College credit for eighty-six dollars, a shortened school day, the end of all the school year: all the reasons for taking an AP class. Sometimes taking the hard road pays off in the end.

When students go to take the AP tests the test lasts about four hours from the time one arrives until one leaves. I took two AP tests this year: AP Biology and AP Statistics. For both tests I didn’t have to attend school the entire day. Basically they give you a free pass to not show up at school.  I used this time as much needed down time to catch up on school work.

College is expensive and every little bit helps with paying the bills. I know right now I am trying to get loans and financial aid to go to college next year. The AP tests can earn you college credit if a score of 3 or above is received. Getting a good score can cause incoming freshmen to skip a general education class in college which could save them a good amount of money.

AP classes are supposed to be college freshman level classes. If students take them in high school they’ll have a basic knowledge of what to expect as incoming freshmen. I personally used AP Biology and AP Statistics as a preparatory class for college next year.

All AP testing happens in May, and May is the last month of school. With AP classes finals are taken before the actual AP test. In both of my AP classes we took our finals a week before our AP test and it helped me to go over the finals before the AP test.

Once AP tests are complete I felt a major sigh of relief. My two hardest classes were complete and my normal classes were the only ones I have left. AP classes are hard and a lot of work in the beginning but in the end they get students prepared for their futures.