BY NATALIE BROWN
Staff Writer
Students who take Advanced Placement courses know how much work is involved. But all that work paid off throughout last year, as Baldwin’s scores on Advanced Placement tests in history, composition, chemistry, and calculus increased sharply.
Scores rose by almost a point and maintained above a 3 average.
“Students prepared early and studied hard for the exam this year,” AP U.S. history teacher Kathleen Deemer said.
Advanced Placement tests are scored on a five-point scale, with 5 being the highest. Most colleges give course credit for a 4 and 5, while some also accept a 3.
Big jumps were seen in several history courses.
The average score for AP U.S. History classes in Spring 2013 was 3.78 out of 5, up from the 2012 average of a 3.1. While these scores are an improvement, Deemer hopes to see even better scores this year.
“The jump last year is certainly something to be proud of at Baldwin.” Deemer said.
In AP European History, taught by Jill Landy, scores averaged a 4.8, compared to an average of 3.44 two years ago. For Adam Foote’s AP Government class, average scores jumped by almost a point.
In AP Calculus BC, the percentage of students who received a passing grade of 3 or higher rose 20 percent. AP Chemistry saw a significant jump compared to years prior, with the 2013 score averaging a 3.67.
In 11th grade AP English students averaged a 3.62, and in 12th grade AP Literature and Composition, students averaged 4 on last year’s exam.
“Every year my students tend to achieve a 4 or a 5, something I pride myself on,” AP 12 English teacher Dr. Lisa Klein said.
The exam for AP Biology was completely redesigned and only 5 percent of students achieved a 5 nationally. Baldwin students averaged a 3.25 last year.
Starting last year, while other students took Keystone tests, students who had already passed the Keystone tests came into classes with their AP teachers for two hours a day to prepare the week before the exam, especially in history courses.
History course students also came into school in the morning on weekends to prepare and take practice tests.
Students who gain college credits from AP exams have the opportunity to save thousands of dollars on freshman classes they would have otherwise had to take.
“Getting a 5 on both the AP English and AP US exams really make a difference your junior year,” senior Jon DeGregorio said. “I was able to opt out of freshmen classes and save about $4,000 when looking at certain colleges.”
