Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college-level courses offered at the high school level for students who would like an extra challenge. Alongside a harder course, the students are rewarded with college credits. Every AP class requires the ability to retain for the AP exam that comes around spring. Of course, though there are other factors to consider, the main difficulty lies in the material and the unfamiliar difficulty jumps for students.
Using YLHS as an example, class choices are structured so freshmen can take one or two AP classes. The struggle comes with the difficult jump from middle school to college-level classes. It is necessary to develop efficient study habits for AP classes, and coming from middle school, these skills are likely not developed to the degree needed. These study habits are designed to process the new workload, which would also be uncharted territory for most freshmen (USPA).
In sophomore year, the trouble lies in the shift to more homework and balancing more or harder AP classes. This year can also be the first AP for several students as freshman APs aren’t required for any specific path. This comes with the downside of learning time management with more difficult classes but is a necessary skill regardless of difficulty. The upside to sophomore year APs is that if taking the expected curriculum, there should be the same maximum of one or two AP classes in one schedule.
By far though the worst year for students is the junior year where most, if not all, classes in a student’s schedule can be AP-level. The selection also provides for notoriously difficult courses that show through the exam’s pass rates (bold.org). The inherent difficulty of these classes is further worsened by the pressure of junior year, which is widely regarded as the most difficult yet important year of high school. Junior year is most viewed by colleges as truly preparing for the future through extracurriculars and self-involvement inside and outside of school (Baldwin’s Bullseye).
This pressure and strain found in junior year can be found in Sam Kent’s (11) experience as he states, “As a junior, I am taking several AP courses in order to maximize my chances of getting into college. These AP courses are extremely stressful due to the workload, pace, and sheer difficulty. Because AP exam season is all in two weeks, the tests and quizzes of each class usually line up, furthering the stress by studying a lot, making sure I am prepared for each exam. Over all, the multiplicity of the stress and workload is the main factor as to why AP classes are difficult.”
Lastly, while the senior year also has a selection of difficult APs, the efforts of earlier years allow for more time dedicated to those classes. This is because only one of the five core classes requires four years of courses, and many students have completed other requirements (ylhs.org). Not only is there more time, but students have now had more experience in high school and the harder material in AP classes. A positive comes in the fact that the stress of college applications has passed by the first semester, thus seniors can take the AP exam with less weight on their shoulders.
Despite their difficulty, AP classes are well worth it in the long run. Besides a head start on experience, students build confidence and can assure themselves of their ability. Not to mention the college credits rewarded are essential to those who want to complete college early or save money by fulfilling graduation requirements early. The record of these classes in a transcript, especially abundant in junior year, also comes in handy during college applications (AP Central).
As every AP class has its respective exam, the pressure is not only on students to understand the content but teachers to teach in a way that is understandable and memorable. An immersive teaching style is essential as Aaron Tsai (12) recounts, “Mr. Walls’ style of teaching in AP Psych was always engaging. He always told great stories and provided effective examples for all his topics. It made me really enjoy the subject and find a passion in it.” YLHS teachers have handled this material exceptionally with pass rates of 86% in 2021 and 92% in 2019 (ylhs.org, PYLUSD Good News Report). Overall, AP classes ultimately provide a contributive head start in college. With stellar on-campus teachers who support the high pass rates, they are well worth the difficulty.
