Baker credit has been introduced into the BVN system since the 2008-2009 school year, as it served as an available option for students who wanted to get college credits early.
Although, it came with a hefty price of $118 per credit, which I considered was too much when compared to the College Board exam, which was $40 per exam for some college credit, varying per exam. Is it worth it to pay almost triple the price for one credit through Baker?
When taking classes at BVN, Baker credit and the College Board exam are both available options when it comes to planning for the future academics of a student. Baker credit is available as you take an AP class. After taking the class, the Baker credit is worth the grade you got, as if you were taking an actual college class. If you had gotten an A in the AP class, then you would have gotten the same credit as if it were actually in college. The College Board exam allows a student to earn one to six or eight college credits if the student scores high enough on an exam meant to be challenging.
When looking into the prices, it’s essential to evaluate yourself as a student when deciding where the money will go. I personally thought of myself when taking a class and how well I am at test-taking, but I knew I wanted college credit of some kind. Tests aren’t for everyone, but if someone is terrible at taking a test but gets a good grade in a semester-long class, then I think it’s worth taking the Baker credit. Especially when that someone knows they definitely won’t be able to get the available credit through the College Board exam.
On the other hand, tests may be someone’s forte, allowing them to aim for that available college credit through the College Board exam. If I were to sit down at a desk for a few hours with a bubble sheet, a pencil, scratch paper and a calculator, then I have a high chance of doing well. Some people are able to sit down for a long period of time and just work, which allows for the chance of credit through the exam.
Some people are good at both, being able to turn in high-quality assignments to get that good grade, allowing for the ability to choose. Both tests in the classroom and a proctor room may feel similar, and if students can afford it, then they can go for both.
I feel as if Baker credit is an option when someone can only afford it, so if you cannot, then just go for the exam. The exam is a readily available source, while also allowing people to take their time to study for the exam itself. Baker credit serves as an alternate way for students who happen to be terrible at test-taking but still want to be able to get credit for their hard work throughout the year.
Facing this choice needs self-evaluation, but truly, it is a debate between test-taking and classwork. If a student is willing to pay $118 for a college credit and they aren’t good at taking tests, then it’s worth it. But if a student isn’t willing to spend $118, then looking into the College Board exam may be worth their time instead.
