Gabrielle Ames
Reporter
The long-anticipated April break promises to be a time of fun and relaxation. One week of great weather with no classes, no homework, and time spent with friends and family. However, for students enrolled in AP classes, spring break means that one week of precious classroom-review time has been taken away less than three weeks before the test.
Many students feel pressed for time with testing just around the corner. Junior Jackson Busch is in three AP classes – AP U.S. History, AP Calculus and AP Spanish – and thinks that the week off will severely impair his preparation for the tests.
“Spring break totally messes up class-time preparation because it’s so close to the APs that teachers are essentially splitting preparation into ‘before the break’ and ‘after the break,'” he said. “For instance, with my AP Calculus final, the free response portion is before and the multiple choice is two days after. It’s really tough to mentally prepare when you have such a large gap in between, especially if you’re travelling.”
Jackson plans on going to Paris over break. When questioned about studying, he said, “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Similarly, junior Maddy Russell’s plans for spring break have been taken over by new plans for studying and college-visiting. “Originally I was going to go to California for spring break to actually have a good time. I was going to visit a few colleges but not too many,” she said. “Then my parents realized how much work I had to do to prepare for the AP tests. For example, I have an AP Calculus final the day before break and another one a few days after break, so I have to study for that on top of studying for the AP U.S. History final and college-visiting over break. Basically, I’m not going to be able to have fun over spring break,” she said.
Sophomore Evelyn Luchs, currently in the second year of AP World, is a little nervous. “I don’t think we’ll have learned all the material before break. We’re a little behind and pretty rushed right now, but because it’s a two year class, I’m pretty comfortable with the material,” she said.
Sophomore Harrison Besser, who is in AP World History and AP Chemistry, isn’t too worried about the test. “I feel mostly prepared for the AP tests, but we still have material to go through in class. For example, in history we have a couple more chapters of the book to get through. We also have a few more chapters in Chemistry, but it appears like we have enough time to get through the material in time for the AP test,” he said.
Harrison is also planning on going on the China trip with the other Chinese classes. While he will definitely be busy, Harrison is optimistic about having time to study. “I think spring break will interrupt the class-time preparation for the test, however I’m definitely going to utilize the break to the fullest. I’ll probably do the majority of my studying over the break,” he said.
Senior Katie Scott shares similar views as Harrison. “I feel that at this point we’ve learned everything, so break will probably be better spent doing my own form of review. Listening to a lecture isn’t the way I study – I prefer highlighting – so if I can get a few hours each day just doing that, that will probably help me a lot more than sitting in class.”
AP Chemistry teacher Jae Spooner doesn’t seem too worried about the preparedness of his students, but he does admit that spring break is coming at a time that isn’t ideal, considering the other unavoidable scheduling difficulties of this year. “We’ve had a lot of snow days this year, more than we usually do. Usually there’s always something more we can do to prepare for the AP test but this year we’re behind a bit because of the snow days,” he said. “Also, the AP Chem exam is a week earlier than it usually is, so that takes away a few days as well.”
Principal Tony Pavia admits that AP testing isn’t something that is considered in the placement of spring break, but that the timing usually isn’t an issue. “This year is an aberration in that it’s a very late April vacation. If you look at the previous April and next year’s calendar, break is much earlier in the month. I think the reason there’s an aberration this year is because the break was linked to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, in order to save another school day. It is unfortunate that it comes right before the APs but I think it’s an occurrence that will only happen every ten years or so,” he said.
Spring break is an opportunity to wind down for some, and to study for others. “I don’t believe in assigning work over the breaks, but the students probably will be studying,” Mr. Spooner said.
Like every other AP student, Maddy has resigned herself to her review books. “I’ll study over break, unfortunately, but probably not as much as I plan to now,” she said.
