Before students and teachers can begin their summer, they must endure the most anticipated time of the school year: AP and final exams. Most students enrolled in AP courses choose to take the corresponding AP exams for the chance to receive college credit, whereas students enrolled in non-AP courses are required to take the corresponding final exams if exemption requirements are not met.
A common sentiment shared by students is that they feel added stress due to preparation, in-class review, and last-minute cramming, with many classes still covering curriculum in the days leading up to the exam.
“The review process has been stressful [because] the course I am taking has so much information and material,” said sophomore Haley Powers, who is enrolled in and taking the exam for AP European History.
Sophomore Caitlynn Strader expressed a similar viewpoint that in her AP Pre-Calculus course, they have had less time for exam review because of the packed curriculum and fast-paced schedule, making it a “bit more stressful.”
“We have not reviewed much, only beginning to review last week,” said Strader, who is also enrolled in and taking the exam for AP Spanish Language and Culture. “We have done practice multiple choice and free response questions along with review videos. For [AP Spanish], it has been relaxed. We have been preparing all year by working on fluency and taking mock exams every week since February.”
In addition to assigning mock exams, many AP teachers create their own worksheets and documents for students to complete, ultimately aiding them in the review process.
“In order to help familiarize us with the material, my [AP European History] teacher has assigned us Gimkits in class and an important events chart to fill out as homework,” said Powers, noting the importance of instructors during the preparation period.
For students enrolled in non-AP courses having to take final exams, review and preparation is less fast-paced and demanding, but is still a root cause of stress nonetheless.
“We have not started to review because we are still trying to cover material,” said sophomore Sophia O’Connor, who is expected to take the final exam for Geometry next month. “I am going to start reviewing on my own by creating study guides based on past lessons and making flashcards.”
Regardless of the type of exam, students are choosing to remain positive about their potential exam outcomes and are confident they can thrive under the pressure.
“I am a bit nervous, but I think I will be fine,” said Strader. “I think I will get a 3 on the [AP Pre-Calculus] exam and a 4 for [AP Spanish Language and Culture].”
If you are taking an AP or final exam this semester, remember to build your confidence by studying hard, remaining calm, and not overextending yourself with excessive amounts of review. Good luck to all test takers!
