This year, NPHS students who choose to take the AP exam will be exempt from taking the final in their class. The new practice will impact the amount of students taking the exam, while also giving the teachers more freedom away from the set curriculum after the test in early May.

Mr. McCulley and Mr. Makmur were especially passionate about having the finals canceled for their AP students.

McCulley highlighted how negative the stress of the AP exam is, and having to essentially “redo it” in the final exam once late June comes.

McCulley stated: “The negatives that everybody was feeling, whether it be physics or history, was students had gotten to this heightened level of connection to the material for a three hour exam that was going to be more challenging than any final. They ramped themselves up to that state in late April or early May, and to say you need to go back to that is really asking them to do it all over again. The final exam was kind of like double jeopardy.”

Similarly, Makmur agreed the AP test was time and stress consuming, and the end of the year should be used for relaxed projects.

Makmur stated: “There’s just sort of the situation where you studied your butt off to get the AP exam in the beginning of May. And then you have this whole month, where you could continue to learn new content, but I think between you guys being super burnt out from the high pace of the class, and not having the time to do kind of fun things, especially in a class like physics, or there’s so many cool things you could do with the physics we learn.”

However, both teachers are still supporting their students who chose to opt out of the exam. Makmur plans to still hold professional period and after school review sessions for those taking the final, but does not think he will use class time as he did last year. McCulley also suggests he will appeal to the majority of students who are taking the AP test and will influence mostly independent review to students. 

Another issue for these teachers stems from teaching AP level classes to juniors and freshmen. While many AP students who are seniors have another path to being exempt from the final, McCulley’s and Makmur’s students do not have a choice. This new rule makes it equal across grade levels.

Having this announcement come about weeks before the registration deadline was significant for students making the decision of taking the test. Makmur believes that it was the deciding factor for many students because avoiding the final does not affect their overall grade. While McCulley thinks that it has helped students commit earlier to the test and stay engaged throughout the year.