As the stressful AP exam season approaches, students often find themselves overwhelmed as they cram to achieve those desired scores. While studying is essential, constant stress negatively impacts a student’s mental health and reduces productivity. Finding ways to balance studying and managing stress is the key to getting great scores on AP exams. Here are some ways our Bulldogs de-stress in this busy week:
Play Roblox
As unproductive as it sounds, Bulldogs find that studying for APs by playing games on Roblox is an unexpected but effective method for wellness. Roblox offers interactive review games for AP classes such as AP Psych, AP Human Geography, AP U.S. History, AP Biology, and more. The games are a great way to have fun while studying, improving student engagement and focus.
Instead of passively reviewing notes, students actively participate in a game they already enjoy, which can improve retention. Students have noted that Roblox helped them exceed on their exams and even earn a 5.
“I feel like it’s less stressful because you get to play while you’re [studying],” sophomore Ella Pendleton said. “Sometimes teachers don’t give you all the materials you need, but it’s right at your hands, and in playing Roblox, it’ll make you feel like you’re not even studying and just playing a game.
“I would advise other students to use Roblox to study,” Pendleton said. “My friend got a 5 on the AP exam using it. So there are proven studies that this does work.”
Engage in Calming Activities
PEER and Sources of Strength organized various activities from April 27 to May 1 in support of Mental Wellness Week. Students could have sessions with therapy dogs, make slime during lunch blocks, and kind notes were passed to students at the beginning of the school day. These small but meaningful efforts helped students regulate stress with academic pressure and improve their overall mood.
“I do like that there’s this initiative to make people feel more happy with the stress of APs,” junior Aryaa Nadkarni said. “I was happy, and I do have a sticky note that says ‘You’re beautiful’ on it. So, that is making me feel better.”
Students also found simple activities like playing with slime to be helpful to calm stress during class.
“I did this slime activity,” Pendleton said. ”It was really fun. I got to use my slime in my classes, and when I was in math, I was stressed, and instead of being stressed, I could play with slime and feel better.”
Although Mental Wellness Week activities are no longer offered by PEER and Sources of Strength, Bulldogs can engage in calming activities on their own by playing with slime or sensory toys and listening to music. Music is proven to help the brain easily absorb new information according to a 2007 study. Students can choose a favorite playlist and let the brain do its job.
Take Breaks and Reward Yourself
This is another important strategy for managing stress while studying. Short breaks between study sessions prevents burnout and improves focus, alongside small rewards like a favorite snack after each hour of studying. Studying for hours straight is less helpful and reduces productivity rather than being effective. Studies show that taking breaks ranging from 5-60 minutes refreshes your brain and increases productivity.
“I don’t like to have that narrative where it’s just me studying for hours and hours on end,” Nadkarni said. “I like to take breaks like scroll on my phone or play with my dog or hang out for a little bit, and then get back to studying.”
Eat Healthy Food and Get Enough Sleep
Academic success is heavily associated with proper nutrients and enough rest. Having a healthy breakfast for morning exams and a healthy lunch before afternoon exams is essential for optimal performance. Proper nutrients fuel the brain and prevent fatigue during a long exam. No student wants a rumbling stomach during a 2-3 hour exam, distracting them from their work. Some healthy breakfast ideas are eggs or avocados with whole-grain toast, oatmeal, and a protein smoothie. Healthy lunch ideas include salmon, salads, and baked potatoes. It’s best to steer away from sugary foods since they can lead to “sugar crashes.”
Sleep is also important to prevent fatigue and help maintain full focus on the exam. According to the National Library of Medicine, seven to nine hours of sleep is usually recommended before exams.
To check dates for upcoming AP exams, check the College Board website at https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/exam-dates. If there are any concerns or question about your AP exam(s), email Ms. Cresson at [email protected]. Be sure to check if any teachers offer before or after school study sessions.
