Your Go-To AP Exam Week Guide
Jody Bell
High school students - are you ready to embark on the greatest academic adventure of your life? To tackle the pinnacle of k-12 academia, and likely the hardest class your high school has to often? Are you ready to conquer the Advanced Placement exams and emerge victorious with college credit in hand?
Alright, maybe that’s an overstatement, but seriously - AP exams are no walk in the park. Especially if you’re already a senior and committed to a college; by now high school is probably already in the rearview mirror! The thought of studying your brains out for hours a day while you are making huge decisions (such as picking out the color scheme for your dorm) is simply heinous.
But fear not, my fellow scholars, for you are not alone in this Herculean task. Millions of high school students just like you are taking the AP exams during the first few weeks of May.
By now, most of the content of the exams should be studied - and realistically there isn’t much you can do over the next few days to cram a bunch more knowledge in your noggin. But there are few things you can do to help translate the content you already know into a successful exam taking period. You know, like making sure you have enough caffeine in your system to power a small village (that was a joke please don’t do this), and stocking up on brain food, such as nuts, berries, and dark chocolate (yes, that counts as a vegetable).
Without further ado (or stupid jokes) here are some tips and tricks that you can try this week to help you tackle these AP exams.
1. Know What to Expect
AP exams are designed to be challenging and cover a broad range of material. In your course, your teacher has guidelines around how to conform the curriculum to a uniform standard - but the tests that they give often look entirely different than the official AP exam. Thus, it's crucial you take a look at how each AP exam is constructed. Be mindful that each different subject also has their unique format and time limit, so it's essential to know what to expect. Be sure to review the AP exam description and exam structure for each test you plan to take. Familiarize yourself with the types of questions you'll be asked and the time constraints you'll be under.
2. Take Practice Tests
Not only can a practice test help expose you to what the format of the exam will be like, but they are an excellent way to gauge your progress and identify areas where you need to improve. After your study sessions, try to take one practice exam, and be sure to follow the time limits that you will take the actual test under. Try to figure out pacing for each section of the exam, and identify which areas you may need to speed up on.
3. Focus on Your Weaknesses
It's easy to focus on the material you already know well, but it's essential to address your weaknesses as well. With only a few days left to prepare, you really don’t have time to review entire units or chapters from class, but you can most definitely identify areas where you struggle! When you’re taking practice exams, ensure you analyze the results at the end to see which sections you didn’t score well in - or even which sections took you a lot of time. Ensure these are the sections that you are spending your final study hours on. Lastly, because time is so limited during these exams, it is worthwhile to know which areas you are unsure about so you can prioritize spending time on sections you know you will excel in.
4. Use Quality Study Materials
There are a lot of resources available to help you prepare for AP exams, but not all are created equal. Especially when you are going over practice tests and looking at the timing/format of the exams, it is crucial you are looking at resources from the AP website. Plenty of third party sites have incorrect material for sale that really should be avoided - ensure you are choosing high-quality study materials that are aligned with the exam content and format.
5. Learn Test-Taking Strategies
The format of AP exams can be challenging, but there are strategies you can use to help you succeed. Learn test-taking strategies, such as proper pacing (given a specific exam timing), eliminating wrong answer choices, and approaching a problem you don’t know with a logical guess.
6. Use Mnemonic Devices
In my heavily biased opinion, mnemonic devices are the best test-taking strategy. This approach involves creating memory aids that can help you remember information. For example, acronyms, rhymes, songs, or other memory tricks to help you remember key concepts and facts.
But let's not forget the most important thing: taking care of yourself. Get plenty of sleep, make sure you’re staying active, and try to eat a healthy diet between all the studying snacks. Yes, AP exams are hard, but so is learning how to walk or ride a bike, and yet we all managed to do that, didn't we?
In conclusion, dear reader, AP exams are tough, but so are you. You have the brains and the determination to overcome any obstacle that comes your way. So put on your thinking caps, pop on your go-to studying playlist, and get ready to slay those exams like the academic ninja you were born to be. The world is yours for the taking, so go out there and make it happen!
Jody Bell, 21 is Girls With Impact’s Editor in Chief and a program graduate from Greenwich High School. Girls With Impact is the nation’s only online, business and leadership program for girls 14-24, turning them into tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators.