As students face demanding extracurricular activities and rigorous academic training, many deal with the nerve wracking review period before their first AP tests. Underclassmen are confronted with the question of how to best prepare. Although general studying strategies are not one-size fits all, there are a few methods worth investing time in.
- Creating personal study materials
Whether it’s flashcards, quizlets or rewritten unit notes, creating study materials can not only benefit other students, but also help students formulate material they already learned into more concise and digestible chunks. A second sweep over class notes and the creation of new ways to view the material is a thorough way to review. This might take the form of bulleted lists of important points or mind maps with pictures.
- Group study sessions
Students may also consider studying with their friends. If one doesn’t know a specific concept, another student may explain it in a more understandable way. Sometimes, hearing material from a peer can make a concept click better than hearing it in lecture format. It’s also beneficial to teach and explain the material as it is evicence of knowing the subject.
- Reviewing practice problems
Regardless of whether a student remembers doing a certain question, it is always helpful to review the process of getting a specific answer. For example, in AP Chemistry, students are provided with practice questions on slideshows and mock tests. A student may assume that because they’ve already learned how to approach specific questions, they will get them correct on the AP exam. However, with stress and limited time, it’s important to practice to the point of automaticity. For this reason, students should review past mistakes and redo practice questions to develop timing.
- Consider buying AP prep books
Sources like the Barron’s Review AP prep books have four to five AP practice exams and notes about everything a student is required to know about a specific subject. Additionally, AP prep books mention certain test taking strategies such as narrowing down answer choices and how to properly write free response questions for maximum points. This knowledge, if processed carefully, can significantly help students during exams.
- Take lots of practice exams
Students may be confident with all of the material they need to know before AP exams. However, if they haven’t practiced and taken mock exams, they may find it difficult to manage time during the actual AP assessment. Therefore, taking tests at home and setting the AP exam’s time limits for each section is crucial. By the time the real AP exam comes around, students will know how to pace themselves and feel more confident about their accuracy.
- Make a plan for reviewing
Although reviewing is typically built into AP classes, students can benefit from taking the time to review any material they may be struggling with outside of class. A new resource can offer methods or details not previously mentioned or possibly not included in class notes.
These methods are some of the most crucial factors students should consider when preparing for AP exams. Above all, finding a personal study method that works best for them is the most important for the student’s performance on the exam and for future testing.
Another helpful resource for reviewing material is The Princeton Review series of AP prep books. With new digital exams available to acquaint students with the new format, the Princeton Review has kept up with renewing curriculums and College Board changes annually. It is important to obtain recent releases of AP prep books in order to get a better understanding of what this year’s AP exams look like. (Photo/Alina Sukhovskaya)
