With this week’s standardized testing coming to a close, the next big tests to begin preparation for are the Advanced Placement (AP) exams, which are produced by College Board. Depending on your scores, there is the potential to earn college credit for the AP courses you took. Therefore, it is important to prepare the best you can.

The first thing to be aware of is your testing schedule. The exams take place over the course of two weeks, starting Monday, May 1st, and concluding on Friday, May 12th. There are multiple each day, with some of them beginning at 8am, and others at 12pm (with the exception of the Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism test, which has a 2pm start time). Since none of the tests will take the entire school day, it is expected that you attend the classes before or after your exams. In the case that you are unable to attend your session, College Board provides late exam dates, which they have posted on their website. Below is a link for the official AP Exam schedule: 

https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/exam-dates 

When it is time for exam day, it is important to pack everything you will need, and leave anything behind that you will not. You will need a photo ID and #2 pencils for bubbling in responses. In many exams with written free response questions, such as AP Language and Composition, standard blue or black ink pens are required, so bring one or two of those as well. For exams that involve completing calculations, you may need a calculator, so double check and see which ones are ok to bring, and if they are even allowed at all. For every test, there are absolutely no phones or smart watches allowed, and should instead be left in your locker. The exam proctors will notify you of your start and stop time for each section, and will often give a reminder when there are a few minutes remaining. There is a clock in the auxiliary gym where testing takes place, so you should be able to keep track of time that way. Since there are typically multiple parts to every test, there will be some time set aside for quick breaks. However, much like the SAT, discussing the content of the test in any way, shape, or form, is strictly prohibited. Be sure to spend your break time wisely, using it to stretch, go to the restroom, or get a drink of water. 

In order to ensure success on your tests, make sure to go over all the material that you learned throughout the year, and focus on the topics and skills that you struggle with. Do not pull an all-nighter the night before, and make sure to go to bed at a reasonable time. Above all, try your best, and don’t stress too much. You want to do well, but it is not the end of the world if you do not do as well as you would have liked. 

For more detailed information on the AP exams, visit the College Board website: https://www.collegeboard.org/