For students to get a full credit for taking Advanced Placement courses at Old Rochester Regional High School, they will now have to take the national AP exam, says the ORR School Committee.

On Wednesday, the committee voted 6-3 that any student who opts out of the exam would receive honors rather than AP credit, equaling a change in GPA.

AP classes are full-year, college level courses, considered to be the most rigorous offerings taught in high school and therefore weighted higher on the GPA scale. The classes culminate in an optional national exam that gives students an opportunity to earn college credit.

Currently, students who don’t take the AP test are required to take a final exam administered by their teacher, while those taking the AP test do not.

Now, students who opt out of the exam will also be opting out of a potential 5.0 GPA.

The committee made the decision on Wednesday night, going against the recommendation of the staff and administration.

“Looking back to 2009, we have had a high percentage of students taking tests,” said Principal Mike Devoll.

He also polled the 98 students currently enrolled in 185 AP classes at the school and found that they planned to take 93 percent of the exams. Those students who chose not to take the test did so for a variety of reasons, Devoll said.

The college level AP courses can provide students with college credit, but each has different requirements. Several students opted out of the senior AP English test because they already passed the junior test and their college only accepts one of the tests.

One student’s university does not give credit for the AP European History exam. Another student plans to take four exams but feels a fifth is too much.

Each exam costs $89, but is free for students on the free lunch program.

Several school committee members said that the AP test  should be a requirement of the course, and there should be a consequence for those not taking it.

“I view it as part of the class,” said Nick Decas. “When it comes to taking the final step to prove the course material and you don’t take it. That’s crazy.”

Robin Rounseville agreed.

“This is a standard that we should uphold. It’s sort of like getting your driver’s license without getting your road test,” she said.

Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos said the practice of giving AP credit only to those who take the test is common in high schools.

Currently, a student's GPA would reflect their grade in an AP class but not if they took the AP test.

“We should think about truth in advertising,” she said.

Frangos also said the test results help teachers gauge the effectiveness of their methods.

But Devoll said students required to take the test could give it a half-hearted effort with no consequences.

“My preference would be to maintain the status quo,” he said. “There’s concern that requiring kids to take the test for something they may not be invested in skews your data.”

In the end, however, the committee voted to change the policy, which will likely go into effect for the incoming freshmen class.