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I balked at the idea that "the main determinant of doing well in AP classes is IQ," which I'm not so sure about, especially when conflated with the idea that IQ

by pie 17y ago

I balked at the idea that "the main determinant of doing well in AP classes is IQ," which I'm not so sure about, especially when conflated with the idea that IQ is also a measure of student intelligence. In my experience, AP classes are focused on test preparation, which I would argue is not so strictly bound to intelligence at all. Probably what we're seeing is an expression of the widespread American notion that every child is special and smarter than the other kids and is bound for greatness, and that success is to be achieved through excellence in traditional educational and career channels. Aspiration is one thing, but many parents are actually trying to force their children through the educational system to "become the next president" in some sense. We simply have a deeper well of more diverse test takers in the AP exams (i.e. more variety in preparedness), thus the trending in scores.

screwperman 17y ago
Here's a discussion on reddit on an Indian entrance examination: http://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/8bxt9/an_indian_undergraduate_entrance_examination/ http://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/8bxt9/an_indian_underg... The exam is more rigorous and broader in scope than the APs. It also has a far more punishing "grading curve" (a 1.8% admit rate). The general notion among Indians seems to be that preparation -- and only preparation -- matters. While I agree that not every American should aspire to be the next president, one should put things in a global perspective: it's only fair that water-deprived kids from Third World countries who spent their childhood cramming end up taking the jobs of the more fortunate who did not take a single simple AP exam. In an earlier post on HN, a highly upvoted comment went like "take every AP exam". That is a good idea, but it hardly ambitious at all, given that you are in the land of opportunity. Participating in olympiads and science fairs is far more worthwhile in every way.

by pie 17y ago

screwperman 17y ago

Here's a discussion on reddit on an Indian entrance examination: http://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/8bxt9/an_indian_undergraduate_entrance_examination/ http://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/8bxt9/an_indian_underg... The exam is more rigorous and broader in scope than the APs. It also has a far more punishing "grading curve" (a 1.8% admit rate). The general notion among Indians seems to be that preparation -- and only preparation -- matters. While I agree that not every American should aspire to be the next president, one should put things in a global perspective: it's only fair that water-deprived kids from Third World countries who spent their childhood cramming end up taking the jobs of the more fortunate who did not take a single simple AP exam. In an earlier post on HN, a highly upvoted comment went like "take every AP exam". That is a good idea, but it hardly ambitious at all, given that you are in the land of opportunity. Participating in olympiads and science fairs is far more worthwhile in every way.