Advanced Placement (AP) classes have challenged students throughout the year, and have finally come to a close with the recent AP exams.

The AP exam has a unique process that allows students to remain focused and keep other students from potentially cheating. Students arrive at the Del Mar Grounds around 7 am if their test is in the morning and 11 am if their test is during the afternoon. They are assigned a number based on the alphabetical order of their last names, then seated accordingly and given the test.

Each test requires that students fill out (bubble in) their information so that the exam may be returned to him or her. If a student is taking more than one AP, s/he is only expected to fill out certain information once and fill out only necessary information for sending. Each student must have a yellow AP booklet, which is filled with the individual’s student number that goes on every exam.

During week one, students in AP Chemistry, Environmental, Spanish, Calculus, and English took their respective exams. These exams were hosted at the Del Mar Fair Grounds.  Junior student Ceci McGalliard took the AP chemistry exam on Monday, May14th.

She said, “It was challenging, but Dr. Bertch did a good job of preparing us. We all went to Board and Brew after.”

Some students meet up after the tests for lunch. Board and Brew in Del Mar was a popular eating choice.

As for week two, students taking AP Biology, Physics, English Composition, Statistics, World History, and Economics took their tests. The final AP that sophomores took in the morning on May 17th was the AP World exam.

As for the benefit and purpose of AP’s, the student counselors have a lot to say.

“Most of my students take at least two or three classes. I usually see students taking multiple AP tests as opposed to one,” said Mrs. Elaine Jung, student counselor.

Counselor Mr. Dave Silva stressed the importance of another type of test that is an adjunct to the AP system. He said,“Counselors recommend that a student take the subject test in the corresponding area if they take the AP class. For example, the AP World students should take the AP World subject test, which takes place within a couple weeks of the AP.”

This SAT subject test, Mr. Silva said, will help many kids in their applying for college and increase their chances of getting in. The tests reaffirm the student’s ability to remember the material and prove that they know the material fairly well.