After a school year’s full of rigorous coursework and classwork, and months of studying, prepping, cramming, and probably crying over AP exams, in mid-May we find ourselves asking, “so what now?” There is no doubt that the demands and pressures associated with AP classes surmount in extreme burnout. Come May, we are exhausted, overworked, and mentally checked out for the year. Luckily, everything comes to an end, and even though AP exam stress may have occupied our lives for too long, by now, they’re over! If you’ve taken any AP exams this year, whether that’s just one or five, the questions, confusion, and post-exam anxiety are real. Here’s some tips for how to cope and allow yourself to have an enjoyable end of year and restful summer:

1. Celebrate your accomplishment! The good thing is: they’re over! Even if you think you did terrible, you can take much comfort in the fact that you don’t have to deal with them anymore this year (and hopefully you tried your best?). Taking an AP class in itself is a challenge, let alone multiple, and completing the course is an accomplishment- regardless of the score you receive. Celebrate your victory!

2. Understand that lingering exam anxiety is real. Many of us fall victim to the immense pressures and stresses of taking AP courses and exams. The buildup of these anxieties can have extreme effects on us- even when the tests are over. Know that this is both real and normal. Sometimes, the anxiousness doesn’t simply vanish as soon as you step out of the testing room. Give your body and mind time to recognize that the tests are over and catch up with the transition. Finally, you are able to have a mental, emotional, and physical break- which your body is not used to! Allow yourself a recovery period.

3. Accept your scores for what they are. Know that there is nothing you can do now. Hopefully you tried your best, and that’s all that you can ask of yourself. It is not worth it to get down on yourself about something that you can no longer control or change. Most importantly, don’t compare your score with others! This is easier said than done, but everyone has different skills, abilities, and goals. The only person you can measure yourself up to is yourself. If you’re happy with your scores, be happy! If you’re not the most happy with them, understand that they don’t define you.

4. Make an action plan for the future. Whether you are happy or unhappy with your scores, thinking about “what’s next” can be tough. There are multiple aspects to address. Did you get great scores? Good, but did you cram your studying and cause more stress than needed? Maybe, and that’s something you can work on. Did you get scores you didn’t like? Should you have spent more time practicing old exam questions than memorizing content? It’s really up to you to assess and reflect. Learning how you can do better next time/improve your methods is more important than the scores themselves. Make a written note of the things you want to work on/change so you can refer back to them next year. Also, think about how these tests and scores shape/help you make decisions about what the bigger picture of your future will look like. Maybe you realized that AP Physics was really horrible, and becoming a physicist is not the profession you thought you wanted.

5. Allow yourself to relax. Now that exams are over, allow yourself to see your friends on the weekends, go out to dinner, bike ride, go on a walk, go to the beach- do anything that makes you happy (safely). Most likely, you were unable to do these things with all the work, stress, and studying for AP courses and tests. Stay committed to working hard in school, doing your final projects, and ending off the year with a bang. Enjoy the end of the school year- you earned it!!