By Claire Fagan, Staff Writer
At long last, the often difficult and burdensome Advanced Placement exams (APs) are over for 2022 after months of learning and studying. As a result, the schedule and workload of students is shifting, and the general amount of stress on students is decreasing.
AP exams are definitely a difficult hurdle for many students. Junior Emma Gouker admits, “I feel like I probably give them more importance than they’re worth.” However, the struggle is finally behind students, and they can now spend more time on hobbies, extracurriculars, and other aspects of life that were abandoned for studying over the last few weeks.
Emma, who took 3 AP tests this year, elaborates, “I feel a lot better. I don’t have so much to worry about. Most of my classes, in the weeks before APs, were cramming everything. Now most of them aren’t even doing anything.” As the structure of AP classes changes, the workload seems insignificant to the stress Emma experienced before the AP exams.
Sophomore Shirley Zhang agrees that the work and studying required has decreased now that her 5 AP tests are finished. She explains, “My stress levels have definitely gone down because I’m over with the tests and all of the classes right now don’t have a lot of work.” Students have earned this less rigorous month of school after putting in effort before and during the AP exams themselves.
Although the APs are a major source of stress for many, they can also greatly benefit students. Shirley states that she took AP exams because “they can get rid of credits in college. If you can get [good] scores on them, you can save a lot of money.” $95 fees for each AP exam can potentially lead to thousands of dollars saved in college.
While junior Jaelyn Hui does believe that APs are valuable to advancing toward a college degree, she also argues that people have misconceptions about AP exams. She says, “I think a lot of people think that you have to do well on the APs in order to get into a good college, which is the big thing…it’s so overrated, honestly.”
AP classes do appear on college transcripts, but AP test scores themselves do not have as much influence as some students may believe. Standard colleges do not require AP scores to be submitted as a part of the application. Most colleges do not see AP scores until after they have accepted the student.
Now that APs are over, the only major tests students have remaining for the school year are class finals. However, students do not seem to be as stressed out for finals as they were for AP exams. Shirley comments, “Finals are less stressful in my opinion than AP tests…AP tests were already a review of the entire year, so I’ve kind of already done my work for most of the classes… I don’t need to put in as much of a commitment because I already know everything.”
Emma agrees, explaining, “I already did a bunch of prep work for the AP, so I should remember at least some of that on the final.” Studying and preparing for the AP exam helps students feel ready for the final because the same content will be covered on both tests, at least in most classes.
Results for AP exams will be released in early to mid-July. Until the scores are released, individual passions and side interests can be more of a focus for students both inside and out of schools. River Hill students deserve a rest after putting energy into APs. There are only 4 weeks left of school, and the slow phasing out of tests and work is just another enticing reminder that summer is on its way.