By Melanie Matyi
News Editor

Although the percentage of students with at least one exam score of a three or more has decreased slightly over the years, the change is minimal. Variation like this is common in tests like these as seen in the fluctuation of both Pennsylvania’s and the globe’s results.  This deviation can be due to numerous factors.

The largest factor is the students. Each year there are different students taking the tests; each student has their own strengths and weaknesses which may or may not be suited for the test in which they take. The tests themselves also change. Some years the tests are simply more or less difficult than those of other years.

The creator of the Advanced Placement (AP) tests is College Board. They study the results of each exam—observing which questions were most, or least, missed—to create the next exam so that the standard bell curve remains intact.

Although all AP, some courses tend to be more difficult due to their subject matter. For example, the European History exam typically produces an average score of just less than three at Neshaminy as well as globally.

AP classes are structured very differently from normal honors and college prep classes. On the level of a college course, they are quite strenuous. It takes time for students to get acclimated to a new style of learning.

In addition, not all students are AP students but in senior year there are no honors social studies classes available. Students who fall in this middle range are forced to bump up into the AP course or down into college prep.

According to Neshaminy’s AP policy all students enrolled in an AP class are required to take the national exam. Unlike those in all other area schools, Neshaminy students cannot opt out of taking the test.