How to Ace your AP Exams
As high school students, we’re used to tests. Our lives have been filled with MCAS and SATs and finals. But despite our acclimation to test taking, the thought of the AP exams still tends to make us cringe. When you think of the AP exams, what might come to mind is hours of forcing forgotten information back into memory, or spending countless minutes in a crowded gym as you answer impossible questions. But we can assure you, it’s not that bad! With the right studying methods and test taking strategies, the AP exams can be much easier than you might think. Here are a few tips to help you through your AP exam:
A.P. Language and Composition
•Read, read, read! throughout junior year!
Although many people think that reading is boring and takes up too much time which you could be using to watch television or hang out with friends, reading is very useful as it increases your vocabulary and ability to understand and analyze complex texts.
•Stay up to date with current events
Some of you may already do this and that's great! Keeping up with current events and what is happening in your country as well as the world at large gives you modern, relatable events to draw on and write about when you write each of your compositions during the test. Even watching the news for a few minutes in the morning can improve your awareness of the world around you.
•Take the test questions one at a time
It may seem like a lot of work to have to answer multiple choice questions and then write three essays in a row. However, if you just think of answering one question at a time and focus only on the work you are doing in that moment and not on the work you will have to do later on, you won't become overwhelmed or stressed out.
•Practice making detailed rhetorical triangles in class
You may not know what a rhetorical triangle is now, but (don't worry!) you’ll learn about them next year. Rhetorical triangles are devices to help you identify the author, audience and purpose of any piece of work and they are the key to success on the exam! Practice analyzing pieces of writing in class to improve your comprehension and interpretation of the multiple choice and essay questions on the actual test.
A.P. Chemistry
•Do AP test questions from previous years
You may think, “How are these going to possibly help me, they're from a different year!”
However, test questions, no matter when they are from, deal with the same major concepts taught in AP Chemistry each year and help you to review how to solve different types of problems which will appear on the AP exam. Becoming accustomed to the style of questions on the actual exam beforehand will prevent you from being surprised on the test taking day.
•Start reviewing for the exam early on!
Whether your review starts February break or even earlier on in the year, I can’t stress enough the importance of spreading your studying out and not cramming. There is a lot of complex information involved in taking AP Chemistry which cannot be effectively reviewed and studied in one night. So remember, it is never too early to start studying!
• Learn how to master ICE and BCA charts
This is one of the most confusing topics for students in AP Chem, and if you don't know how to complete these charts, you may spend a lot of time pondering over them on the exam. So to solve the problem of spending too much time on these complex questions, practice them often throughout the school year in class and on your own time to quickly and skillfully master them on the exam!
• Know that you're not expected to finish all of the questions
Every year, students take AP exams and rapidly become overwhelmed but the number and difficulty of the AP chemistry multiple choice and open response questions. But, no need to fear! Go as quickly and accurately as you can to answer each question, but don't freak out if you miss some! AP exams are designed to challenge even the most brilliant students, so just try your best to complete as many questions as possible in the time given.
AP U.S. History
• Take good notes throughout the whole year
The test can cover anything from the start to end of the year, so reviewing notes taken throughout all of the chapters is very helpful in reminding you of all the key events that might be on the test
• If you didn't take notes, or don’t have time to review everything, focus on events that occurred during or after World War I
The test does cover all periods in history studied in APUSH, but it tends to include more questions on later time periods
• Watch videos to help you study
There are some YouTube accounts dedicated to preparing students for the APUSH exam, and they are helpful in reviewing the important events taught throughout the year that might appear on the test. (Adam Norris makes a really helpful video!)
• Make sure you read the multiple choice carefully
All of the multiple choice questions follow a short passage or primary source document. Often times, the answers to the questions can be found in the passage.
• When reading multiple choice questions, be aware of the time period or event that the question is focusing on
Because the multiple choice questions are organized in groups, each group following a passage, they all tend to be about the same time period or event. If you can distinguish that time period or event, it’s much easier to remember the events that happened within it and respond to questions about it
• When doing the open response questions, read all of the prompts before answering them!
Because there is a time limit, it’s better to answer the questions you’re confident in first, just in case you don’t have enough time to complete all of them
• Manage your time well!
Make sure you don’t spend too much time stuck on one question, whether it be multiple choice or open response. Answer the ones you know and then go back if you have enough time
