By Sydney Sears and Delaney Smith

As the year is coming to a close the stakes rise. AP exams begin next week and many students begin to feel stressed around this time of year. Preparation is a significant part in passing these important tests.

According to counselor Mark Clark, the AP exams are graded on a five-point scale with “5” being the highest and “1” being the lowest. If a “3” or higher is scored a student can receive three credits to any college in Indiana.

To earn these credits students typically must put forth a lot of hard work and dedication. Many teachers have been doing in-class work and before or after-school study sessions to help prepare their students to the best of their ability.

“I plan to go to the cram session. I’ve also been looking over my notes,” said Junior Bailey Smit,h who is preparing for Monday’s AP psychology exam.

Senior Scott Schuchardt has been taking a lot of time to prepare for his AP government  exam by going over old AP Government College Board tests and the writing prompts for them. He has also been going to Suzanne Moss’s after-school study sessions.

Teachers have also been working to prepare their students for the upcoming exams.

“In class I have covered all the main units, done weekend review sessions, and have given handouts and charts in class over major concepts. I have also given bell ringer questions from old AP tests to try to prepare my students,” said AP psychology teacher Chad Clunie.

Students have high hopes for their scores on these tests.

“I hope I do well on the test because if I don’t do well my mom is making me pay for the test,” said Smith.

The two-week AP exam schedule is as follows:

AP Exam Schedule 2014

Monday, May 5

8 a.m. – AP Chemistry

12 p.m. – AP Psychology

Tuesday, May 6

8 a.m. – AP Computer Science

Wednesday, May 7

8 a.m. – AP Calculus

Thursday, May 8

8 a.m. – AP English Literature

Friday, May 9

8 a.m. – English Composition

Monday,May 12

8 a.m. – AP Biology, AP Music Theory

12 p.m. – AP Physics

Tuesday, May 13

8 a.m. – AP U.S. Government

Wednesday, May 14

8 a.m. – AP U.S. History

12 p.m. – AP European History

Thursday, May 15

8 a.m. – AP Macroeconomics