Thursday, May 17, 2018

AP TESTING UNDERWAY

By TAYLOR FAGAN

It seems that as of late, advanced placement testing has been taking Washingtonville High School by storm.  Several juniors and seniors have spent countless hours studying and preparing for the big day.  The AP Exams are not like any other test as the grade students receive can effect whether or not students will obtain credit for the course.  There are several different advanced placement courses running within the school and all of these classes are a challenge that hundreds of Wizards are willing to take take on each year. 

TAYLOR FAGAN FOR THE WIZARD WEEKLY
What is said to be one of the most challenging AP courses is AP Biology.  Senior, Darcy Doelger, has spent hundreds of hours reviewing note packets and textbook passages throughout the school year.  The course has a curriculum that really puts students to the test.  One way the students prepared for their AP test this year is by completing previous AP Bio exams. Doelger was one of many who prepared “...by taking practice tests and reviewing vocabulary notecards that I made throughout the year.” Not only is this a great way to review class material, but it is an even better way to understand the layout and context used for the test itself. 

Another popular AP course in the high school is the AP Environmental Science class, taught by Mr. Williams.  Junior, Vinny Martello expressed, “The best way to prepare is to go over all of the chapter review questions that Mr.Williams assigned us for homework throughout the year.” Homework can sometimes be seen to students as a waste of time, however, teachers always have a reason for assigning homework throughout the year. Martello added, “Each chapter in the textbook is a different subject with over 40 questions in each homework assignment, so you’re looking at 400-600 questions throughout the course of the year.” Ultimately, the chapter review questions in the textbook are modeled similarly to how it would be on the AP exam. 

Overall, the AP tests are unlike any other.  Doelger explained how she “...felt the test was different than other tests because the questions are much longer and many question require you have have a good reading comprehension.”  Another challenge students face while taking the test is the ability to manage your time. Doelger added, “Since everything is strictly timed, you really have to budget yourself and know when to skip a question so you can finish as many questions correct as possible.” 

When preparing for the AP exam, senior, Nick Valentin, explained that the most helpful strategy is to “take previous exams and make sure to complete the part two questions.”  He went on to say, “...understanding the format of questions before the test, will save you time while taking it, so you don’t spend too much time reading and understanding what is being asked.” 

Students spent the whole school year preparing for the AP exam. Whether it is a Science, Math, Social Studies, or English exam, the style and format presents a challenge to those who take it.  Once AP exams are over, a weight will be lifted off students’ shoulders. 

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