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Every year, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) students around the world regard the month of May with a mixture of dread and anticipation. Lasting about three hours each, the annual AP and IB exams are no one's idea of entertainment, but they're a necessary evil, offering students a chance to get ahead in college and display their academic abilities. After this year, I'll have taken a total of 11 AP and six IB exams, so I'm something of a veteran of the testing process. The main thing I've learned over the years? Not to take the tests too seriously. Before registering for the exams, it's important to consider the reasons for taking them. For seniors who already know where they're going to college, it's crucial to check the school's AP and IB policies to make sure the exams are necessary. There's no reason to pay and study for a test you won't get credit for. It's also important to make sure you're ready for each test; remember that there's no way to block colleges from seeing all your AP scores, so a low result can hurt your chances of getting into the school of your choice. Also remember that you don't always have to take a class to take an exam. Some students get ahead and embellish their college applications by taking extra tests they've prepared for on their own. I studied for the AP Calculus AB exam from a review book, and I had less trouble with the test than most of my friends who had actually taken the first-year calculus class. In general, review books can be an incredible asset: There's no better way to prep for an exam than to get a good book. When choosing books, go for ones with lots of practice questions - these give you a specific idea of what the test will be like. By spending a couple of hours with a review book, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration in the testing room. One of the most important things to do before a test is sleep. The night before the test, it's a bad idea to stay up late cramming information; it's almost impossible to perform at maximum ability without being well-rested. As with all tests, pacing yourself is important. It's a must to answer all the questions, especially on the multiple choice sections. Guessing is important, so instead of spending a long time thinking about one tough question, just pick the most reasonable choice and move on to finish the rest of the test. On the written questions, graders usually aren't looking for overly long, verbose responses; the rubric generally outlines specific points that must be addressed, and there's no extra credit for going beyond these requirements. Overall, don't stress too much about the exams. Sure, they're important; yes, you need to study for them; but no, worrying will not help. The best thing to do is be calm and relaxed during the exam. Stress only detracts from your ability to concentrate on the questions. Marcel Przymusinski is a student at Troy High School in Fullerton. |
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