Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief. Advanced Placement exams are over. For most juniors, the AP exams are a way to distinguish themselves from other students vying for a spot at the colleges of their dreams.

At Palo Alto High School, students are not required to take the AP exam for the class they are enrolled in, and are only required to take the Standardized Testing and Reporting tests in May. Although all students are encouraged to take the AP exam in May, some students choose not to take the exam.

The excuses for not doing so include the $110 cost of the test, extra studying and excess stress on top of schoolwork.

Nonetheless, all students should take the AP exam unless they believe that they would receive a failing grade of one or two out of five on the test.

Although colleges do not weigh AP exams the same as SAT reasoning scores, AP exam scores are taken into consideration in the admittance process. Most of the time, a strong AP score of four or five will boost a student’s application. Students who choose not to take the exam or score less than three on the AP exam are regarded differently in various colleges’ application processes.

At University of California Berkeley, for example, an anonymous admissions counselor stated that both a poor AP exam score and not taking the exam at all would be regarded in they same way. They would be considered neutral factors in the application process and UC Berkeley would look at other factors such as grade point average and SAT scores instead.

However, a four or five on an AP exam would be factored in the admission process. For example, Santa Clara University encourages all students who are enrolled in an AP class to take the exam. Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Christina Louie explained the importance of AP exams at the school. Although AP exams are not nearly as important as SAT scores or a student’s GPA, a strong AP test definitely helps applicants.

“We want students to challenge themselves academically,” Louie said.

According to Louie, Santa Clara University would like all students to try to take the test, and a student that does not take the test brings up a glaring question mark in their application.

“Students who do not take the test are unimpressive,” Louie said. “It shows no follow through for the students.”

However, she did recommend that students who are unprepared should not take the test. Santa Clara wants to see each student attempt to take the test, but if the student receives a one, it shows that they have no mastery of the subject.

Santa Clara and UC Berkeley both encourage students to take the exam if they are in the class. The consequences of not performing well are minimal compared to not taking the test at all.

Most students do not take into consideration the costs of an AP exam compared to the actual cost of a college course at a university. The $110 may seem like a large sum of money for one test, but a college course can cost upwards of $1000. Furthermore, Paly offers financial aid to students who are financially disadvantaged. The benefits of saving thousands of dollars in college are greater than the $110 cost of a single exam.

By receiving college credits from AP exams, students can expand the variety of their classes in college or lighten their workload for a semester. Students can spend more time on studying for fewer classes and avoid the stress of studying for multiple semester finals. Students will have more free time and will have the opportunity to join new clubs or organizations that they would not have time for if they had a full schedule of classes.

Although AP exams are not a part of the college admission requirement, it has become routine for a large number of juniors, seniors and even some sophomores.

In 2010, 1181 exams were ordered for the two week AP testing period. This is a 10 percent increase in tests ordered from 2009 and 2008. A greater number of AP exams ordered corresponds to the increasing number of students taking multiple AP classes.

College and Career Center counselor Sandra Cernobori recommends that if the student is getting a passing grade in the class, then they should proceed to take the exam.

“Taking the AP test is a culmination of the coursework,” Cernobori said. “It’s a way to validate what you learned.”

Paly and Henry M. Gunn High School do not have any formal policy that requires students to take the exam for the class they are enrolled in.

According to both Paly Assistant Principal Todd Feinberg and current Henry M. Gunn High School Assistant Principal Phil Winston, teachers set the requirements for taking the AP exam or not.

“It is our hope and expectation that all students enrolled in any AP class take the test in May,” Feinburg said. “As a former high school student who took various AP classes and tests, I would strongly recommend every student to avail themselves to take the test and earn college credit.”

Taking the AP exam not only reflects what the student learned within the year, but its positive outcomes definitely outweigh the negative consequences.

Students may not notice how AP exams affect them immediately, but by passing the AP exam, students can save money and time in college. Paly prepares its students well for AP exams and all students should be confident that they will receive a passing score on the exam.

After dedicating numerous hours of study to an AP class, students should feel prepared and enthusiastic about taking the exam. Students who take the test feel a sense of accomplishment.

The exam also demonstrates that those who choose to take the test are hard-working and accomplished students.

In addition, the exam can also be a major factor in the college application process. A high score on an AP exam can greatly enhance a students chance at gaining acceptance.

In conclusion, students who take AP exams have a greater advantage over those who do not. That is why every student should be encouraged to take the tests. Because not only does it enhance a student’s resume, but it also replaces courses in college and prepares many students for other classes which are far more demanding and difficult.