Finals for AP classes should not be held before AP exams to maximize time

Mia Cho

Staff Writer

Many teachers of  Advanced Placement courses schedule their finals before the  national AP Exams. However, finals for AP courses should be held after AP Exams as the pressure of studying for a final distracts from preparing for the AP exam.

AP course standards are set by College Board, and AP students are encouraged to take the AP test in May for college credit. The College Board designates two weeks of May to administer the exams. High AP test scores are often useful in the college application process and therefore serve as motivation for students to take them.

Teachers aim to finish teaching their curriculum before the AP Exam so their students can be fully  prepared with material. Considering this scheduling, many AP teachers also schedule their finals before the AP Exam. While this is understandable, finals for AP classes should be held after the AP Exam to help students earn  higher scores on both exams.

Both  the AP exam and final exam are considered extremely important in college applications, and  students are under intense pressure to score highly on both exams. Administering both during the same time period can negatively affect students socio-emotional wellness, due to the immense stress students are under.  

The AP Exam is written and administered by the College Board, meaning the format of the test and questions can greatly differ from the final given by the AP teacher. By scheduling finals before AP Exams  students must study the information given by the teacher, and also learn the format specifics of the AP Exams. Students should be able to focus solely on learning the stylistic aspects of the AP Exam, which cannot be provided by teachers. Although the content may be the same, the style of the exams could be different.

Costa school policy states the last week of school is devoted to finals, allotting 2 hours for each class so that students can take their finals in one sitting. It is recommended to hold their finals during this time as it is devoted specifically for finals, and AP teachers should not be exempt from this.

Costa’s regular day schedule only allows for 56 minutes per class period, meaning finals taken outside of the designated finals week need to be separated into two parts. This is often cumbersome for teachers, as they need to separate their final exams into two days. Students are also put at a disadvantage, as it is difficult to concentrate when they are being forced to refocus.

Administering final exams before the AP Exam can also make students feel the need to choose which exam to give their attention.  According to US News and World Reports, AP Exam data is a factor in ranking high schools. If students prioritize their final exams, it could result in a drop in AP scores of Costa students, ultimately reflecting badly on Costa’s academic ranking.

Because many students use the AP Exam for college credit, teachers should schedule their final exams after the AP exam. This will maximize preparedness for both exams.