How Smart Is AP?

Discusses the trend for high school students in the U.S. to take Advanced Placement courses and the AP tests due to strenuous competition for college admissions. Consideration of how the College Board continues to create new AP courses and exams to feed the demand; Concern from educators that the AP courses teach students the test instead of encouraging them to think creatively; Findings that AP Chemistry, Biology, and Physics lacked the depth of a good college course and fail to give the students a thorough understanding of science; Emphasis of breadth over depth among college preparatory and AP courses; Efforts of the College Board to improve the tests by seeking funds from the National Science Foundation with regard to its Biology, Physics, and Chemistry courses.