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Students and teachers across FHN are preparing for the next round of Advanced Placement tests, which are exams offered to students in all AP classes. Costing around $90 to participate in the test, students have the option to take the tests in order to be exposed to college level material and potentially be exempted from final exams in the class they’re taking the test for.

“The test will help me prepare for college pretty well so I can get a good head start, and it’s very important to study hard for them so you can do well,” senior AP Stats student Tuan Tran said. Tran taking his first AP exam this year.

The tests typically take place at the beginning of May. Unlike final exams and EOC exams, the tests are graded on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being the best grade and 3 being the minimum grade to pass. With a greater difficulty than most other high school exams, students and teachers both dedicate a large amount of time to preparation for the AP tests.

“Depending on which tests or how many you plan on taking, they can be pretty daunting,” senior AP Psychology student Ethan Adams said. “This year, Psychology is my only AP class and I feel like it has prepared me pretty well.”

According to math teacher Greg Brown, some AP exams require up to a month or more of study and review, including his AP Calculus AB class that typically spends five weeks reviewing. Many teachers choose to use retired AP exams as study tools, due to the fact that the tests are completely rewritten each year. Aside from in-class study tools, AP students also use outside sources to prepare, such as apps like Quizlet and prewritten flash cards for various subjects.

“I think the test exposes students to college level work and expectations,” Brown said. “I’m only pushing students who are ready to take the exam, and I want the students taking it to be dedicated enough to try hard and succeed.”