![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Upper school students take AP exams with special bell schedule
Pencil in hand and timer set, Junior Jessica Zhou writes a practice test during an AP United States History (APUSH) class yesterday. The APUSH exam is scheduled to take place this Friday.
May 5, 2022
Upper school students began taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams on Monday, with exams continuing on campus next week until May 13. The upper school operates on a special bell schedule during these two weeks.
Students taking 8 a.m. morning exams must arrive on campus by 7:30 a.m. for check-ins at 7:45 a.m. For 12:30 p.m. afternoon exams, students should arrive on campus by 12 p.m. and check in at their testing site by 12:15 p.m. Students who arrive late will not be allowed to test.
Students will receive testing locations, also posted around campus on the exam day, via email the evening prior to the exam, and they will also be posted throughout campus the day of the exam. The Nichols Rotunda will be closed during the next two weeks.
“It feels like finals,” said Jonathan Xue (9), who is taking AP Computer Science A, AP Calculus BC and AP Chinese Language and Culture. “I assume it’s a more high stress version of finals. They seem pretty interesting though. I feel like Harker well prepares you for AP exams though.”
A special bell schedule will be in place during the two weeks of AP testing. While A and C days will still see periods one through four, a 30-minute office hours session will occur after period 1, and school will end at 3:30 p.m. On B and D days, students will have office hours or advisory, respectively, after period five, as well as a one hour and 30 minute office hours period at the end of the day until 3:30 p.m. Lunch will take place from 11:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every day.
For each test, students should bring standard No. 2 pencils, erasers, pens with dark blue or black ink. Students taking exams that allow calculators should have received an email from upper school Director of Standardized Testing and Scheduling Troy Thiele with more information; only AP Physics exams allow rulers. Cell phones, electronic devices, food or drink and stationery items other than the ones listed above are not allowed.
Students are excused from all classes on days they have at least one AP exam but can choose to attend them. Attendance will only be taken before the exam. At other times, students may choose to attend class, but the campus becomes an open campus for students either taking an exam later in the day or who have finished taking an AP exam that day. Students not taking AP exams are required to be in class.
Additional information about exam structure can be found on the College Board website. Most of the exams will return to a full-length paper-and-pencil format after last year’s exams were taken digitally on an app created by the College Board. AP World History: Modern and AP English Literature and Composition have in-school online options and require students to download an app.
Amruta Dharmapurikar (11), who is taking the AP Physics C and AP U.S. History exams, has mixed feelings about reverting back to the traditional test format.
“I’m a lot more confident that I can do better [since] I can look back at my previous answers,” Amruta said. “But I miss the peace of mind that came with not having to review my answers all the time and rethink whatever I did.”
