By Skylah Andrade, Staff Writer
June 10, 2023
ROCKLAND- Students at Rockland High School took a variety of AP tests from May 1-10.
AP testing, short for Advanced Placement, is an international exam that is done through the college board. It’s taken and made by students that have participated in advanced placement courses which is a college-level course taken in high school.
Students are able to earn college credits depending on their scores, meaning that they wouldn’t have to take a certain course in college.
“Rockland High School offers a variety of AP classes that students can start taking. There are select ones that students can take as a freshman or sophomore, but it’s mostly taken by juniors and seniors,” said Ms. Margaret Black, head of the guidance department at Rockland High School.
The shortest exam was about two hours and the longest was around three and a half hours.
Teachers prepare students throughout the school year for AP testing.
Students have a “My AP” account through the college board with their tools and resources there to help them prepare for the exam as well.
Students can also choose to take the AP exam without having to take an AP course.
Ms. Ashley Leighton is a biology teacher at Rockland High School who teaches AP classes.
Ms. Leighton said, “I teach all the same topics as freshman biology, biochemistry, evolution, ecology, cells, but I just go more in depth to my AP classes.”
All grades in high school can take AP Biology, but some AP courses have prerequisites for upperclassmen.
“I think teaching my other classes is easier just because I’ve taught them before. This year was difficult teaching AP because it was my first year. I had to figure out my lessons every single day, but now that I know everything for my AP classes, I think it’ll be easier next year,” Ms. Leighton said.
Angie Fallavollita is a freshman at Rockland High School who took the biology AP test.
“The test was pretty hard. The questions were difficult because there were a lot of graphs and a lot of stuff you had to infer,” said Fallavollita.
Fallavollita said she was well prepared and said Ms. Leighton taught her and her class well.