May marks the start of not only warmer weather but for many high schoolers, it’s the start of AP exam season. Students at Wilsonville are practicing and studying more than ever for various AP exams, and teachers are rushing to get over with new content to help prepare students.
It can be difficult to start studying for the sometimes 3-hour long exams, which often include multiple-choice and written sections. Students often take multiple exams within a week, with some students taking as many as 7 exams.
One sophomore, Arush Goswami, is taking five AP classes this year: “It’s hard to balance, but I think I can do all the exams. I’ve found a way to space out my studying. I think AP classes are worth it due to the GPA boost and the college credit.”
Students often take these exams to get college credit, as you can get credit for obtaining a 3 and above. This depends on the colleges students apply to, but this is one of the benefits of AP classes.
Freshmen can be especially stressed during AP season, as this is their first time taking these stressful exams. Common freshman AP classes include Human Geography and Computer Science Principles.
One freshman, Julie Murray, is getting ready for her first AP exam. “I’m taking AP Human Geography this year, and it’s scary because I feel like I don’t know where to start studying. There’s just so much content to cover.”
AP US History teacher Michael Esqueda has been holding study sessions for the US History exam on Saturday mornings.
He explains, “It’s a three-hour long session, and we cover two units each session. Most of the time is usually just free study time, but I’m there to help students with any questions they have. We’re still covering new content in class, so I think it’s useful to have some extra review time.”
Overall, students seem to agree that AP season is immensely stressful. Even with the stress, many think it’s worth it for the credit and the excitement of getting a good score.
