By Taylor Conley

Four TPA seniors – Hannah Matsumoto, Brooke Kirk, Clara Moffitt, and Zoe Paupert – recently accomplished qualifications of AP Scholar and higher. These distinctions are the result of lots of time spent working hard, studying, and prepping for the difficult AP Exams. Brooke is an AP Scholar (receiving scores of 3 or higher on three or more exams), Clara and Zoe are AP Scholars with Honor (receiving an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams), and Hannah Matsumoto is an AP Scholar with Distinction (receiving an average score of at least 3.5 on all exams taken with scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams).

AP Exams, which stands for Advanced Placement Exams, are an opportunity to get out of specific college courses through exams and credits. The AP tests are generally taken during the first two weeks of May and they consist of free-response sections and multiple choice. All colleges will recognize AP test scores and they are great resume boosters in the admission process. Public colleges in the US and Canada, like ASU and U of A, will let you save thousands of dollars on courses you have taken AP tests for. TPA offers the most rigorous courses that can fulfill the more traditional AP curriculum in preparation for the exams. Although, for underclassmen taking exams like AP Biology, it can be harder to study ahead. With enough time spent studying though, TPA students are fully capable of succeeding with a passing grade.

For studying, there are many different textbooks to choose from. Mrs. Moffitt recommends some of the most popular ones, Barron’s AP Test Prep books. The Princeton Review releases considerably comprehensive books, too. There are many different prep books to choose from depending on the course, so be sure to do some research and find one that best fits you.

Prior to the AP Exams, Clara Moffitt, current senior, spent months preparing for them. So far, she has taken 5 AP tests. In her junior year, she took AP English Language, AP English Literature, and AP US History. To underclassmen, she gives this advice: “Just do it, you don’t have anything to lose. If you like your score, you don’t have to take a class in college, and if not, you don’t have to include it on your resume.”

Another senior and AP Scholar, Brooke Kirk, says, “Even if you don’t do amazing, you can still get out of a whole college course!”

The current sign-up deadline is March 12, so make sure to sign up and start studying soon! “They’re beneficial no matter what,” Says Clara. Whether you pass or fail, taking an AP test and studying for it is a helpful experience that can save you money and help you understand your skillset.