The Stress of AP Exam
Published May 07, 2007
You know how you always hear about teenagers committing suicide? Yeah, this is why. I'm fifteen and I took my first AP class this year. AP European history. The counselor warned me that it is known as the hardest class on campus. But, no, I like a challenge.
My AP Exam is this Friday, May 11th. For the past two weeks, my mind has gone crazy. Every single day I go into my classroom and listen to my teacher scream that we haven't studied nearly enough.
I've studied about five hours today alone. I really could care less about Russian serfs and Alexander the First or the Congress of Vienna. I swear if I hear another word about the English Revolution or The French Revolution or The Russian Revolution, I'm going to barf.
The pressure's on and all I can think about is this stupid test. How I will freeze and choke and everyone else is going to pass, but me. And Ms. Chahine will say I'm a failure, because I'm the only one of her ninety or so students to fail.
Last year, ninety-six percent of the students pass, so you think I shouldn't be worried. I'm not failing the class. "You're at La Canada," she tells us, "You have to pass. For the sake of the community."
Shoot me. Please. Take me out of this misery.
One AP class. That's all I have. Next year, I'll take two. In senior year, I think I'll add a couple more Honors classes. I can handle it. Juniors always say the first AP is the hardest. They are probably right. I mean, they have already been though this hell.
Most of the people I talk to are in AP and Honors classes. I'm a nerd. I'm proud of that. People always think the nerds are lucky that they work so little and are so smart. Well, not me. I've been studying non-stop. I'm pretty sure I will have no life for the rest of high school and maybe even college. The problem with being friends with nerds is I'm friends with nerds. Most of my friends have no problem. They will pass with a nine easily (nine is the highest). I'll struggle for a four.
My mom says it doesn't matter if I pass or fail. Colleges won't care. They won't even know if you take it. You just have to take it in college. That's all. To be honest, I could care less if I fail. That is if I didn't have my teacher and all my friends stressing me out.
Only fifty or sixty pass each year. I'm smart, I know that, but I'm competing against geniuses. People who will go to Harvard or Yale or Princeton. People with a 5.0 GPA. People who don't even compare to me.
I just wish I knew I was going to pass. Deep down, I know I will, but life is weird. For example, a couple months ago, I got my permit for driving at the same time as my twin sister. Everyone (including me) thought I'd fail and she'd pass. She's a genius. Really. Well, I passed. She didn't. I'm just afraid this is what will happen.
I wouldn't be totally devastated, except for the fact, if I do fail I will have to hear until June 20th, "Yes, all my students passed except one."
I don't want to be that one.
Maddy is 16 and just ended her junior year of high school. She is an active writer for her school paper and excels in AP classes. She has a twin and loves the Pittsburgh Steelers. She is constantly distracted by everything from boys to, well, uh... boys. In her spare time, she writes novels. She has a radio show (part of the BC Radio Network) on Wednesdays at 5 PM available at BlogTalkRadio.
- The Stress of AP Exam
- Published: May 07, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Culture: Education, Culture: Personal History, Culture: Society
- Writer: CallmeMaddy
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- CallmeMaddy's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
Just study hard and do your best. When I was in HS in 93-97, my school didn't offer many AP courses.
So in my sophomore year, I independent studied AP Euro History and Biology. Passed Euro History with a 3, got a failing 2 in Bio.
In junior year, I indepedent studied AP US History and Chemistry. Got a 4 in US history, but a failing 2 in Chem.
In my senior year I took 10 AP Exams, and I only had one AP course (Calculus AB, although I took the BC test).
In my senior year I only passed:
Calc BC (3), US Government (4), Comparative Gov't (3). I failed both Physics exams, both econ exams, both English exams, and French.
But although I only passed 5/14, the university I went to gave us 6 units/AP exam passed, so I had 30 units to enter college with and entered as a sopohomore, so it all worked it.
My point is, some subjects you are going to be better at than others. notice how outside Calc BC, I only passed all the History and Gov't exams, nothing else. Obviously that was my strong suit with the AP, and I took full advantage of it. WHatever your strong suit is you are most likely to pass exams in those subjects.
Thank you.
Note: When I say fifty or sixty pass, I mean in terms of percent
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You know, if you don't listen to other people, you won't hear them say things like "Yes, all my students passed except one."