Rise and shine: it is AP exam season. Every spring, high school students across the country face the intense pressure of advanced placement exams. With college credit on the line, students prepare for months to do their best. While the content of the test is standard, the time it is administered can vary. Currently, the College Board schedules AP exams for either the morning at 8 a.m. or the afternoon at 12 p.m.
Although it may not seem like a big factor, timing can make all the difference. While some students dread early mornings, there is a strong case for why morning AP exams are better than afternoon exams. From sharper focus to reduced anxiety, taking exams in the morning can provide many advantages.
According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, students perform better on tests and exams in the morning. After a good night of rest, the brain is refreshed and ready to tackle challenges. Morning exams allow students to take the test at a time when their focus, memory and problem-solving abilities are likely at their best.
By the afternoon, especially after lunch, people tend to experience what is known as the post-lunch dip: a natural drop in energy and alertness. This can make it harder to concentrate, increasing the risk of careless mistakes. In a high-stakes test setting, every detail matters, and the timing of the exam can be a hidden advantage or disadvantage.
Waiting around all day for an afternoon exam can be nerve-wracking. The build-up of anxiety, overthinking and disrupted routines can leave students mentally drained before the test even begins. Morning exams reduce that stress by getting it over with early. Students wake up, show up and knock it out without long hours spent worrying.
Morning exams are less likely to conflict with extracurriculars, part-time jobs or after-school events. Students have to balance their course load with out-of-school activities. Afternoon exams sometimes start later than scheduled, which leads to later end times. Some students do not get out until 5 p.m. and risk missing commitments.
On the other hand, afternoon exams allow students to review the day of. The time between the morning and the afternoon exam can be used for a focused review of key concepts, which some students find beneficial for retaining information. For students who are not naturally morning people, the afternoon session might feel less rushed and allow them to wake up and settle into a testing mindset more comfortably.
While not everyone is a “morning person,” AP exams are high-stakes assessments that demand a student’s full attention and ability. Morning exams set students up for success by aligning with the body’s natural alertness, reducing stress and fitting more smoothly into the school day. When it comes to testing, earlier really is better.
