AP Testing

It’s every AP student’s “favorite” time of the year, May. Usually students would be happy that it’s May because it’s the last full month of school, things are usually dying down, and people are getting ready for summer. But unfortunately, it’s also the final season. Over a period of a few weeks, dating from May 5th to May 21st, AP testing will take place in two 3-hour long sessions per Monday through Friday, which would be an 8:00 AM and a 12:00 AM one. 

The traditional form of AP testing used to be on paper in these complex packets that required the proctors to give the student’s careful step-by-step instructions on what to do. It used to be tense, and while it still is, it’s more laid back now with the shift to digital test taking. Otherwise, some exams may need online submissions like AP Computer Science Principles or AP Drawing, or an oral part of the exam like AP French, Spanish, and Mandarin. Overall, the exam sessions are pretty easy if you’re confident in the questions and content of said exam. 

However, many have expressed negativity about AP testing, and justifiably so as an AP test-taker myself. Some hate the cost of the exams, that being nearly 100$ per exam, so people who like to get a headstart in college or just challenge themselves in a subject they enjoy could come at a cost of 100-500$. Some express resentment for how rigid the AP’s guidelines are, as it can be seen as restrictive and counterproductive to student learning. Additionally, a lot of students have pointed out that the colleges that they aim for do not take the college credit that’s offered from the exams, making efforts in doing well on the exams seem futile.

However, the most obvious problem that 100% of AP students, including me, have is about the stress and workload. There is without a doubt a clear issue in that the curriculum is very complex and there’s a lot to cover in a short amount of time. It’s especially difficult when managing multiple AP classes at once, but it is unavoidable if you ever want to take multiple APs. That’s why AP seems very discouraging to the average student, and thus it’s not for everyone.

Also, I’d like to add a personal note to this. I too have shared my difficulties with AP testing since I love History and English, but sometimes it’s gotten so bad that I’ve admittedly have had an emotional breakdown because of how hard it is. Sometimes, the difficulties lie with the curriculum, while others lie with the teacher and school life. And when I began to struggle a lot in AP World History; it wasn’t because of the test since I knew the content, it was how the questions were asked. Furthermore, it didn’t help that my teacher barely gave me any tips besides “rereading it”, so forcing myself to study relentlessly and learn how the questions were asked could be simply summarized as a “Sisyphian task”. I still passed in that exam with a 5, which is the highest score you could get on an AP exam, but the fact that I barely got any assistance and was so emotionally distressed by it highlights the issues that every student faces to varying degrees. I’m not embarrassed to admit this, as I think it should be included in AP courses to assist students on how to take tests better and how to manage stress rather than letting them drown in it for themselves like I unfortunately had to the hard way.

My personal opinions aside, what I would recommend to my fellow AP test takers is to study several months in advance and do it slowly, in a sort of manageable and organized manner. Also look for sources on the internet that can help you study; that being things like Heimler’s History, Garden of English, Albert, and even College Board themselves. Finding sources and studying in the way that’s best for you can help you manage your time and build up test-taking skills to make the exams much easier. Furthermore, try practice tests to see where you’re struggling and learn how to manage both your time and stress, as every aspect of the test. And overall, feel confident in yourself, because confidence can contribute significantly to your success in the exams despite the overwhelming odds. Good luck to those taking the AP exams!

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.