WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AP CLASSES AND TEST

There appears to be a lot of confusion about AP classes and tests which both students and their parents. AP tests are part of the College Board Exams, and prepared by the very same folks who bring you the SAT I's and Subject Tests. However, the sign up process and test score results are different. For those taking AP classes and later the exams, there are afew things to keep in mind.
Many students feel that if they flock to AP classes, this will improve how colleges view them. While this is true, not approaching it correctly can backfire on students.

AP Classes are rigorous and demand an intellectual curiosity. Colleges many times look at your grades in AP classes and assume that it represents a higher level of achievement than an equivalent grade in a “regular” class, which offers an advantage, but the particular attraction to getting into an AP classes is the opportunity to take the AP exam at the end of the year and attempt to get a 3 or higher to gain college credit so that in your freshman year, you are able to start college at an advance standing.
The value of the AP classes with a passing AP exam grants students at many schools course credit or advanced standing to students who score well on the individual tests.
Therefore there is an obvious reason for not only taking the class seriously, but the test also. If you take an AP test in sessions prior to June 15, and you are bombed the test,you did horribly, you have until June 15 of the current school year to cancel your score before you receive your score is tallied.
If you choose to cancel a score, you must notify the College Board in writing, Whe you choose this option, sending a letter via certified mail is necessary to confirm delivery. Once the College Board confirms your letter, your score will be forever gone.

On a final note, If you cancel a score, it is gone forever and never gets scored,
hence it does not count in your AP average for AP scholar
designations. BUT, even though you might choose to withhold a
score from a college, note that it DOES count in your AP average
and will affect AP scholar designations. In short, use this
version of "score choice" to your advantage and take some extra
AP's that you study for on your own. AP Information and scores are delivered separately from your SAT’s. For more information on how to book AP Tests, go to APCentral.collegeboard.com