As the school year comes to a close, thus begins the culmination of our academic efforts for those who haven’t already given up. This, of course, occurs in the form of AP exams. AP exams are large comprehensive tests that take a very long time and supposedly give college credit to those who score well. Due to the prevalence of these tests at AMHS, AP exam season has become quite an undertaking for not only faculty, but also the student body. Many students at this school endeavor to take a plethora of APs every single year over the course of their time at Magnet. Therefore, to ensure greater ease throughout this time, I have compiled a comprehensive list of ways to prepare for these exams. Here are a few methods that may work for you.
Prepare and Study in Advance:
This is what everyone will tell you to do. You will likely not do it. If you are reading this and have not yet started studying you are already too late. Never fear though, this is the most boring and time consuming of all of the methods, you’re not missing out. However, I must say that using this method may yield good results if that’s what works for you. This method allows the information to move into your long term memory so that it comes easily to you during the AP exam. Extensive use of practice exams also fall into this category.
AP Prep Books:
Personally, I have never used an AP Prep book because they cost money and it’s not worth it to me. However, I have known many people who have successfully used the AP prep books to improve their scores through the practice exams built into the books. These books rely on the sentiment of “practice makes perfect” as students are able to focus specifically on the sections of the test that give them the most trouble whether it be the multiple choice, DBQ, LEQ, or FRQ. This strategy might work out for you.
Making Your Own Practice Materials:
This is a strategy for all of those who have an attachment to making their own quizlets even though twenty other quizlets exist on the same topic. Making your own practice materials can encourage you to think more deeply and critically about the material. This extra engagement encourages recollection of the source material making it an effective strategy. However, it can take a really long time and be very tedious. This method is low efficiency but it is effective.
Stealing Other People’s Practice Materials:
Could you make your own materials? Yes. Has someone already made the exact materials that you need? Perhaps someone who took the class last year who maybe even got a five on the exam? Probably. Learning to use your resources is important for studying for AP exams. Learning to use other people’s resources might be even better. Find an upperclassman who makes good study materials and got a good score on the exam and you have a tried and true path to a five on your exam.
Review Videos:
Comprehensive review videos are very helpful if you don’t like to/can’t read. These videos can be found for any AP subject. In fact, your teacher has likely already posted twenty thousand of them. Go find them and watch them on two times speed. It’s a great way to learn a lot of things really fast and you can even play the audio while you’re driving as long as you don’t get in a car crash. That would be dangerous, don’t do it.
Cramming:
No matter how you feel about studying, I assure you that this probably won’t work. Cramming is incredibly stressful and often involves staying up late the night before the exam. This is overall not a good idea. However, at times it does work depending on your state of preparation. If you are to cram, I urge you to do it the morning of the exam rather than at midnight the night before. This is because if you are already going to not know the information, it is better to not know the information while your brain is functioning in a non sleep deprived state.
Not Studying:
According to what I learned in AP Gov, prior restraint in the press is frowned upon in a democratic society. However, the AMHS Talon is not a democracy. Therefore, I will not tell you that not studying is an option. However, I will tell you that if you have paid a modicum of attention in class all year, you may be better equipped then you think you are to take the AP exam. In addition, many teachers require an excessive amount of AP prep work as classwork or tests including full practice exams and “trial by fire” MCQs, DBQs, LEQs, and FRQs with low time allotments (shout out to the history department for 70 AP World modules). There is a possibility that this built in practice will boost your score without five million hours of extra practice.
Sleeping:
The less regarded method of AP test preparation is sleeping. Sleeping is very important. If you are falling asleep during your exam you will not do well on it. Therefore, if you are in the position where you have to choose between doing a few more practice questions and sleeping, just go to sleep.
In conclusion, AP exams are very doable and not the end of the world. Ultimately, there are a few things that you need to remember going into this test. One, your AP test scores do not define your worth or who you are as a person. Two, these tests are not worth your sanity. Three, there is a very high chance that the college you go to will not take your credit anyway. Four, a five does not necessarily equate to a one hundred percent, you don’t have to be perfect to get a high score. So, that being said, try your best. That’s all you can do.
