Each year, when March comes around, students at Griffith High School spend a week taking their Mock AP exams. The students, generally juniors and seniors, must take their actual AP Exam in May, when the score will matter and the students have an opportunity to receive college credit for their scores.

   By taking the mock exam now, students are receiving valuable test taking skills, namely to learn time management. On the exam, students have a limited amount of time to look over all the information given, whether it is a chart or passage, and answer all of the questions. By taking the mock exam, students are able to determine if they must slow down and pace themselves or take less time on each question.

Students can also learn their overall strengths and weaknesses when it comes to the topic they are testing in. For example, when taking a mock exam for an English class, students must do essays and multiple choice questions. After taking the mock, students will know what they need to practice and study, like expanding their writing skills to score better on the essays.

Although not every AP class does a mock, most students feel more confident in their preparation for the exam. If a student gets a 1 or 2 on the mock, they can take time to review necessary materials before taking the actual exam. If a student gets a 3, 4, or 5 on the mock exam, they can go into to test overall feeling more confident.

When the time comes for you to take the actual exams, follow these tips: 1.) Do easy questions first and come back to the harder ones. If you are having trouble with a question, don’t spend all your time trying to figure it out. Skip it and come back to it. 2.) Manage your time carefully. Keep track of how long you have. 3.) Eat a healthy breakfast and stay hydrated before taking the test. 4.) Plan all essays and problems before doing them. 5.) Answer every question, even if you have to guess.