With the end of the school year rapidly approaching – seniors’ final school day is May 20 – a few different moods are common among the students of Old Rochester Regional High School.
While many students are anxiously awaiting the end of the school year, ready to enjoy a hopefully warm summer vacation, some students are focused on a series of tests set to occur during the first two weeks of May.
These are the Advanced Placement (AP) tests, which are meant specifically for upperclassmen who participated in corresponding AP classes during the school year. Popular tests include United States History, English Language, English Literature, Chemistry, Biology, Spanish, Calculus, and French.
Two juniors participating in the testing, as well as U.S. History teacher Erich Carroll, gave some insight on AP tests and their accompanying curriculum.
Junior Evan Roznoy is approaching a full slate. In addition to a National Honors Society induction and a few track meets, Roznoy has four AP tests between Monday, May 4, and Wednesday, May 13: Chemistry, U.S. History, Statistics, and English Language.
“Most of my tests are spaced out enough so I can study for each one,” Roznoy said.
Roznoy called the rigor of the AP classes a “blessing and a curse.” He says that friends who are now in college have told him the intense workload of junior year AP classes has prepared them well for the coursework of college, although he agreed that the courses can be stressful to deal with.
Although he would like to devote senior year more toward focusing on other things outside of schoolwork and exploring different classes as he put it, Roznoy is still taking three AP classes next year: Calculus, Biology, and English Literature.
Jacob Castelo, also a junior, took two AP courses this year to get a feel for the program. Castelo is set to take the U.S. History Exam on Friday, May 8, and the English Language/Composition exam on Wednesday, May 13. He said has been preparing for the intense history exam by reading a chapter a day, as well as taking notes.
Castelo plans to take up to three AP courses as a senior, including French and European History, although he has yet to decide if he will take Calculus as well.
He offered high praise for the way the classes are taught, and the way they differ from the standard courses offered at ORR.
“It’s a different way of thinking,” Castelo explained. “Regardless of how you do in the class, you view the subject, whether it’s history or English, in a whole new light.”
Mr. Carroll, who teaches U.S. History and Economics at ORR, has been preparing his students for the U.S. History exam. He spoke on the value of the AP curriculum, and the effects of the new changes on the AP U.S. History test.
“There’s a lot of expectation on the student to be an independent learner, after being exposed to a whole new curriculum and a high work load. Which I think is a very good thing,” said Carroll.
Carroll acknowledged the positive effects that AP classes can have on a student in the long run.
“They prepare you well for college,” said Carroll. “Plus, you get the attention of a teacher in a high school model, with the work of a college course. It makes for a nice transition of high school to AP to college.”
As for the changes, Mr. Carroll welcomes them with open arms. “I think they’re positive. They’re testing conceptual understanding and thinking skills, rather than information memorization. For me to transition (to teaching to the new test), it’s a positive adjustment.”
Though the AP Tests are very important and affect a wide breadth of the ORR population, they are precursors to the finals that the entire student population will take during the final weeks of the school year. Seniors are scheduled to take their standard finals from May 21 through 27, while the rest of the student population will take finals from June 16 to June 22. However, those taking the AP tests will be making a big step in improving their academic futures, and they will be capping off a year highlighted by intelligent classroom discussion, new learning techniques, and lots of hard work and determination.
By Patrick Briand