As students approach the final stretch of the school year, the pressure of AP and IB testing has been lingering for the past few weeks. With exams covering everything from advanced mathematics to foreign languages, students and staff are navigating the preparation period that precedes the rigorous tests.
For many students, the preparation process can benefit from both traditional and digital resources. Junior Tyber Augustine, who is preparing for exams in AP Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, US History and Spanish Literature, said his methods change depending on the subject matter.
“I am taking a lot of AP tests,” Augustine said. “For Micro and Macro, paper is easier because we have to draw a lot of graphs and use some math. But for APUSH and Spanish, I think it’s easier online because you can type stuff for DBQs and theses.”
Procrastination is another obstacle shared by senior Jacob Skelly, who admitted to a “last-minute” cramming approach. Skelly said the real challenge, for him, is in the physical and mental stamina required for the testing environment.
“I’m most nervous about the length of it,” Skelly said. “I think it’s going to be a really long test. I don’t know if I’m going to be able to pay attention the whole time.”
AP US History and Micro/Macro Economics teacher Scott Miller said the tests are a mental challenge rather than a physical one. He said while burnout is common this time of year, this is the moment when students need to find their “kick” to finish strong.
“(The tests are) like running a mile,” Miller said. “The temptation is, everybody’s tired and burned out, to slow down and stop and walk it in. But I’m sure a lot of people have run the timed mile before and have to find a little bit of extra push here at the end. I think these tests are the same.”
Despite the availability of resources like prep books and online practice tests, a common hurdle for students is the timing of their preparation. Augustine said realizing what you don’t know often happens too late in the process, and that when preparing for the test, earlier is way better.
“Some advice I would give is to start studying earlier,” Augustine said. “I think it’s really easy to start studying later because you usually think, ‘I don’t want to study until after we finish learning everything.’ I think it’s good to start studying way before you actually go.”
To support this final push, Miller said he gives his students review packets containing what he considers key information, allowing students to collaborate with partners rather than going through a year’s worth of individual notes. However, according to him, even the best preparation has its limits when it comes to these tests.
“It’s always a little bit of a crapshoot because what we maybe focused on more in class might not be what the College Board is asking on the essays or FRQs,” Miller said. “Teachers across the country (can) feel blindsided by certain questions that aren’t necessarily the most important information from each course.”
Skelly said while the tests are stressful, the stakes are high enough to merit the effort. He said he encouraged his peers to stay focused during class time throughout the year rather than relying on the night before.
“You should probably actually pay attention and study during the class instead of messing around,” Skelly said. “It’s really important that you do well, especially since it can be free college credit.”
While the accuracy of the exams as a true measure of knowledge remains a point of debate among students and staff, Miller said the focus remains on the immediate goal of completing the actual exam.
“I believe my students are ready. We’ve had a couple of weeks of review,” Miller said. “They just need to try their best and finish strong. That’s really, at this point, up to them.”
