Late nights spent poring over thick study guides. A year’s worth of scribbled notes strewn across the room. Zooming through dozens of Crash Course videos at times-2 speed. Feverishly reviewing rubrics, sample essays, and how-to guides. Flipping endlessly through flashcards, hoping that some obscure fact will stick and make a difference. Praying and breathing deeply so stress does not reach toxic levels. Coming to school on Saturday, of all days, to take a practice test. Walking into the Commons, pens, and pencils in hand, a sinking feeling in your stomach. Stumbling out of the Commons, feeling slightly zombified and relieved at the same time.

If this sounds familiar, chances are you are one of the lucky students taking an AP test this year. For those of us who have survived an AP test or two (or five), the testing experience, although intensely stressful, is often positively impactful. AP testing is a great way to prepare for the rigor of college-level academics. Shana Nguyen (11) said, “AP testing seems a little more stressful than being in an actual college class, so I feel pretty prepared for college.”

Besides the academic benefits, AP classes and tests have been an unforgettable bonding experience. Nguyen said, “I feel like we all bonded a lot. The stress from the test really brought us together.” From eating pre-test donuts to watching joke videos of Hitler taking the tests to laughing afterward about our shared trauma, each of us has made memories that we will likely be laughing about for years to come. Ryan Ray (11) said, “In the hours before the test, the teachers enlightened us with humorous videos and donuts. Everyone who took the test stuck together and talked, and I’d say it was a great bonding experience.”