As a student body, we are quickly approaching the end of the year. With summer vacation looming right around the corner, focusing becomes very difficult. However, for many students, there is no relaxing with finals and homework loads burying them alive. For a fraction of the student body there is even more to worry about–the dreaded AP exam. Of course, these tests are optional, but many who have the option choose to take it in order to achieve college credit while still in high school.
AP exams are available to students in AP courses such as AP Literature, AP Chemistry, and AP Calculus. These exams are difficult, college level, and hard to prepare for. When taking an AP exam, students sit in a room with their peers for hours–in complete silence. They are not allowed to bring anything into the exam room–not even a book to read when the test is complete.
To prepare, some students go over old notes, reread texts and make flash cards, but when sitting for AP there is no guarantee that what you study so hard for will be on the exam. Some students mention feeling dumb or defeated after walking away from an AP exam. These tests require gathering all prior knowledge and applying it in an appropriate and effective way–which isn’t very easy.
In order to take just one AP exam, students pay a fee of 90 dollars well before it is time to actually take the exam. This fee is for every AP exam, so the more tests taken, the more money paid and the more studying required.
This all can lead to a stressful end of the year as many look at the exams as college preparation. That is a lot on the plate of a high school student. In all reality, however, the college credits that can be gained by taking the AP is definitely worth the time and money as students will not have to retake the class later in college.