KNIGHTTIME NEWS: Summer 2026
To AP Test or Not to AP Test? That is the Question
Every year, like clockwork, our college counseling office gets a similar set of questions around Advanced Placement (AP) tests: “Should I take them?” “Will they look good for college?”
DAVID MELENA Associate Director of College Counseling
The academic journey...is far more enriched when the student is pursuing self-discovery, critical thinking, and collaboration with peers rather than preparing for a standardized test.”
Meanwhile, we get a second set of questions from spring semester seniors every year: “I know I signed up, but do I have to take them?” “Will my admission be rescinded if I don’t?”
Here, we hope to shed some light, add some context, and help provide some clarity. The answer is not simple, but it is tailored to who is asking. Somewhere between “should I take them?” and “do I have to?” is an answer that can help give students and parents some reassurance on the impact of AP tests on their admissions decisions.
It’s important to contextualize the conversation around two important factors 1) Menlo does not have an AP curriculum, and 2) colleges evaluate an application within the academic context of the applicant. That is, colleges will only look at an applicant’s curriculum choices within the classes available to them at their high school; they are not comparing them to applicants from other local schools. And colleges that have moved to test-required admissions are solely focused on SAT or ACT testing, not AP.
It’s been a few years since Menlo made the move away from an AP curriculum, a move that has gained momentum across many independent schools in the Bay Area and nationwide. Additionally, our college counseling team is in constant communication with college representatives throughout the academic year, and we make colleges very much aware that Menlo students do not have AP courses available to them in their curriculum sequence. It is very important to note that many of our core classes for juniors are not designed to prepare students for the AP test at the end of the year. It is our belief that the academic journey in the classroom is far more enriched when the student is pursuing self-discovery, critical thinking, and collaboration with peers rather than preparing for a standardized test.
We understand that students and parents are advised by outside partners to utilize any tool to demonstrate to colleges their level of academic mastery and it is important to tailor the conversation depending on the audience.
Who would benefit from taking an AP test?
First, we would like to note that students considering applying to colleges in the UK would greatly benefit from taking a series of AP tests. The admissions process greatly hinges upon AP test performance and the most selective of UK universities would like to see at least 5 AP tests with a score of 5. There is a sliding scale of admissions outcomes based on the number of 5s a student needs to earn and a range of scores of 3 and 4.
Additionally, students considering matriculating to the UC system should know that completion of AP English Literature or AP Language test with a score of 4 or 5 can help them bypass certain college writing requirements.
We believe that juniors have the flexibility after finals to pursue AP tests in subjects they want to demonstrate an added level of mastery. In the past students have taken AP tests in a foreign language, computer science, English Literature, or English Language, and many more. The number one priority for Junior year should be maximizing your GPA. Pursuing AP tests should be optional.
Who would not benefit from taking an AP test?
Freshmen: There’s no need, plain and simple.
Sophomores: Unless a student is a native speaker of the language, most students are not yet prepared to take an AP foreign language exam after only two years of study at Menlo. Additionally, students do not need to take the AP Precalculus exam, as it generally does not provide meaningful added value in the college admissions process.
Seniors: in their college application students often will write that they will take an AP test at the end of the year “because it looks good” and then once admitted ask us whether actually have to take it. Most colleges are fine with you not taking the AP test and you would simply need to communicate that to the colleges you are attending via an update form in the admissions portal. However, some colleges may be rigid in their response and require you to take the test as a condition of your admission to successfully complete everything that you outlined in your application. In order to avoid that scenario, we strongly advise students to thoroughly recognize what actions need to be taken should they choose to change their minds.
We hope this provides some helpful advice as you navigate the decision of whether to pursue AP testing. We are happy to answer any individualized questions you may have, so please feel free to connect.
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