It might feel like just yesterday that you sat down in your seat for the first day of one or more of your AP classes with a mixture of excitement and dread. Now, with AP exams about a month away in May, it’s time to show how well you mastered the material and to earn college credit. Exams are offered in nearly 40 subject areas, last about two to three hours, and can have scores ranging from 1 (low) to 5 (high) with 3’s or higher the most likely to earn you college credit. You can increase your chances of a desirable score by having a good study plan so you can be competent and confident when you take your test(s).
How to Study
Set Goals
To unlock the motivation and structure you need to study successfully, you need to have specific goals in mind. Reviewing what topics are covered on the exams and how those topics are tested is a good place to start; use resources such as class syllabi, old tests and quizzes, and the “Course and Exam” descriptions available for individual AP courses found here for guidance. You can’t stop there, however. Not every topic or skill requires the same amount of attention. To help narrow your focus, look at your past performance on assessments to figure out what topics (e.g. the Gilded Age for APUSH, or genetics for AP Bio) and what skills (e.g. multiple choice, writing) need work, and take a diagnostic test for an even better sense of where you stand prior to any test prep.
Once you’ve determined where your knowledge and skill gaps are, you can set your goals accordingly. For example, if your essay writing has given you trouble in your AP History course, you’ll want to set aside extra time to review and practice document-based question (DBQ) skills, and to boost your multiple choice points you could aim to get five more multiple choice questions correct per weekly practice test.
Make a Plan
With your content and skill goals, look at a calendar and divide your prep time based on how many topics you need to cover over the number of weeks you have. For example, if your course has 10 units, plan to review a few units per week with about an hour devoted to each unit. Divide your time even further by deciding what days of the week to study (e.g. Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays) and how to study (e.g. review book chapters or notes, watch instructional videos, study flashcards, take quizzes). Document your plan and track your progress, using a calendar for the big picture and checklists for the weekly and daily tasks.
Find Resources & Practice
As you study for your AP exams, you will need to rely on a range of resources. For physical review resources, refer to your class materials (notes, textbook, quizzes, tests), and consider getting a prep book. For digital resources, check out the official AP website, Khan Academy, and other well-known review sites such as Albert and Marco Learning. YouTube (review videos), Quizlet (flashcards), podcasts, and phone apps can also come in handy. Avoid getting overwhelmed not only looking for resources, but using too many. Devote about an hour to checking out your physical and digital options, and refine your list of what you will likely use to those that best suit your needs.
Once resources are acquired, you’re ready to review and practice. When you do, it’s best to engage with content multiple times. Note what concepts and skills challenged you as you did an initial review so you can return to them later, for example, or rewrite a practice essay to improve your approach. Another opportunity to review—and an essential one—is to take practice tests; they’re available via the AP website and prep books. Try to take them in as close to test conditions as possible (e.g. time yourself, quiet), and review your mistakes to better understand the concepts and gain insight into what to study later.
Get Engaged & Stay Focused
To get the most out of studying, you need to be an active participant who avoids distractions and burnout. Specifically, you need to go beyond passively reading through notes just to get through them or clicking “play” on a set of videos expecting to absorb the content. Get involved by choosing study methods that match your learning style and that allow you to apply and practice what you review. Mix mediums, too, so you don’t just click through online resources; you’ll retain skills and information better via hands-on activities, such as handling physical flashcards, alongside your digital review.
As you review, set yourself up for success with the right timing, environment, and self-care. Pick a study time when you won’t be too tired or preoccupied and a place where you have the space and resources you need. Also, limit distractions by putting your cell phone to the side (with sound and notifications off) and don’t have music or TV on in the background. Lastly, keep your mind and body sharp with restorative breaks, healthy snacks, and sufficient hydration.
Don’t Do It Alone
Studying for AP tests doesn’t have to be a lonely experience. Partner up with classmates as you study (quiz each other, teach each other) and attend any study sessions your teacher offers.
How to Get Ready for Test Day
Answer Strategically
You open your test booklet and there it is: the first question. It can be tempting to just start there and keep going, rushing ahead to beat the clock as anxiety sneaks up on you. What if there was a better way? Instead of answering each question chronologically, answer the easy questions first, so you have those points banked before tackling more challenging questions. Also, if there is a topic you quickly studied one more time before the exam started because you were worried you would mess it up, see if you can start there. Take the same approach if your AP exam features free-response questions: start with easy questions and build up to the more difficult ones. Make sure you mark any questions you intend to return to later and don’t leave any questions blank. Always use the process of elimination strategy to narrow down the answer choices and increase your chances of choosing correctly.
Pace Yourself & Plan
During your prep, you should have done some timed practice and therefore be used to watching the clock and pacing yourself properly. In case there is no clock in your test room, wear a watch that doesn’t make noise to stay aware of your timing. Planning ahead can improve your pace as well. For instance, read through the prompts and any provided excerpts or texts for Free Response sections and quickly create an outline that lays out the bones of your response: thesis, main idea of body paragraphs, key evidence/arguments.
Self-Care: Motivation and Preparation
As test day nears, get yourself ready with the right sleep, supplies, and mindset. For the week leading to the test, keep a regular sleep routine that doesn’t involve less than the recommended hours of sleep (e.g. 8 hours), especially not the night before the test. During that week, gather the supplies you’ll need for test day, such as snacks and water (avoid empty carbs, sugary juices), calculators and pencils, id cards, etc. Perhaps the most important thing to bring with you, however, is a positive attitude. Be ready to face some shaky moments (a surprise question, a memory lapse) and have a plan for how to cope (e.g. breathe, affirmational thought).
How A+ Can Help
Before you start implementing these recommendations to get yourself that coveted 5, pat yourself on the back not only for having the courage to challenge yourself with an AP course or two, but also for being proactive enough to seek out advice on how to prepare for your exams. Next, consider whether you feel you need some extra study support. A+ Test Prep and Tutoring is ready to help those who need someone to bring knowledge, structure, and expertise to the AP exam studying process with tutors available for a variety of AP subjects. As you review class material and take practice tests, these tutors will be your partner and your cheerleader.
At A+ Test Prep and Tutoring, our practices are based on the latest developments in educational theory and research. We have an excellent team of tutors who can help you with standardized testing, executive functioning, or achievement in any other school subject. If you want to find out more about our services, contact us here.
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