The school year is approaching its final few weeks, which means it is officially AP exam season. For many students, AP (Advanced Placement) classes offer a valuable opportunity to not only heavily boost their weighted GPA but also grant students the chance to earn college credit while still in high school. AP exam scores range from 1 to 5, and a passing score of at least 3 on the exam is generally required to earn college credit; however, sometimes, a score of 4 or even 5 is required depending on the institution and subject.
2025 AP exams officially begin on Monday, May 5, and run through Friday, May 16. A total of 306 Flint Hill students will be taking 771 exams, averaging 2.5 exams per person. Due to the stressful nature of AP exams, which are typically 2 to 3 hours long, Flint Hill policy allows students to skip the classes immediately preceding an upcoming exam. For example, if a student is taking a morning exam, they can skip their afternoon classes the day prior, which is extremely helpful for students trying to get some last-minute study time in. Classes missed due to AP exams also count as excused absences.
Nevertheless, AP exams are still a huge source of stress for students in all grade levels. They are essentially final exams for AP classes, requiring students to review all material they learned throughout the entire year. “At first, I was apprehensive and scrambling to get as much studying as possible. I also was bitter to why my hardest exams had to be the first week. But now that it’s only a week away, a peace has come over me, and I believe my hard work will pay off somehow,” says Junior Nadia Ngata, who will be taking the AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, and AP English Language exams. “It comforts me that the few things I can control, like the quality of my studying and my mindset, dictate the way I experience the AP exam season. Also, after they’re done, I’m free!” Meanwhile, other students have slightly contrasting opinions. “I hate AP exams!!!” says a Junior in AP Chemistry and AP Calculus BC who would like to remain anonymous.
“I’ve been spending around 20 minutes every day studying one or two specific topics. For me personally, spreading it out is a lot easier than finding large chunks of time to study”, says Sophomore Naaya Patel, who will be taking the AP Human Geography exam. Indeed, starting to study early is crucial for preventing unnecessary stress (AKA cramming). A psychology study by the University of California, San Diego shows that spaced practice allows you to learn more information and retain it longer when compared to an intensive cramming session. Even just 15 to 30 minutes daily is extremely beneficial in building up long-term memory.
Ultimately, AP exams serve as a culmination of students’ hard work throughout the year. While the weeks leading up to AP exams may be extremely stressful, there are many valuable study resources to take advantage of, such as the AP daily videos, AP live review recordings, online practice, and AP prep books. Good luck, everyone!
