AP Test Credit Faces Scrutiny by Harvard

Harvard University decided in February to award placement only for a score of five on all AP tests, but UNC officials say they will not make any significant changes regarding how credit is awarded.

UNC awards credit for about 30 AP exams, as well as for SAT II scores and International Baccalaureate tests. Students can get credit for AP scores ranging from three to five, depending on the course.

But Harvard administrators said even a score of four does not correlate with success in the university's undergraduate program and subsequently have raised the standard for awarding placement.

"It's reasonable to assume that a five is good preparation," said Marlyn McGrath-Lewis, director of admissions for Harvard College, the undergraduate division of the university.

McGrath-Lewis said Harvard made the change to prevent students from immediately being placed into higher-level courses, ensuring that students get a proper education and are able to perform well when they advance to upper-level courses.

"We want to make sure the value is appropriate," he said.

Harvard does not grant credit hours for high scores on AP tests but instead uses them to place students in higher-level courses. Students can graduate early if they place into enough advanced classes.

But UNC uses AP scores to evaluate potential students and to award college credit.

Barbara Polk, associate director of undergraduate admissions at UNC, said AP credit is decided by each individual department every year.

She added that AP courses are also useful for the admissions office in determining if a student is working hard in high school. "We value the AP courses in admissions to see that students are taking rigorous programs," she said.

Polk said she has noticed a significant increase in the number of AP courses students take. "I think the AP program is more readily available," she said. "There are more schools offering it and offering more courses."

But Walt Jimenez, director of curriculum assessment for the AP program at the College Board, said the tests still are a good measure of comprehension regardless of how many students take them.

In 2001, about 260,000 more students took at least one AP exam than in 1997, and about 500,000 more tests were administered in the same period.

Jimenez added that although the College Board has taken actions to make the AP program more available, the tests are still a valid measure of ability. "We're working ... to help students across the board, but we haven't done anything to make (the tests) easier," he said.

McGrath-Lewis also said AP has improved secondary education across the country and that the program is a great tool for furthering education. "The level of courses has been improved," she said. "School by school, student by student, (AP) has been a contributor to quality across the board in education in America."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.