en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:09:15 GMT 15 By Lauren Ainsley
At a time when AP classes have begun to become highly rigorous over the last couple of years, students have become more prepared for these end-of-the-year tests. AP tests can be taken in over 34 courses ranging from U.S. History, to Calculus, to English language and composition, not only by Flour Bluff students, but by millions of other students all over the United States in the course of two months. A test grade of three out of five points is said to exhibit college-level mastery, and students are finding that acquiring this high score takes pure dedication. AP World History teacher, Billie Lashua, has witnessed full-throttle efforts from her students throughout the years. Knowing exactly what it takes to prepare for an AP test is key. “[The students that scored a three, four, or five on the exam] have found the study guide and study groups to be helpful. These students kept up with the assigned reading, they studied the vocabulary, and they studied old test questions,” Lashua said. “These students were dedicated and committed to working very hard.” Online sites such as AP Central and College Board have been said to be an essential for preparing for AP tests. Self tests, study tips, and college search options are only a few in which these sites offer. “[AP Central and College Board sites are helpful] because they use the same format as the AP exam [and] the questions are similar to questions on the exam,” Lashua said. “You will not find the exact questions that will be on the exam, but you need the same background information to answer them.” Sophomore, Lorraine Urbis, has found both of these sites especially helpful when preparing for the AP World History test for the first time. “These sites help me to have a better understanding of what these tests will be like, since this will be my first one,” Urbis said. “The study guide we were offered at the beginning of the year has come in handy as well.” At this time, many high schools around the nation do not require students to take an AP class in order to take an AP exam. However, it is known that a school’s strong AP program elevates the academic climate. The College Board has demonstrated statistics that students who get a three or above on an exam are more likely to succeed in college. Small, rural, and some inner-city high schools are least likely to offer AP courses, and today, around 61 percent of United States high schools offer these courses. Still, today, the College Board is attempting to significantly expand the AP Testing Program. AP courses were originally developed to place students in advanced-level college courses. However, ironically, AP tests today are being reviewed for mainly admission purposes. Grade point averages are inflated and colleges see AP tests as valuable information for any applicants’ scholastic potential. Sophomore, Laura Stumhofer, is taking three AP courses: AP Government, AP World history, and AP Physics. She feels prepared for her exams, and relies on chapter tests from her AP courses for studying because of their similar format to the exam. “I’m really looking forward to the end of the year when I can take these tests, because I’ve been preparing for them [all year],” Stumhofer said. “I’ll be glad when they’re all over and when I get good scores.” ]]> Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:39:00 GMT