AP exams swept through the month of May. Every year, the birth of spring and the blooming of flowers is merely a precursor to the arduous time of AP exams, with 2022 being no exception. Whether it is AP Calculus or AP United States Government, the students can be seen reviewing with teachers after school and in the learning commons. This year, York High School started a new Instagram account, @yhsap, which provided students with information and helpful tips regarding AP classes and exams.
Ryan DeBlois (Sr.) said, “The 2D art design [AP] exam was one of the most rewarding exams due to the fact that it was all of my work being put together in a portfolio and not as stressful.”
The AP exam is a standardized test administered by the company College Board that gives universities throughout the country a benchmark for general educations for undergraduate admissions. Depending on the number score of the exam, from 1 to 5, the university will assign credits accordingly, which varies between universities. The exam score, varying per school again, can mean an exemption for a student from a specific general education class. However, these exams are optional and are not required. Rather, students can take one or two AP exams for AP classes. With most exams typically taking two to three and a half hours and being a quick test of memorization and knowledge application, the possible strain on a student’s schedule in accordance with the test itself is a turn-off for most.
De Blois continued, “With the only exam I take being a test of my work over the year rather than a test of my intelligence in a short span of time, I was able to show my true work ethic rather than one hashed together in a couple of weeks.” CollegeBoard is most known for its SAT, which tests in a similar way to the AP exam, only that it tests over a broad range of subjects whereas the AP exam tests one specific subject. The SAT, like the AP exam, is a very crucial measurement for universities in understanding a student's intellect and ranking among other applicants, making both exams just as equally important. Because of this, the weight from these universities on the students to deliver is apparent.
The IB program is a worldwide program that prepares students for the rigors of college, placing emphasis on the core subjects and commitment to multiculturalism. Students prepare for two years to take cumulative exams, demonstrating their preparedness. Passing IB exams exemplifies the breadth of knowledge the students gained through their high school education. Eduardo Burgos-Cueva (Sr.) said, “I felt prepared and ready for my exams, but I am relieved they are done.” Both AP and IB exams concluded by the end of May, with make up AP exams administered only to students with scheduling conflicts.
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