As the school year winds down and term four kicks off, many students are beginning to get excited about summer just around the corner. For many, thoughts about tanning by the pool, buying concert tickets, and spending the afternoon lazing away are beginning to stir.
However, before summer fun can officially start, Juniors and Seniors at Norwood High have one last major obstacle to tackle: AP exams.
Infamous for their fast-paced curricula and college-adjacent work, AP “Advanced Placement” exams are rigorous and challenging tests issued by the College Board every May.
They are scored on a 5-point scale, and if a student receives a 3 or above, the student can receive college credit. Doing well on their tests is not only a great personal accomplishment, but it can set students apart from others during college admissions.
The tests, which branch across subjects from English to history to art, are scheduled to begin at the end of next week, with AP US History taking place on May 9th.
While teachers have prepared students skill and content-wise all year, many students are doing anything they can to study, determined to finish the year as strong as possible.
The first exams, AP Biology and AP European History, will be taking place on Monday, May 5, and the infamous and daunting AP US History exam will be on the following Friday.
Many students are watching review videos on YouTube to remember key topics they need to know for the exams.
“I’m watching Heimler’s history and listening to every little thing Mr. Loja says,” said Junior Samantha Sullivan.
Senior Laasya Cholleti is in review mode of the content she learned over the year in her classes.
“I’ve been watching a lot of videos and taking some notes for [AP] Lit,” said Cholleti.
Junior Ellva Ou is also using her time wisely to review for her upcoming test.
“I’m not excited for the AP Precalc exam, but to study, I’ll go to WIN and do… practice exams.”
Students’ feeling of preparation varies from class to class, and some are opting to focus on different subjects more.
“I’m feeling very scared for AP Psych… but AP Lang seems good because he teaches it pretty thoroughly,” said Junior Kendra Berg.
With test dates approaching quickly and students working to balance studying with other important responsibilities such as clubs, sports, jobs, and senior activities, stress is on the rise at school.
However, students mostly remain focused and “locked in” to push through the upcoming exam week, before enjoying a well-deserved summer vacation.
“I’m VERY excited for my exams,” joked Senior Anna Michaelidis.
