With the start of the new year and beginning of the second semester at Granada High, the dates for AP and IB testing are drawing nearer, which means students are preparing for their next test in May, as well as reflecting on their grades from the previous semester.

With the incorporation of the IB diploma and many students taking multiple AP and IB classes simultaneously together or by themselves, it begs the question. How will students be studying for IB/AP tests with that of normal homework as well?

One student, Griffin White (11) is enrolled in four AP courses.

“I am taking AP Calculus, AP U.S. History, AP Psychology, APLang, and AP Computer Science,” White said. 

With this many advanced classes, it begs the question of how to balance studying. 

“I just need to prioritize what I need to study and focus on reviewing in order to get a good grade on the test. You just have to create a good balance between schoolwork and studying which can be hard. It helps to have a friend in the same class if you’re struggling,” said White. 

“I’m going to go over all the course tests and the online AP classroom videos. I know textbooks or youtube are a good source for review, or even just discussing with someone else” said White when asked about how he will study for the upcoming AP tests. 

White also mentioned the importance of having teachers prepare their students for the tests and conditioning them to questions or essays that will follow closely to those on the test. 

“Most of my teachers have prepared me throughout the year with AP style questions on tests and AP style grading,” said White.

But what about IB classes? How differently do students in IB classes compare to those in AP classes?

Another student, Mateo Ramos (11), shared his experience of IB classes, as well as talking about how his teachers are preparing him. 

“We actually did a practice IO, and IO is a ten minute speech we have to do at the end of senior year about a global issue, so we’ve already been doing practice IO’s and practice essays, we we’ve been getting ready for the IB test in different ways,” said Ramos. 

Along with that, Theodore Brzustowicz (11) also expressed the workload from IB classes, talking about how different classes compare to each other. 

“IB English is definitely like a lot of thinking, it’s not a free ride. It’s definitely not as busy work and homework as IB Lit/Lang, which can be tedious” said Brzustowicz.

But what about the test in May? Are students worried about that?

“I’m not worried per se, I just need to study, so I am just going to make sure that I spend the few weeks or months before the test studying and making sure I do all the work,” said Ramos. 

Overall, both AP and IB students are both prepared and cautious about the future tests, both developing ways to study while maintaining a balance with homework.

“They’re prepping me very well. I feel very prepared for my IB physics test which I have upcoming,” said Brzustowicz.