As AP exam season approaches in May, students at Emerson Junior-Senior High School are getting ready for a busy stretch of testing that could earn them college credit depending on how they perform.

The Advanced Placement Exams are standardized tests taken by high school students across the country in subjects like math, English, science, and history. As the exam dates get closer, students are reviewing material, taking practice tests, and setting score goals they hope to reach.

Most students are aiming for at least a score of 3, which is often the minimum needed for college credit, while others are pushing for 4s and 5s to strengthen college applications and placement.

Talking about the AP classes she is taking this year, Julia Sertis said she is focused on both a writing-heavy course and a challenging math class. “I’m taking AP Literature and AP Calculus, so I’ve been trying to keep up with a lot of reading and practice problems,” Seretis said.

When it comes to her goals for the exams, Seretis said she is hoping to do well enough to feel confident in her results.

“I’m aiming for at least a 4 on both exams, but I’d be happy if I get a 3 or higher,” she said.

Like many students, Seretis said the workload has increased as exams get closer, especially balancing reading assignments in AP Lit with problem sets in Calculus. Even so, she is trying to stay consistent with studying instead of cramming.

“It’s a lot of work, but I just want to go in prepared and do my best,” Seretis said.