Assistant Principal Mike Christoff shares his excitement about upcoming AP tests. photo by Javontae Jourdain
Students look for ways to prepare for their upcoming AP exams.
With second semester off to a good start, students are looking for ways to improve their studies. Whether it’s keeping proficient study habits or attending tutoring, each student is trying their best to obtain good grades. On top of maintaining these grades, over 400 students at TJ are in Advanced Placement (AP) classes, which are college-level classes that are available to high school students. AP exams will begin in May, so it is critical for students to begin preparing for these exams now, if they haven’t already.
AP classes are taught at a higher level, have a larger workload, and also require an AP exam at the end of the year. These exams cover the entirety of the year’s material, and are graded on a scale of 1-5, with a three or higher considered passing. If a student passes an AP exam, he/she is eligible to receive college credit for that subject, which can be an immense financial relief for students who will attend college and have the burden of paying tuition. However, some colleges may only accept 4’s or 5’s as passing scores, so it is important that students are aware of the credentials of the schools that they are interested in.
Though a passing score of three is only 60%, the passing rate for AP exams is relatively low at 40%. If students have a beneficial way to study for these exams, the passing rate will greatly improve. Students can study for these exams in a variety of ways. “Individual teachers often have study sessions so students should check with their teachers to see if they’re running some. Also, there are AP Saturday study sessions that happen at George Washington High School and Jefferson High School all the way up until May,” explained AP U.S. History teacher, Garien Behling. These study sessions are free to attend, and students are encouraged to take advantage of their benefits. In addition, students can utilize online study tools such as Shmoop or AP Exam Prep Books.
AP classes are very important to take in high school because they can open many doors for students who are college-bound. Not only do these classes create a good foundation for students, but, as Behling explained, “there’s research that shows students who are successful in AP classes in high school are more likely to succeed in college level classes.” However, these great opportunities do not come without a price. To take an exam, students must pay fees starting at $92, but they can get price reductions based on their grades in their AP classes, or financial aid for qualifying families. “Take advantage of the AP study sessions and work with your teachers and other classmates to prepare yourself for the AP exam,” advised Assistant Principal Mike Christoff.
“AP classes are important because passing them could mean not taking them for college, which will save money and keep stress away,” said senior Franz Torres. It is never too early to begin studying for AP tests, so students should self advocate and start preparing for these important exams.
