Tuesday, May. 13, 2008

Students buckle down for AP exams

Many students have written off the end of the year as a chance to goof off - senioritis hits and other students aren't particularly motivated to work, either. However, students in Advanced Placement classes aren't finished with school work, obligations and frantic learning until their AP exams are completed during the first weeks of May.

Students around Middle Georgia, in both public and private schools, are enrolled in AP classes. Most students said they are strongly urged, if not mandated, to take the exam as part of the conditions of enrollment in the class.

"The exam is not required, but strongly encouraged. As in, if you opt not to take it, your teacher will them proceed to talk you into taking it," said Rachel Giannattasio, a sophomore at Houston County High School who is taking the AP world history exam.

The three-hour exams are intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of a year's worth of advanced coursework, and to provide a standard for nationally awarding credit for completion of the courses, according to the Web site of the College Board, which administers the tests.

The tests cover a large amount of material, and students have different approaches for preparing for the exam. Many AP teachers will spend a significant amount of class time during the second semester preparing students for the test.

Many students know what to expect before taking the test, and often have several opportunities to take practice tests or write practice essays on the subject. Most students say they will use class material to review for their exams.

"I'll likely read the book over," said Benny Walsh, a junior at Mount de Sales Academy who is taking the AP chemistry exam.

Grey Henson, a senior at Stratford Academy and an AP literature student, said he is taking a similar approach.

"I'm mostly going over material we've received in class, and maybe doing a couple practice essays," he said.

Seniors at Stratford are required to study for their AP exams as part of their senior projects.

Henson described the schedule: "Seniors that have AP classes take them during our senior projects. Every year the seniors at Stratford choose a mentor that we follow around for the last few weeks of school. We only come back to school to attend any AP classes we have in preparation for the exams. So when we make up our senior projects calendar, we have to work in at least one hour a day for AP study time."

Others are not required to prepare, and may not prepare at all because of the fact that grades received on AP exams do not appear on transcripts.

"Am I studying? Absolutely not. I have no time, and quite frankly it doesn't matter whether I pass it. It's completely irrelevant to my college major," said Giannattasio.

But whether students are taking the exam seriously, there's no denying that it's a labor-intensive and time-consuming exam. Some think the exams cause more stress than they're worth.

"Beforehand, (the teachers) cause a maximum amount of stress," said Katelyn Callahan, a sophomore at Houston County.

Henson said he thinks remaining calm before the exam is the key.

"If you go into the test cool, calm and collected, everything will go smoothly. If you freak out, you screw up," he said.

Students sometimes take issue with the exam, and what appears to be AP classes' emphasis on memorization and AP test-taking strategies.

"Although its intent is to provide gifted students with a chance to excel in a way that is unavailable in a regular classroom, it has turned into a frantic race to learn as many facts and tricks as possible by the exam date," said Curt Smith, a senior at Mount de Sales who has taken AP classes in the past. "Too much importance is placed on the final exam grade rather than the material itself."

Though the exam is an important part of the class and may become time-consuming for students, there are often benefits for those who take AP exams. Many schools do not require AP students to take regular exams.

"There's no extra final for our AP English class. After the exam it's all about graduating," said Henson.

With no final exam to prepare for, and the year's curriculum completed, students and teachers often take the opportunity to relax. Giannattasio's AP world history class is planning on unwinding after the exam.

"After the AP exam we have a plethora of activities planned, like making tie-dye T-shirts and ice cream, and a list of movies we want to watch that's 10 pages long," she said.

Lucy Ma, a sophomore at Houston County High School, contributed to this story.

Maxine Anderson is a junior at Mount de Sales Academy.