Underclassmen Take APs for First Time During COVID

by Hilary Htun

As many students know, standardized tests like the SAT or ACT, as well as several AP exams are given out to Niskayuna students every year. In summary, the SAT and ACT are used in college applications as a common testing method to set a universal grading system for many reasons. They are normally assessed in the spring of junior year or the fall of senior year. AP exams are designed to determine how well students understand the content at the end of a certain AP course. These courses and exams are recommended to be taken in later years depending on the class.

It is still an option to take an AP test, course, and exam in as early as 9th grade at most high schools. Most people are against the idea of this due to the rigor and the content of the material typically being on par with college level courses. As a result, AP classes are seen as best suited for high school juniors and seniors, with certain subjects like European History and World history being great choices for 10th graders.

At the Niskayuna high school, students are typically unable to take AP classes in 9th grade. However, there are several students who have decided to try taking AP tests (especially the AP computer science test and the AP Chinese test) in their freshman year for the following year. James Lian, one of those students, gives his thoughts on the subject.

Hillary Htun: What was it like taking an AP test as a freshman?

James Lian: There was a lot of pressure I suppose because AP courses cost money so it’s like if you do badly, then you just wasted $80.

HH: How was it different from normal tests?

JL: I think AP tests are different from other tests, it’s weird because like what I take is AP computer science and there’s a class in the high school for AP comp sci but I didn’t take it, so studying on my own was really weird. I just got a book and started reading it. I think I did okay, I don’t know yet. I’m hoping I did well, because I had programming experience but it’s in Java so it’s interesting and weird.

HH: What was testing like with COVID to keep in mind?

JL: The testing experience itself was kind of normal but it also kind of wasn’t, obviously because of COVID, so there was a lot of figuring things out with testing online and how it would work and stuff. Like AP comp sci was done on paper but AP chinese (which is coming next week) in which I’m also taking, that’s still unclear to me because there’s a section that needs to be recorded where you speak in Chinese but the AP Chinese testing sheet they would be giving recording devices. So obviously with testing there’s a lot of rules and things that need to be done. Especially with this year, it’s worse because everything needs to be reinvented for COVID-19 and the lack of communication. I don’t know how people normally take the AP comp sci but they normally don’t have like 20 or so people there. So I don’t know exactly what that means score wise or what’s going to happen across the country. But, I do know a lot has changed and I just hope I do well.

HH: Why did you decide to take the test this year?

JL: Obviously once you have done the test it’s obviously not really going to explain the course because the course begins with the test. So if you’re done then there’s not really much of a point. I’m taking the AP’s early, because you know, if you already have prior experience then it doesn’t make sense not to use it as a pro on the test. And I didn’t really want to wait until next year to take it, so I decided to just go for it this year. Hopefully it worked out! It was something I decided might be a fun thing to do so I just did it. Honestly, there wasn’t much rationale but that’s what happened and it’s over now, so yeah!

HH: Do you recommend taking the test during your freshman year or in a later year?

JL: [For the AP comp sci] I think it depends on how much experience you have with programming, especially with Java. Obviously with people who just started or only had one or two years of experience, I’d recommend taking the courses beforehand to get some knowledge and how programming in general works. It might be a good idea because really, the test is all about Java so you’re expected to know how to use Java. But a lot of it is about how to design and how to program things, and to really get that knowledge there needs to be a lot of experience because otherwise it won’t go well. For people who do have that experience, like doing things and taking programming on their own, to definitely take it. But everyone does things at their own pace so it doesn’t really matter when you take it if you decide to.

Dayeon Son, a senior at Niskayuna high school and editor for the opinion column, disagrees with this line of thinking, stating that she “wouldn’t recommend taking standardized tests or AP courses freshman year. There’s plenty of time to do that in the later years. Instead, use freshman year to find what you like and explore different areas of interest. Don’t pressure yourself into taking as many APs as possible, or taking standardized tests as early as possible. Do what you’re comfortable with when choosing classes so that you can get the most positive experience out of high school. You shouldn't be spending freshman year worrying about SATs and AP exams, but rather find new interests and try a new activity you might like.”