Advanced Placement Testing Guides More Understanding for AP Courses

With students being both in-person and virtual this school year, AP courses at the high school have had to adjust in order to effectively prepare for exams this spring; given the chances in learning, AP testing will remain quite similar to what it has been in previous years.

The College Board set out three methods of testing that any school can offer for the AP exams, including: in-person, virtual, or a hybrid method. Given the uncertainty of the remaining of the school year, teachers, such as social studies teacher Jeff Martin, are trying to give students a normalized experience in class, and test preparation.

“I think that we can have a normal AP experience this year, despite the challenges,” Martin said. “Every year I think it is important that students are challenged while [digging deep] on the content.”

As for the students involved in AP courses, it can be difficult. Those who are virtual and registered for an AP exam could gravitate to the virtual option proposed. However in-person learning appears to be more effective and idealized amongst peers.

Senior Valerie Biddulph said, “In person testing [eliminates] almost any chance that students would have to cheat, and I believe firmly in honesty and integrity, so I support the old methods of testing.”

At this time alone, it can be scary to sign up for AP tests, especially if one has never gone through the process. For students like junior Emily Streckel, the first time experience of what an AP course is like and not knowing the process of an AP exam can be stressful.

“One disadvantage I have, with AP US History, is that the majority of the people taking that class took AP [Government and Politics] last year and I didn’t, so they know a little bit more,” Streckel said.

The stress of preparing for AP exams can appear overwhelming to what is already a unique school year. With this pressure, school counselors, including David Lynch, want to make sure that the students know all that they are getting into and that they are ready.

“It’s important to remember that AP classes are college level courses offered to high school students, so the amount of preparation needs to match what one would expect in a college course,” Lynch said. “Students can’t approach an AP exam like they would any other exam that they had in high school.”

Given the outlook of normalizing course content to the usual standard and additional preparation amongst class as a whole, as well as individual prep work, AP appears to be running in regular function as it has been presented.