| WITBL witbl8@gmail.com@womenleaders_witbl Reminder: To read more about specific AP classes and tips/tricks/resources for each AP read our book coming soon! |
Academic Performances in AP Students
An Exploratory Data Analysis
Time Allocation, Sleep Performances, and Academic Performance Across AP Subjects
Abstract
This study analyzes surveys taken from AP students to explore the understanding of the relationship between academic workload, time allocation, sleep performance, and academic performances. Using feedback from student response, this project introduces a comparison between different AP subjects.
Introduction
High school students enrolled in AP courses work to balance their demands such as homework, test preparation, and sleep. This study aims to examine how students distribute their time management across the academic demands. Between different academic subjects, this analysis will investigate whether specific AP subjects create different impacts.
Research Question:
- How do different AP subjects (STEM, humanities, social science, computer science and languages) contrast in workload, time allocation, and outcomes?
Data
Data for this study was collected through student surveys completed by students who completed each AP course. Each form includes reports on the following:
- AP Course
- Stress Level
- Homework Time
- Test Prep Time
- Sleep Time
- Grade
The data includes responses across many AP subjects.
| Dataset | Value |
| Total Response | 46 |
| AP Subjects Represented | 17 |
| Grade Category | B+, A-, A |
| Sleep Category | 10PM, 11PM, 12AM, 1AM |
Methodology
This dataset was analyzed using descriptive statistics and pattern analysis.
Sleep time was categorized into groups:
- 11:00 PM
- 12:00 AM
- 1:00 AM
- After 1:00 AM
Subject categorized into groups:
- STEM: (AP CSA, AP CSP, AP Calc AB/BC, AP Statistics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Pre-Calculus, AP Environmental Science)
- English: AP English Language, AP Literature
- History: AP USA, AP World, AP Macroeconomics, AP Government, AP African American
- Languages: AP Spanish Language, AP Chinese
The Study examines
- Workload differences between each subject
- Relationship with sleep timing and grade results
- Sleep patterns across subjects
Results
Workload and Sleep Patterns
There is a relationship between sleep timing and an increase in homework load and test preparation time.
STEM courses in particular show a stronger result with an increased time in sleep schedules, probably due to higher workload and extended study-time requirements.
This suggests that an AP STEM course with an increased demand in academic workload will shift a student’s sleeping behavior.
Study Time and Academic Results
The results of this study suggest that increased study time does not guarantee a higher academic result.
- Moderate study time results in a higher grade
- High performances vary between moderate study time and high study time
- Moderate study time is typically around an hour for STEM classes
- Moderate study type is typically around ⅔ an hour for English classes
- Moderate study time is typically around 50 min to an hour for History
- Moderate study time is typically around half an hour to ⅔ an hour for language classes
- Moderate study time is typically ⅔ an hour for computer science classes
This study suggests that a longer study time does not guarantee a higher academic result.
Grad Conversion:
| Grade | Numeric Value |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| A | 4.0 |
| Subject Group | Response | Avg Test Prep | Avg Grade |
| STEM | 15 | 60 min | 3.8 |
| English | 6 | 47 min | 3.7 |
| History | 15 | 52 min | 3.8 |
| Language | 2 | 45 min | 4.0 |
| Computer Science | 8 | 47 min | 3.9 |
Subject Differences in Workload
Each subject has a unique workload characteristic.
STEM Subjects:
- Higher overall workload
- Longer homework and preparation for test time
- Consistently high grades despite the higher test preparation time
English:
- Moderate to high reading and homework load
- Moderate to high stress level
- Consistent academic performances with an average around B+/A-
History Subjects:
- Moderate to high homework load depending on reading dates
- A stable grade distribution
- A balance sleep time compared to STEM
Computer Science:
- Lower homework load and low stress level
- Flexible sleep patterns
- A consistency in high performance and result
Language
- Low homework load
- Low impact in sleep patterns
- A consistency in high performance and result
These findings suggest that the intensity of AP’s depends on its subject’s load.
| Subject Group | Responses | Average Homework Load |
| STEM | 15 | 4.1 |
| English | 6 | 3.6 |
| History | 15 | 3.53 |
| Language | 2 | 3 |
| Computer Science | 8 | 2.125 |
Discussion
Key Finding
- STEM subjects typically have a higher workload and stress level in test preparation.
- Additional study time beyond moderate level does not guarantee improved grades. The study suggests allocating time in specific areas in order to have a higher result in academic performance.
Limitation
- Grade is not standardized across the schools each student response attend
- Workload varies among teaching type
- Survey responses does not account for all AP student
- Each response is not proportional and varies
- Ex. Only response for language classes and 15 responses for STEM classes
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that AP subjects vary across each subject and vary in workload, stress level, and sleep patterns. Findings suggest that students should study quality work rather than quantity. With an increased study time it will lead to negatively effect sleep patterns that disrupts a student’s performances in the future.