From May 4-15, AP exams are all some kids can think about. Whether you took one test or five, the pressure is pretty much unavoidable. Between late night study sessions, missed work shifts, and teachers piling on review assignments, AP season has taken over everyone’s lives.
Kayden Brown (12) said even having just one AP class was enough to feel the weight of it.
“I have to study every single day,” Brown said, explaining that he spent weeks reviewing material that didn’t even end up on the test. “I feel like I over prepared.”
Brown’s week was filled with practice exams and graded quizzes.
Students try all kinds of approaches for studying. Patrick Emery (12) admitted that his test‑day prep wasn’t exactly textbook.
“I prepared by drinking a Monster energy the morning of and doing all the work my teacher assigned over the last couple weeks,” Emery said.
Even though he jokes about being lazy, he still believes the tests are worth it.
“If you pay attention in class and do all your work, you will be over prepared for whatever the AP test has to offer,” Emery said.
Emery has taken five AP classes, plus Anatomy & Physiology, and says the payoff is huge.
“I’m nearly two semesters ahead of schedule for the college I plan on going to,” Emery said. He also reminded students that dual‑credit classes can be just as valuable. “Classes like College Algebra and Anatomy and Physiology also get you college credit without having to cram for a big end‑of‑the‑year test.”
Samuel Uelk (12), who took AP Psych and AP Lit, said the biggest struggle was balancing everything at once.
“I have not been able to work at my job as much unfortunately, and much more studying,” Uelk said. He used old Canvas modules to review, which “kinda helped,” but he still felt the pressure from all sides. “The classes conflicted with chores and work and homework. I don’t think school really helped with the AP stuff.”
Across the board, students agreed that AP testing brings a unique kind of chaos. Clubs accidentally schedule meetings during test times, teachers rush to finish units, and everyone seems to be running on caffeine and hope. But despite the stress, most students still see the value in the class, whether it’s saving money on college, getting ahead on credits, or just proving to themselves that they can handle it.
As Emery put it, the most important thing is staying calm. “You’ve come too far to overreact and fail because of it.”
AP season might be exhausting, but for many students, it’s something they’re glad they did.
