An Indiana teen has achieved something no other student in the world managed to do this spring: record a perfect score on the Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam.
Felix Zhang is a junior at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Indiana. He achieved a perfect "5" rating, according to the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, the College Board that administers the AP exams.
They said he was the only student in the world to earn every possible point on the AP Calculus AB exam, meaning Zhang scored a perfect 108 points.
Zhang didn't expect to get a perfect score
In a news release, Trevor Packer, Head of the Advanced Placement Program, said that this outstanding accomplishment is likely a direct reflection of the top-quality education offered at Penn High School. He added that they applaud Zhang's hard work and the AP teacher responsible for engaging students and enabling them to excel in a college-level course.
Zhang recently held a news conference to talk about his achievement, according to Fox. The teen took the test in the spring of this year, along with 270,000 students worldwide. He said he felt pretty confident as he knew what to do on the test, but there was always a chance he would make a small error.
Zhang, who is currently studying AP Calculus CB, said that is why he was not expecting to see a perfect score. He noted that acing the test was pretty surprising because he felt many other people out there probably performed very well on the test, and he was somewhat surprised that no one else got a perfect score.
Teachers played a part in Zhang's achievement
Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker paid tribute to the teachers in Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, saying they are some of the best in Indiana. He said their incredible dedication and commitment to academic excellence and ensuring every student reaches their highest potential is extraordinary.
Thacker said the teachers do this daily across their district, in all 15 schools. He lauded Felix Zhang and his teacher Mrs. Denise White, saying they are just one of the many examples of great student/teacher relationships that result in phenomenal achievements for their students.
Thacker noted that Zhang's perfect score exemplifies their "Triangle of Success," which connects students, teachers, and parents. AP exams help students gain entry into colleges and universities along with scholarships and other financial aid, according to WTHR.
Universities and colleges worldwide receive the AP scores of students to determine if they can attend their schools.
