Students prepare for Keystones and AP exams

Spring has begun, so that means that spring Keystones are right around the corner and the AP exams are just as close. AP exams are not required when a student takes that specific course, but in order to obtain the college credits it offers, students will need to take it and pass. Keystones, on the other hand, are a graduation requirement in Pennsylvania for students to either pass or gain a composite score. The three Keystone exams are algebra, biology, and English.
Some students may have to take both of these exams. For example, Olivia Kauffman is one of the many that decided to take an AP course, AP environmental science, and pay for the exam, along with needing to take the English Keystones. She is more focused about studying for the AP exam, though. “I decided to take the AP exam because I want to test my ability to understand the subject, as well as it is a great learning experience,” Olivia says. She has decided that in order to prepare for it, she is going to consistently study all of the content throughout the year nightly and review difficult topics to make sure she has a thorough understanding. Olivia’s specific studying method that proves to be the most effective would be 30 minutes of using flashcards each night to slowly build up the knowledge and remember important information.
Olivia is not the only one taking these two exams, as Arianna Naranjo also has to prepare for these. “I decided to take the AP exam so I can get an idea of how hard the AP tests can be in general, while taking it on a topic I have been comfortable with for the past two years,” Arianna explains. She wants to be able to prepare for future exams that might end up being more difficult, but then she has a little bit of experience with the process. The study method that Arianna has decided to take on for this exam would be reviewing the notes that were taken throughout the year as well as going over definitions that will help navigate through complex questions and problems.
No matter how big a test or exam is, everyone has their own way to prepare. Some students may need more or less time, and Keystones and AP exams should not be taken too lightly if the score from them will be dependent on graduation, or for gaining college credits. However, every student should try their best even if it is not their best or favorite subject.