One of the most daunting things for a high school student can be deciding when and how to begin exploring college classes. Many questions arise during this transitional period in teenagers’ lives. ‘Should I attempt college credit?’ ‘When should I start looking into college classes?’ ‘Should I dual enroll or take Advanced Placement (AP) classes?’ ‘If I take AP classes, which ones should I take?’ It can be overwhelming to try to navigate the world of collegiate classes while simultaneously trying to finish high school.  

           The question of whether to take AP classes and which ones to take can vary greatly from student to student; often it can be best to answer this question based on one’s own personal strengths. Taking an AP level of a subject that a student already struggles in can make it even harder than the already rigorous course. Mrs. Hamilton is a science teacher who teaches AP Physics.  

           “The attitude that students should take as many AP courses as possible before graduation can be detrimental to the whole student. There is such a thing as challenging oneself too much. On the other hand, some very capable students are afraid of the challenge and decide not to try, when they would in fact be successful in these courses and enjoy what they are learning,” Mrs. Hamilton said. 

           One of the ways a student can explore these courses without yet committing to taking the course is by talking to students who are already in the course. These students can offer their own perspectives and give a realistic student-to-student response of what an AP class is really like. Ms. Evans is an honors and AP Language teacher who has been teaching AP courses for 11 years.  

           “I think the biggest thing that kids have is a fear of the unknown, and I think the more that they talk to kids that are older than them, the less fearful they might be of the AP course,” Ms. Evans said.  

           If a student does decide that AP classes may be for them, then comes the studying, which may be just as daunting as deciding to take the course in the first place. College Board, the organization that runs the AP exams and scores them to send the scores to colleges for students, has its own formatting for their tests that students may find confusing compared to other classes. It can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to study in a manner that will help a student with College Board’s testing format and also help them thoroughly learn and retain the information. However, there are strategies to help alleviate this worry and make the path from August to exam season a bit clearer.  

           “Keeping up with content is essential. [These are not] classes in which one can learn the material just for the test and then forget it. It will be applied continuously, so it is very important to do what is necessary to learn it. I strongly recommend reviewing content for 10-15 minutes daily so that students are not only preparing for unit tests but the AP test as well,” Mrs. Hamilton said. 

           An easy temptation when it comes to any type of schoolwork can be to put it off to the last minute and to cram in all the studying the night before. However, this can leave many gaps in a student’s learning and make it harder in the long run to thoroughly learn the information, especially if a student is taking multiple rigorous courses. 

           “Do not procrastinate on the learning,” Ms. Evans said.  

           After months and months of learning and studying and preparing, those two weeks in May arrive: exam weeks. These weeks determine whether a student gets college credit for all the work they have put in can be nerve wracking for a student, but they do not have to be if a student is well prepared.  

           “[One] strategy that I have seen success with, assuming a student is actually prepared, is to take about 5 minutes before the test to write a “brain dump” of all the things that are causing anxiety. What is the worst-case scenario if you do not perform well? What will happen if you fail the test? Getting it all out on paper helps your brain put it aside temporarily and focus on the exam,” Mrs. Hamilton said.  

           Before the test though, students can take advantage of the resources available for these courses. Because AP classes are run by College Board, the standards are the same across the nation; there are resources from teachers, both within a student’s school and online, as well as College Board itself. 

           “If there is any type of practice test, take advantage of it, even if it is optional. It is more exposure, and it is less of the unknown being scary,” Ms. Evans said. 

           Preparing in advance can be one way to alleviate the anxiety that can come with these exams. Test anxiety is a natural reaction, especially when students feel pressure, thinking they must do well.  

           “At the end of the day, exam day is just a snapshot on one day; it is not the end all be all,” Ms. Evans said.  

           While AP exams can be nerve racking, there are many ways for students to come into these classes feeling more prepared and to ensure they have learned all they need to know. These classes may not be for everyone, and it is an individual choice on whether to take them, but practice tests, daily studying, and limiting worry as much as possible can help students be more successful from August until May.