Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Lena Pearson

The end of the school year is finally here, and with the two remaining weeks on campus comes the arrival of final exams. While some students are enrolled in classes that have a required state or teacher-made exam as part of the curriculum, other Titans have spent the entire year preparing for the Advanced Placement (AP) exams that include in-depth themes and the analysis of topics covered throughout the AP class as a whole.

As AP testing is now in full swing, I have reflected significantly on how AP courses have impacted my educational experience, confidently saying as a senior that every student should take at least one AP class in high school.

Critical thinking, analysis and questioning

Being higher in difficulty than honors level classes, AP courses are designed to prepare students for college with their challenging curriculum and the rigorous effort required to succeed in the classes. Whether in a science- or English-based AP, every course requires students to break down topics, analyze themes of cause-and-effect and identify major concepts, using all of this information towards problem solving and putting complex subject matter into writing.

The format of AP course multiple choice and writing questions puts students in a position where they must prove their understanding of a subject, often being required to connect provided information to the content they simply remember in their head. Questions of this nature lead students to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios or connect it to the past in order to show that they have been effectively learning rather than just memorizing information. 

Improved study skills

Due to the rigorous nature of AP classes, there is much more studying required to ensure that information sticks in your head so that it will be of assistance on the final exam. While standard or honors level classes require studying as well, AP courses are formatted in a completely different way, often requiring certain aspects of the class to be emphasized as it is a guarantee that specific themes will show up on the exam.

The courses effectively prepare students for what they will be tested on in May, teaching them how to properly study and retain the information that is needed at the end of the year. Due to time constraints and a large number of multiple choice questions, AP tests teach students how to regulate their time and focus on key points that address a given prompt so as to avoid running out of time.

AP classes give students a glimpse of the workload in college and allow them to explore the study methods that work for them. 

College credit

For some students, the most rewarding aspect of taking an AP class is the possibility of receiving college credit in turn for passing the exam with a score of 3, 4 or 5. However, each college handles AP college credit differently, with some only accepting passing scores as 4 and above, and some schools giving different amounts of credit hours per AP.

While this is a very helpful way to get ahead in college while still in high school, I would not recommend taking an AP course for the sole reason of receiving credit. I see it as more of an added perk, as the main reward is being able to gain a further understanding of complex topics and adopting the skills that will be needed in college. While APs do offer the possibility of college credit, the best preparation for college is the skills that you will learn within these courses.

Some AP classes are more difficult than others, but there is a class for every interest. The WS/FCS district automatically covers AP course fees, allowing students to take as many as they want without the charge for the final exam. If possible considering one’s workload and outside of school requirements, I would urge students of any high school grade level to take an AP course, as it has been the most rewarding part of my high school experience.