The dreaded hour is here. After months and months of procrastination, zoning out in class, and doing homework on the bus, the ultimate test of students’ knowledge will now be determined by a series of mentally exhausting exams during the weeks of May. As MLWGS students are stocking up on black and blue pens and cramming in last-minute information, the stress levels are high within the walls of the Governor’s School. From May 6th to May 17th, hundreds of Maggie Walker students will line College Board’s pockets for the sake of their college applications. 

For many of the sophomores, it will be the first time they are taking an AP exam. Due to the experience being so new, many Class of ‘26 students have spent time discovering efficient ways to study and understand the information needed to pass the exam. Specifically, Miles Swenson (‘26), who is taking the AP United States History exam this year, stated that he found the class especially difficult because “there’s so much stuff to cover and so many important dates and names to remember.” Swenson said that his method of studying revolves around “looking over [his] notes and watching Heimler’s History.” Additionally, Leah Hazelrigg (‘26), who is taking the AP Psychology exam, stated that her method of studying involves “going on walks while listening to videos on the specific units.” She also enjoys studying through “doing practice problems on AP Classroom and looking over study guides people have made.” 

Jillian Wilson (‘25), who is taking the AP Calculus AB and AP Language and Composition exams this year, notes how difficult the college-level math courses are, specifically due to the “amount of complicated topics [she] needs to know and formulas [she] needs to memorize.” Wilson also emphasizes how her class “just now finished learning all the content one week before the exam,” which makes it even more difficult to prepare thoroughly. When it comes to preparation, Wilson recommends “studying with people.” She stated, “I work more productively when somebody is there to hold me accountable for my work, and if I am struggling with a topic, it's nice to have someone there to talk it through with. Also, for me at least, it's helpful to not study at home. I am always distracted and on my phone at home, so studying at school, at a library, or even at a coffee shop makes me way more productive.”

While many exams are in-person and on paper, the AP Computer Science students have a unique task when it comes to their College Board requirements. Tommy Wood (‘26) explained how the requirements for the coding task project involve “making a for loop in a function with a conditional.” Wood also noted how the exam is “considered much easier than the other AP exams because of how easy it is to grasp the content.”

In May, Maggie Walker Governor’s School students will face the culmination of months of hard work and preparation as they tackle a series of demandingAP exams. From the nerves of first-time test-takers to the veteran calm  of experienced students, each individual is navigating their own path toward success. At the end of the day, a student’s health and well-being should be the top priority, so it is important to make sure everyone is taking care of themselves during this busy season. As James Bae (‘26) put it, “Don’t stress; it’s not that deep.”