By: Trinh Pham, 12 and Kevin Dao, 12- Timberline Writers

As May rolls around, many high school students immerse themselves in some extensive prep books and replenish their coffee stock to survive the the stressful AP testing season. Earning a score of 3 or higher may exempt students from taking similar courses in college, so it’s apparent why so much energy is thrown into preparation so our students can perform strongly on these advanced examinations to save a lot of money.

With testing kicking off next week, students are having all different kinds of feelings. “I feel really nervous, but at the same time I just want to get it over with,” says senior Doan Bui. “After studying so hard for something, you just want to feel relaxed that testing is over. The best feeling is that great feeling you have after you see your hard work pay off.”

Each student has their own, unique methods to prepare for testing. “I spent about an hour or two studying for each subject, everyday for a whole month before the actual tests,” said Doan Bui.

“I practice the material that I struggle with the most first, then start reviewing the content I know well as the day of the test gets closer,” added Tennell Davis, another senior.

Some students struggle catching up with what they need to know in order to pass the test due to the environment, or the transition between teachers. “Calculus has been difficult ever since we had to move to another teacher. The method of teaching was totally different, as I’m still trying to get used to it and combine it with what I’ve learned already. I feel like I’m not ready for this test yet, but all I can do is try to do my best,” said Denilsson Lopez, a senior.

Although not every student is ready for the upcoming AP tests, they’re all willing to try their best no matter what the score is. At the end of the day. they’re happy that all their hard work for the entire year is finally paying off.