No matter how you earn it, college credit is expensive.  Even college credit earned by taking Advanced Placement test can be a large expense to cover.
A single AP test costs $89, and it can add up when some students have three or more tests.  Many students cannot juggle four AP classes at once, which leads to failure of more than one exam. For students, this means money and time wasted.
In order to receive college credit, a student must receive at least a score of three out of five or higher, but most colleges do not except anything less than a four.
Last year, Texas ranked 44th in the nation for scores of 3 or higher. Only 47.9 percent of students in the state received college credit.
For public schools in Texas, the average score for English, Language, and Composition is 2.39, United States History is 2.30, and Calculus is 2.57.
Many students are not receiving actual college credit even if they receive a score of three, and many students cannot even reach this score.
Students are being forced by the administration to take AP exams they are clearly not prepared for.  If you are not prepared to take the nearly $90 exam, you should not take it. The numbers show it’s not worth the time or money to take an AP exam.
If you decide to take an AP exam, make sure you are prepared and confident going in. A score of 4 or higher ensures you will easily find a college that will accept your credit.
Although $89 is much cheaper than taking the course all over again in college.
Don’t let teachers force you to take a test you feel you are not prepared for, make your own decision with your own judgment.