The 2024-2025 school year has gone by, which means that AP exam season is quickly approaching. Testing season can be stressful for students who take AP classes, especially when they’re hoping to earn college credit from their test scores. Fortunately, though, students have different ways of preparing for their exams. AP Exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well students have mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course, such as AP U.S. history, AP statistics, etc.
The first AP exams start on Monday, May 5, according to CollegeBoard, with biology, Latin, European history, and microeconomics having their tests first. These will run until Friday, May 16, with Physics 1, Spanish literature and culture, and psychology holding out till the end. According to NPR, over three million students all over the country will be taking one or more AP exams.
Obviously, there is a lot of work that goes into preparing for these exams, from both students and teachers. Some resources that Hawks recommend are “Quizlet,” “Knowt,” and other specific resources from the internet. Teachers have their own advice for students who may be nervous to take the AP tests. History teacher Mr. Benjamin Scarborough says, “In order to be successful and avoid a stressful situation, students should start preparing several weeks before the AP exam. In their free time, they should study their notes, make use of online resources provided by teachers or the College Board, and work through a preparatory book if possible.”
Other good tips for studying include studying older materials – The Princeton Review states that “Refreshing your memory on a regular basis is the best strategy for effective learning” – as well as investing in an AP prep book, which can “help you review essential content, introduce you to test format and question types, and help you practice for the big day.”
According to College Board, AP tests are scored on a scale from one to five – one meaning a student will receive “no recommendation,” and five meaning a student is “extremely qualified” in the subject. Many colleges and universities allow students advanced placement (the ability to skip the college-equivalent of the AP course) for scores of three or above.
Exam scores are generally released in early-to-mid July. Each year a student takes an AP exam, according to College Board, they have the chance to send a free score report to the college, university, or scholarship organization of their choice. For students going to Harford Community College, the official college website states that generally, a score of three or more is accepted in place of college credits.
