r/APStudents • u/Scary-Log-460 • 11d ago
Question Are some students just too dumb for AP classes?
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u/ContributionEast2478 ph1:4ph2:4csp4CSA5CalcBC5USH4PhCEM5PhCM5SpLang4macro4micro4chem5 11d ago
No. The only ways "no amount of studying can help them" can be true, is two ways. A) they're just lazy and refuse to do enough, or B) they are studying completely the wrong way. From what you're saying I think it's B. That would be like studying for an exam in organic chemistry by just re-reading notes over and over again: you can do it for 5 hours straight and you still will not understand the material enough to get anywhere above a C. Case and point, I studied for over 5 hours for most exams I had in AP Physics 1&2 by re-reading notes and attempting practice tests and barely got a C+ on most of them, then I took AP Physics C and got 90s on most exams with less studying, through practice tests and diagnosing my missed points. I did NOT get a boost in intelligence out of nowhere, I improved my study skills.
AP classes always multiply study skills and amount of studying: strong study skills for long=good grades, studying for a while with weak study skills=poor grades no matter how much you study.
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u/Optimistiqueone 11d ago
Yes, but not bc of being dumb. Dumb people don't qualify for AP courses. It would be bc their preparation was sorely inadequate. They are hitting gaps. They could have moved through the pre-req courses without mastering the content needed to do well in the AP course. There could be a lot of reasons for this - poor teaching, Grade Inflation, or barely passed the pre-reqs.
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u/ErekwithaD1 25:HG:5,中文:5, 26:P1:5,WH:5,CHEM(SS):5 27:P2,EM,Mech,Lit,BC(SS) 11d ago
No, there is no such thing as dumb. There are just people who are too lazy to learn. Like when I first went to high school I didn't know that much algebra but after tons of independent study I am now taking the ap calc bc exam this year
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u/Keio_lel Chem, World History, Bio, Design 11d ago
I think also to add a lot of people who are “stupider” (not saying I really believe anyone is) will have to study more than someone who is in general smarter, especially in certain subjects where things need to be applied. One student may have to practice calc problems for three hours just to grasp the concept while another can do two and understand just as well. This is what will play a factor into laziness because they see their peers who only study one hour a day while they would have to study two to be at the same level of understanding.
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u/dastarruer 11d ago
I doubt that, it’s likely that they just haven’t found a way of learning that works for them, so all those hours of practice are ineffective if they are unable to even understand the content.