AP test season occurs in May and often acts as the final exam for AP classes. Students who sign up undergo, on average, a two to three-hour test fit with both multiple-choice questions and FRQs (free-response questions). For most of the year, class time is spent helping students learn to navigate the exam and absorb the content taught. However, when the dust settles and the AP exam module closes, students are given a much-needed break.
“The objective of the class is to take the AP exam for college credit,” chemistry teacher Shawn Farrar said. “Since [AP Chemistry] is one of the tougher AP classes, their reward is that I’m not going to give them any more work. They do a lot of prep work, all leading up to the exam, so they earned a break because they didn’t get any sort of break until that point.”
For some AP teachers, at the end of the year, they wish to reinforce the concepts and content taught. Through the usage of easy but planned projects, it keeps the students involved and serves as a reminder for them of all they learned.
“The top 10 projects are supposed to be a fun project for the students to reflect on the year,” history teacher Jill Rudolph said. “I think it’s a lot more relaxed, and the students are more focused on having fun with the content instead of being focused on learning the skills.”
The end of the year for students is the final wrap-up for all their classes, finals are excused if one took an AP test, and, for the most part, no assignments are given out. However, an AP class curriculum is always looked to be improved, and as the students are basking in their newfound free time, teachers ask for feedback and can work to refine any problem areas.
“I’m constantly revising, because I’m always looking for feedback from students,” history teacher Christy O’Haire said. “I’m looking for ways to make lessons more hands-on and less lecture-driven.”
While teachers are working to either finish the year strong or let everybody wind down, students can finally relax now that the AP tests are over. For some, the time after the AP exam is moot, as anything else they may learn will not have to be applied in an assessment.
“Now that the AP test is over, I am a lot less stressed,” junior Morgan Conlon said. “During class, I still have a couple of teachers handing out assignments, but now all of the stakes have been taken away, so I feel more relaxed and am just waiting for the school year to end.”
