Studying Under Pressure: Insight On AP Exam Prep

With the frantic ticking of the clock, hundreds of Redwood students have traded social lives for study guides, diving into a high-stakes mix of AP Classroom modules, review books, and late-night cram sessions to prepare for the upcoming AP exams.

By: Leslie Nunez

As exam sessions are slowly beginning, students are finding different ways to handle the pressure, balancing long hours of studying with sports, homework, and the need for sleep.

For many students, preparation starts with recognizing which subjects need the most attention before exam day arrives.

Some are dedicating extra attention to certain subjects, while others are trying to strengthen the skills they already feel confident in.

Jyzelle Espinoza-Zarco, ’27, said, “I am focusing on weaker subjects.”

To avoid overwhelming herself, she tries to fit studying into her regular school schedule whenever possible.

“I try my best to study in the class where I am taking my exam, for as we get time to do so, it doesn’t disrupt my routine,” She explained.

As AP testing season intensifies, stress levels are rising for students across campus.

Espinoza-Zarco described her anxiety as typical for this time of year, saying, “I would say I have the normal amount of stress that most AP students have during this time of year.”

Like many students, she feels the written portions of the exams are the most intimidating. “I am more worried about the FRQ since there is a bigger chance to fail that for my exam,” she said.

Even with the pressure, Espinoza-Zarco believes students should trust the work they have already put in. “Try not to stress too much about exams and don’t doubt yourself,” Espinoza-Zarco advised.

Other students are approaching preparation by dividing their attention evenly across all topics rather than concentrating on only one area.

Chloe Miller, ’27, said, “I am trying to spend an even amount of time working on them so that I have the best chances of doing well on the test as a whole, not just a single section.”

Managing time outside of school has become another major challenge for AP students.

Miller explained that school responsibilities still come first before exam preparation begins. “When I get home, I first work on all of my homework to make sure the work due the next day gets done first. Then I moved on to studying,” she said.

She also emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy habits during stressful weeks. “I try to make sure to go to sleep at a reasonable time because sleep is a big part of being able to do well on a test,” Miller says.

Although Miller feels optimistic about her exams, certain aspects of the testing format still make her nervous. “I am most worried about the multiple choice section because I always narrow it down to two answers, and then I’m stuck on which one to pick,” she said.

Since this is her first AP testing experience, Miller believes preparation and the tests are key to success.

Miller’s advice to students taking their AP exams is “Make sure to study and get some good sleep the night before your test, it truly makes a difference,” she said.

Lizette Peña, ’27, shared another perspective on preparing for AP exams, focusing on maintaining her grades while strengthening the subjects she already feels most confident in.

“I’m kinda just doing school work and focusing on what I know best, while also trying to keep my grades up,” said Peña.

Like many students balancing demanding schedules, Peña explained that prioritizing responsibilities has helped her manage studying, classes, and sleep without becoming overwhelmed.

“I manage to balance my studying along with my classes and sleep by prioritizing sleep on top obviously,” she said, “Then prioritizing classes and subjects depending on the workload and importance.”

Although she feels confident in most of her classes, Peña admitted that a few subjects still cause her stress as AP exams begin.

Peña said, “In most of my classes, I am feeling confident. Spanish still gives me some trouble because I don’t know it the best, and with dance, there was stress because of the show, but that’s over. So, right now, I’m mostly stressing over AP English, but other than that, those classes are going pretty well.”

For Peña, the pressure of timed writing has become one of the most difficult parts of preparing for the exam.

“In the exam, I am most worried about the free response, specifically the rhetorical choice essay,” Peña said. “Even though the multiple choice is hard, it’s just straightforward; I’m mainly stressed about running out of time to finish the essay.”

When offering advice to other students preparing for AP exams, Peña emphasized the importance of planning and practicing organization before test day arrives.

Peña said, “I would say study and prepare. Have a concrete plan and create an outline ahead of time.”

As AP testing season continues, students across campus are learning that preparing for these exams involves more than memorizing information from textbooks or review packets.

Between managing homework, extracurricular activities, sleep schedules, and the pressure to succeed, many students are pushing themselves to stay motivated during one of the busiest times of the school year.

While every student approaches studying differently, their experiences reflect the same determination to finish the year strong and trust that their effort will pay off.

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