This May, students at St. Charles High School sat down for the AP Exams. Covering subjects from AP World to AP Biology, students have spent months reviewing notes, practicing essays, and bracing for the big day.

“I actually studied a lot for it going in,” said Sophomore Connor Johns, who took AP World History. “I studied hard and was a bit worried about the exam, but actually looking at it… it looked easier than I thought it would be.”

Connor wasn’t alone in his relief. Many students experienced a disconnect between their initial feelings and what the actual test felt like.

“I thought it was gonna be just like Galileo, it was, but even then I still kinda was worried,” said junior Aaron Baxter. “I thought it was gonna be a lot harder than it actually was.”

Other students, like Alex Libera, a sophomore in AP World History, went into the test more cautiously.

“I was super nervous before it even started. I tried studying as much as I could,” Alex said. “But once it began, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. The DBQ was a bit hard, but I managed.”

Diayan Issah, who took AP World History as well this year, said it was more about endurance than anything.

“I thought it was okay, I just tried studying a lot,” Diayan said. “The first half of the questions were easy, then they got harder. But besides that the test was alright.”

Even students who are typically confident test takers found themselves surprised by the format and pressure. Junior Nolan Day, who took the exam, said the hardest part was staying focused through the long, essay-heavy sections.

“It wasn’t that the test was particularly hard, it was actually doing the test and staying awake for it that was a challenge,” said Day. “But honestly, I think I did well on it, I’ve done AP tests before and I think it was alright.”

AP students will be able to receive their scores over the summer, with some expecting calls of congratulations for their efforts.