP credits work: Observations

From the Maryland General Assembly (2022): “Unless the institution provides evidence that a higher score is necessary, an institution must award academic credit for (1) a minimum score of 3 on Advanced Placement (AP) examinations” (Public universities and colleges in Maryland).
Colleges can have vastly different policies for AP exam credit.

For example . . .

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How AP credits work:

The BC Calculus exam would earn the following at four institutions that our students apply to.

A 3 earns credit in a “lower level elective.” A 4 or 5 earns 8 credits in Math 140 & 141.

A 3 earns 4 credits in Math 273. A 4 or 5 earns 8 credits in Math 273 & 274.

A 3 or 4 earns 4 credits in Math. A 5 earns 8 credits in Math.

A 3 earns 1 credit for Math 201. A 4 or 5 earns 2 credits for Math 201 and 202.

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How AP credits work:

The English Language exam would earn the following at four institutions our students apply to.

A 3 earns 3 elective credits. A 4 or 5 earns 3 elective credit and satisfies the FSAW Gen Ed requirement in Academic Writing.

A 4 or 5 earns 3 credits in English 102, a core requirement.

Hopkins does not offer credit for AP English Language.

A 4 or 5 earns 1 credit of a 100-level English elective.

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Joining AP class sections for AP Classroom:

By now, teachers should have given join codes to students for AP Classroom. Ex. If a student is taking 4 AP classes, they should have 4 separate join codes (most cases).
To join AP sections in College Board, students will need to use their existing College Board account (or create a new one). Students SHOULD NOT create a second College Board account.
If a student cannot remember their College Board login information, they should reach out to the College Board AP (student help line at 888-225-5427 or visit cb.org/apstudentinquiry)

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AP Class Sections:

Whether a student will be sitting for an AP test or not, they must join their AP class section on College Board. In the AP class section, students will find practice questions and other material that will help them learn and prepare.
When a student joins an AP class section, they are registered for the exam!
If a student joins the AP classroom, but does not want to take the exam, students should email Ms. Brooks, adrienne_a_brooks@mcpsmd.org, to cancel the exam (before November 7th).

Please include student’s name, ID number, course, period and teacher.

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Registering for the exam:

Students are automatically registered for the exam when they enter the class join code into their AP account.
Students have until November 7, 2025 to join the AP classroom/register for the AP exam . After November 7th, registration or cancellation of an exam will accrue a $41.75 cancellation fee ($40 + processing fee).

Additional fees will be issued for late registrations and cancellations immediately following the November 7th due date.

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AP Exam Fee News

In the 2023-2024 school year, MCPS decided to start paying for AP exams. Although you are not responsible for the exam fee, students must still follow all deadlines for registrations and cancellations. Students are responsible for late registration and late cancellation fees.

MCPS will only pay for AP fees if the class exists on the student’s schedule with the AP code ( a few exceptions are Linear Algebra/Applied Stat, Algorithm Data & Mag Analysis)
All self-study students will be responsible for the AP fees associated with the exam they are self-studying

These fees will include the exam fee of $103.25, late registration and cancellation fees of $41.75 (if needed)
Self-study students must complete this intention to self-study form, return it to Ms. Brooks in the main office, and then will be emailed the self-study join code

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AP Exam Fees:

All AP exams cost $103.25 each
Additional fees may be accrued after November 7th

Joining an AP class section after 11/7/25 = $41.75 late fee
Deciding to cancel after 11/7/25 = $41.75 cancellation fee

All late registration and cancellation fees are the same for all exams

**Students only incur a late fee if they join/register for an AP class section after Nov 7th. Joining the AP class before Nov 7th, but paying for the exam after Nov 7th does not incur a late fee.**

**AP exams order deadline is November 7, 2025, any changes after that date accrue additional fees from College Board.

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Fee Waivers (if eligible):

Families that may have a financial hardship may apply for waivers and/or work out a payment plan with Mr. McKenna. All waivers are per exam.

College Board fee waiver

If your family qualifies for Free and Reduced Meals, your student will automatically qualify for a $35 College Board waiver for each exam.

To get access to the Free and Reduced Meal form at myschoolapps.com

To obtain an MCPS Waiver, see below:

To obtain a waiver from PHS or to set up a payment plan, a parent or student should contact Mr. McKenna or Ms. Brooks via email.

All exam fees, late fees and cancellation fees can be paid online through the SCO system, or by check or cash to Ms. Brooks. Please make checks payable to Poolesville High School. Any unpaid fees will become an obligation after February 15, 2023.

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Check out PHS’ school website, AP Testing page for the latest AP testing information!

AP Testing Page: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/poolesvillehs/departments/ap/

PHS Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/poolesvillehs/

FAQ page: after tonight’s webinar, FAQs will be posted on the PHS website, AP page.

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Important Dates/Information

When students join the AP classroom, they are registered for the exam
MCPS will pay AP fees only if the class in correspondence to the exam exists on the student’s schedule

AP exam fees mainly apply to self-study students
Late fees are in addition to exam fee and only applied after 11/7/25, per exam
Cancellation (opt out) fees are only applied after 11/7/25, per exam

If a student pays for an exam and decides after 11/7/25 that they would like to opt out of the exam, they will receive their exam fee back for the exam they are opting out of minus the cancellation fee ($41.75)

November 7, 2025

Final day to join AP class sections, make exam decision and/or opt out of exams without accruing additional fees

March 6, 2026

After 3/6/2026, all self-study AP fees become an obligation and may affect other activities with PHS, i.g., Prom

Remember the date and time of your exam. Here you will find the AP exam schedule for May 2026.