The Changing Landscape of the AP Physics Exam
The following article from Education Week outlines an important issue that we all need to keep our eyes on. The number of students taking the AP Physics exam doubled this past year, representing the largest single-year growth for any AP course in the history of the exams. This is encouraging in some ways; it is good to see more students active in STEM classes. Less encouraging? The percentage of students who earned a score that qualifies for college credit (3 or higher) dropped over twenty points: from 59.7% in 2014 to 39.2% in 2015*. We want more students taking the exams, but we also want them to do well. This will require everyone re-examining how these students are being prepared.
