TCHS students scored higher on the 2013 AP exams than many students nationwide, with a 78.7 percent pass rate compared to the nation’s 61.1 percent. In May, 475 TCHS students took 1,144 and passed 900 exams with a score of 3 or higher.
Students’ pass rates for individual exams also surpassed national averages; for example, 91.3 percent of World History students scored above a 3 on the exam, while the national rate was 48.6 percent.
Some AP teachers use previous years’ released test questions when preparing students for the exams. English Literature teacher Mr. Ryan Hoague gives his students essay prompts to practice, and Chemistry teacher Ms. Debbie Gewecke gives short answer questions as part of homework and incorporates multiple choice questions into her tests. World History teacher Mr. Michael Shore holds workshops to help students review material before the test.
“[Calculus teacher] Ms. [Nancy] Bulgin had us come to school on a Saturday to administer the multiple choice portion from a test a few years ago,” Senior Brenda Ngo said. “It gave us a good idea of what would be on the real exam, and I’m glad she helped us succeed.”