100-word rave: Final exams for AP classes are rightfully before APs May 6, 2023 — by Sanjoli Gupta Graphic by Leyna Chan Having early finals provides an incentive for students to study and helps relieve stress during end-of-semester finals week. Imagine this awful alternative universe: It’s the beginning of June. You’re stressed and, despite taking the AP exam three weeks ago, you have to keep studying for the final exam in, say, AP Environmental Science. You’re burned out and exhausted. You should have crossed the finish line weeks ago, but here you are, still studying. Does this sound like hell to you, or is it just me? This tragedy would be our reality if AP teachers gave their finals in June. Having finals right before the AP exam gives an incentive to study, which helps you on the final and is also valuable for the AP exam as well. Once both exams are over, you’re free to take a much needed break after a hectic semester. This schedule frees up the second half of May, giving time to study for non-AP finals and reducing stress later in the year for upperclassmen. Most AP teachers use the time for fun projects that further solidify the learning we do during the year. For example, in AP Environmental Science students work together to create solar ovens and toast marshmallows, allowing friends to connect through experiential learning projects. It doesn’t make sense to give another final after APs — after all, the AP exam marks the culmination of the course and provides a clean finish after two semesters of hard work. More than that, you have time to relax with peers after trauma-bonding through your mutual AP experience. Having spent months obsessing over the exam, it only makes sense for the last few weeks to be a welcome relief and opportunity to make new connections with the knowledge they’ve worked so hard to attain. Tags: AP classes, exams 3 views this weekAbout the contributorsSanjoli GuptaSanjoli Gupta, Class of ‘24, is a News Editor of the 2023-24 Falcon staff. Previously, she was the School Scope Editor between 2022-23, Head Photographer between 2021-22 and Reporter and Layout Artist between 2020-21. She has attended the Stanford Daily Summer Journalism program as well as The School of The New York Times Inside the UN/Journalism/Law program where she interviewed a Holocaust survivor and learned about libel. She has won a Silver Key in Scholastic Art and Writing for her feature story on being both South Asian and Christian. Some topics she has previously covered include bioethics, intimidation, future professions and religion. Some things she enjoys outside journalism include reading, baking and photography.