On March 13, teachers began holding their AP boost sessions after school to help students prepare for their college board exams in May.
The trimester schedule means that AP courses are no longer in session during the months leading up to the exams so these boost sessions are held to provide students with study resources and assistance during their time off. Boost sessions are open for any AP student enrolled in the course and are free of charge. Teachers have also made it so students who are unable to attend the sessions can stop by and pick up materials to take home. Boost sessions will be held through the week prior to the exams.
AP Environmental Science teacher, Dawn Pfaff, hopes to “provide a consistent environment where students can study, ask questions and use resources weekly to stay current and confident about […] content and the test requirements.” Teachers put a lot of time and effort into planning out each session so that students can be their best selves going into the exams.
Boost sessions include materials such as multiple choice practice questions, FRQ practice prompts, and online resources. Practice tests are also held for students to track their pace and understanding of the material as a whole.
AP Chemistry teacher Ashley Ackmann said that her goal for boost sessions is “to make sure students are still engaging and reviewing appropriately for their AP exam […] as the saying goes, ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it!’ and we do not want that to happen”. Ackmann also said ‘I do see a large difference in scores for those students who attend boosts versus those I do not see again after the course.”
Boost sessions are held at a variety of times throughout the week including both after school and on weekends. Student-athlete Jenna Burd said she would recommend other students to attend these sessions because “they give you the opportunity to ask questions.”. In her experience, Burd values boost sessions because they “force [her] to actually study.”
