As the end of April creeps up on the Bellarmine community. upperclasspersons are anticipating graduation and senior year; however, there’s one more thing glooming… AP testing. Nerves are starting to spread around the AP classrooms as lessons come to a close and review worksheets consume the class. 

AP students are put under more intense pressure than regular college prep classes or honors classes due to how AP courses are designed to fit an upper-level education. Due to this higher level of stress to keep an acceptable GPA for college many students don’t know how to cope to maintain their stress levels. 

Senior Natalie Tish from our Bellarmine community expressed how her fellow senior class is stressed. “I’m scared about letting my AP classes go to waste and not receiving any college credit.” 

Another fellow senior Carina Judy expressed her main stresses and concerns when it comes to AP classes and tests. “Balancing testing with current classes is where most stress comes from.” 

There is an underlying pressure for the students taking their first AP test. Not knowing what to expect or whether they feel prepared or not is a common feeling upcoming these exams. A group of seniors who have undergone multiple AP exams have given some advice to first time exam takers. 

• Give yourself plenty of time arriving to the test
• Don’t psych yourself out and remember to breathe
• Prioritize sleep over studying the night before
• Believe in yourself and walk in confidently

One piece of advice that the group of seniors all agreed upon the most is don’t let your grades define who you are. 

The method of AP testing has stayed the same for many years so it’s not accommodated for all students. Many students feel as though the test isn’t an accurate measure or representation of knowledge and skills compared to other areas in life. The AP test has approximately 25-40% students suffering from test anxiety. So figuring out ways to cope in order to succeed in these exams is crucial.