As May approaches many students taking Advanced Placement courses will be writing their national exams.  Some of the exams include English and US History.  In AP US History, Social Studies teacher Paul Rykken makes sure that student are prepared.

“The exam preparation is built into the class,” said Rykken.  “I push eight minutes a day with students because they need to work on preparing themselves and that’s the reading.”

The technique is for students to review and read their materials for eight minutes a day.  Senior Taylar Dalbec is using Rykken’s approach to study for the exam.

“I am trying out Rykken’s eight minutes a day technique where I am going to [use] the trivia questions at the back of each chapter in the book and answer them,” said Dalbec.

The eight minutes a day approach is not the only way US History students are preparing for the exam.  For senior Tonie Johnson, that means reviewing the vocabulary.

“I am preparing by looking over the vocab for a few minutes a day. Then a little later, I check my [memory] of those words,” said Johnson.

English teacher Justice Broker has also been making sure that her students will be prepared for the AP English exam.

“I try really hard to make them write a lot, more so than last year. I feel that this year I’m pushing harder than I even was last year with the writing part,” said Broker.  “Also, reading difficult texts, like Heart of Darkness.  It is a book that appears frequently on the test — in terms of questions,” said Broker.

Broker will also push poetry harder that she did last year.  Even though she will be preparing her students for the exams, she expects them to study outside of class.

“You have to put effort outside of the classroom in order to achieve the score you want, which I’m assuming would be a good one,” said Broker

Many students, like senior Kate Hegna, are taking the initiative by preparing out of class.

“To prepare for the AP Exams I am planning on joining study groups and I will review readings and assignments from the past,” said Hegna.

If a student scores a 3 or higher, than he or she will earn college credit.  This is one of the reasons that many students take the exam.  Senior Paige Fisher, is taking the exam for a different reason.

“I expect to challenge myself and improve on my time management. I also expect to gain experience for college and preparation for future test taking,” said Fisher.

Despite the possibility of earning college credits, some students do not take the exam.  Rykken has been trying to change the attitude that a few people may have about the tests.

“The only thing that has always bothered me is that a lot of kids avoid the exam because they don’t want to take the risk.  I try to promote the attitude that it is worth taking the risk,” said Rykken. “The worst thing that could happen is that they don’t get the credit.”