Thanks, CollegeBoard. I studied for weeks, only for Bluebook to crash harder than my will to keep going.

Friday was supposed to be it—my final AP exam. One last academic battle before I could collapse into summer. But instead, I sat in a room full of equally caffeinated and confused students, staring at broken software while proctors scrambled like they were diffusing a bomb.

The weird part? Some people were chill. Others (me) were one more glitch away from a breakdown. That got me thinking: Why do we all react so differently to the

same disaster?

Psychologists have a theory for that: it’s called the Big Five Personality Traits—also known as OCEAN (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism). It’s one of the most researched and widely accepted ways to understand human personality. So, in the name of last-minute studying and self-discovery, I made a quick quiz. Take it, tally it, and find out what your personality says about how you deal with AP exam disasters.

🧠 The Big Five Personality Quiz!!!

Rate each statement from 1 (not me) to 5 (SO me). Then, add the two statements in each letter group (A–E).

(A) Openness

1. I enjoy trying out new things.

2. I have a wild imagination.

(B) Conscientiousness

1. I plan ahead and use to-do lists.

2. I always finish what I start.

(C) Extraversion

1. I get energized by being around people.

Take This Personality Quiz! 12. I love being the center of attention.

(D) Agreeableness

1. I go out of my way to help others.

2. I assume people mean well.

(E) Neuroticism

1. I worry (like, a lot).

2. I get stressed out easily.

Scoring:

8–10 = High | 4–7 = Moderate | 2–3 = Low

What Your Score Means:

(A) Openness — You’re creative, curious, and open to wild ideas. You probably wanted to rewrite the test mid-crash. Psychologists link this trait to flexible thinking and imagination!

(B) Conscientiousness — You’re the planner. You had a color-coded schedule and probably emailed CollegeBoard twice already. High conscientiousness is tied to academic success and reliability.

(C) Extraversion — You were chatting in the hallway before the exam and trying to lighten the mood. Extraverts thrive on energy and connection.

(D) Agreeableness — You’re the emotional support friend. High agreeableness = compassion and trust.

(E) Neuroticism — If this was your highest score… same. You’re sensitive, reactive, and probably still spiraling about whether you’ve tallied your points correctly. But this trait also means you care deeply about your surroundings— even if your stress levels say otherwise. Whether you froze during the Bluebook crash or turned into the class therapist, your reaction wasn’t random—it was you. Understanding your Big Five traits doesn’t just help on exams—it helps in life.

So no, I didn’t get to write my AP Psych FRQs (yet). But I did write this one—and now I understand myself (and maybe you) just a little bit better.

05/19/25