Every May, high schools across the country enter one of the most stressful periods of the academic year: AP testing season. This year, AP testing kicked off on May 4 with the AP Biology, Latin, and Microeconomics exams and ended with the AP Environmental Science and Computer Science Exams on May 15. The following week was reserved for make-up exams for the various courses. Students took the exams in the gym, multipurpose rooms, or learning commons at either 8:00 am or 12:00 pm.
An amazing opportunity students were given while preparing was that they were exempt from the afternoon classes before their test the previous day in the afternoon. If an exam was held at 12 pm, students then had the option to miss their morning classes and take the time to study. Julia Klein ‘28 shared that “this really helps because it allows us to focus on one thing at a time while experiencing pressure. Additionally, it is very helpful because even if there is work you need to do for other classes, you can study the same material from home while also having the freedom to study for APs.”
When speaking with other students taking APs, they shared their experiences and strategies while studying. For instance, Taylor Oakes ‘28 explains how she prepares for her AP assessments: “I would study for each unit by reviewing unit summaries posted on YouTube and taking practice quizzes for each unit after reviewing.” Sabrina Kladakis ‘28 had a similar experience while studying because she focused on working through review packets that were unit-specific and watching summary videos. Many students agreed that the best way to understand and memorize such a large amount of material was to complete practice questions.
While study methods and testing policies may differ from student to student, one thing that remains consistent is that AP season has become a defining experience for many high schoolers. The weeks leading up to exams reflect both the ambition and determination that is present in our school’s academic environment. As the testing season comes to a close, students are left with lessons in discipline, balance, and resilience, which they will take with them far beyond high school.
