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To kick off the hectic month of May in true fashion, many juniors and seniors at Avonworth take AP tests. Every AP class has been working toward the day of its test since August. Students in multiple APs have been working towards several of the days in the next two weeks, with all of the tests conveniently crammed together over eight school days.
Testing dates are May 1st through 5th, as well as May 8th through 10th. Each day has only one test, with two exceptions. May 8th tests AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC, both in the morning. May 9th tests AP English Language in the morning and AP Physics in the afternoon. Late testing dates are May 17th, 18th, and 19th.
Students do not have to report to school before or after their AP test, no matter what time it is in the day. All exams will take place at Avonworth Park or in the school board room within the administration offices, next to the middle school gymnasium.
For most juniors, it is their first time taking an AP exam. Along with the stress of studying for a difficult test, they also have to quell the nerves and feelings of under-preparedness that may come along with testing time.
Caleb Walsh is a junior who will be taking three AP tests: AP Calculus AB, AP English Language, and AP U.S. History. He describes feeling “a little nervous, but not too much,” and says that he thinks he is “mostly [prepared.] [He] participated in the review opportunities in class.”
Amelia Hardiman, also a junior, is taking the same exams as Caleb, along with the additional AP Chemistry. She admits that she “feels pretty unprepared for them, there’s just so much content and [she] didn’t start studying early enough at all.”
On top of studying for multiple AP tests, the juniors also have to balance the other tests, schoolwork, and projects that teachers assign, plus the stressors and events that come with May. Prom is in one week, so many are trying to finalize their plans for that. Spring sports are ramping up in preparation for the championship-level events at the end of their seasons. Finals are rapidly approaching, particularly in classes that may not have AP tests. Caleb is even taking the SATs next week along with all of his AP tests, though he is “happy [he doesn’t] have to worry about all of these.” Caleb doesn’t plan on going to prom and doesn’t participate in a spring sport, so he has less going on outside of the tests.
Amelia has a different mindset, responding in passionate caps-lock when asked if it’s hard to balance all the outside stressors with AP tests: “YES!! 100%, it’s really hard to balance studying for APs when the teachers keep adding on work and more tests, so it makes it really hard to balance and feel prepared for the test.”
Most seniors have undergone AP tests before, so they know what to expect. Several admit to feeling less anxious because of their prior experience.
Senior Laurel Purcell is taking the AP English Literature, AP Probability and Statistics, and AP Calculus BC exams. “I feel like taking the tests last year definitely helped to prepare me for what it will be like to take them this year. I was very nervous going into the tests last year because I didn’t know exactly what to expect. This year, I have a better idea of what all of the tests will look like and how I should approach them,” says Laurel.
Zoe Trexel, also a senior, is taking the AP English Literature and AP Probability and Statistics exams. “I feel pretty well prepared. I can definitely say I studied hard and reviewed a lot for both exams, so at this point it’s up to me on exam day to apply that well,” says Zoe. She then adds, “it’s nice to be committed to college because now I know exactly how my AP credits will transfer and what requirements I’ll test out of.”
Now, they’re gearing up to take them one final time before they step into the chaos of the rest of May. Sophie Guest, a senior, didn’t take any AP tests at all, though she did take several AP classes. “I opted out of taking AP tests, just because so much happens at the end of senior year. I didn’t want my tests to be put on the back burner,” says Sophie. Between prom, sports, finals, their class trip, all of their other little events, and of course, impending graduation, seniors certainly have a lot going on.
Recounting a conversation with a friend, Sophie says that for her, this time of senior year “feels like stepping through a door except one foot is out the door and the other foot is stuck back in the doorway.”
“I’m so close to leaving but so much is still happening here,” she finishes.
