As AP exam season rapidly approaches, it’s time to start studying. Cypress Journalism brings you five tips for a ‘5.’
1. Start Early
It is recommended that you start studying early. It depends on the subject, but this generally means one or two months before the exam. Katie Lee, who got a 5 on AP Chemistry and AP World History, emphasizes how her personal learning style requires her to start to study “at least one month before, not procrastinating, and reviewing the material early.” This doesn’t mean over-studying to the point of burnout; it means staying consistent with a set-out schedule and making a little progress every day.
In general, when juggling multiple challenging classes, creating a schedule and staying on top of one’s work is critical to success in AP classes. When many small assignments build up, it can quickly feel overwhelming, so staying on top of one’s work is crucial.
As Mrs. Terri Vu, AP Calculus BC teacher says: “Get a good night of sleep!” The night before the exam isn’t for staying up late studying. You should have already prepared plenty, so focus on rest and energy for the lengthy test session.
2. Dive Deeper Than the Curriculum
AP classes often only have so much time to cover a rather lengthy and challenging curriculum. Aarya Banerjee, who got a 5 on AP U.S. History as well as AP English Language and Composition, discussed how he “studied more in depth than the AP curriculum, which [he] felt like really helped, especially on the free response sections to have a really good core understanding of the fundamentals.”
3. Utilize Your Resources
Both Lee and Banerjee recommend online resources. For APUSH, Banerjee shouted out watching YouTube videos from Heimler’s History and Adam Norse. For AP Chemistry, Lee mentioned Khan Academy. Channels like Jeremy Krug can also be incredibly helpful for understanding those difficult concepts. Lee also talked about not being afraid of asking your teachers lots of questions and doing past years’ FRQs released by College Board online.
4. Stay Motivated
Motivation can be difficult during the long and arduous weeks of studying before AP exam season. Besides the tests in the class, Banerjee stays motivated by envisioning “that 5 on your AP portal.” Lee talks about staying motivated is important, but ultimately, these tests are “not the end of the world,” so “don’t feel too much pressure.”
5. Maintain Life Balance
Finally, it’s important not to over-study or sacrifice extracurricular activities, according to Banerjee. He emphasizes balance above all else. Lee similarly discussed maintaining priorities even when studying for APs and planning her study schedule around other responsibilities she held.
Good luck for AP season!
