Advanced Placement Causes Advanced Problems

AP testing has become a norm in schools across the nation.  More and more college-bound students are being pushed to take these college-level classes, so that they can go to college with credit to their name or get into a better school in the first place.  But, there is a high price to pay with these classes because they come with college-like amounts of work and college-level work.  Especially difficult are the Calculus, Science and History courses which cram loads of material, all of it testable.  The tests can include anything in the book, and these books can range upwards of 300 pages.  That's a lot to ask of teachers and students, especially those in high school.  Often times, this leads to students just memorizing and cramming, not actually learning or applying.  I took 6 AP classes in high school plus 2 additional courses from a local college.  I can hardly remember anything I learned in most of those classes.  So, while students may get the benefit or credit (if they manage to remember enough to pass the test), they don't get the knowledge.  Thankfully College Board is attempting to revamp the curriculum and tests to better promote student learning, and not just students freaking out about the 5millionfactstheyneedtoknowtopassthetestsotheycangotocollegeandgetajobthatpayswell.