As the school year closes, AP students brace themselves for the end-of-the-year test. But how does one prepare?
Many resources are located on CollegeBoard.org, the official AP test site. From practice tests to videos, these resources can be beneficial when you are struggling with taking the big test. Although passing the test is the main goal, regardless of your score, AP classes continuously boost your education and provide useful skills even in other classes.
According to CollegeBoard, “the majority of students who score a 1 or 2 on their first AP exam are likely to improve their score on a future exam”. Transitioning from high school to college is a tremendous change; therefore, committing to and going through with taking the AP test is incredibly instrumental.
Despite the stress about taking the test, many AP teachers endlessly prepare their students up until test day.
“The best thing for a student to do, first of all, is to listen to your teachers. All of the AP teachers are focused on making sure all students are successful on the test, so if a teacher is suggesting to use this review or maybe check the material out, absolutely look into that. Also, these are cumulative courses, meaning that we have been working towards this all year. AP students have access to the knowledge and to the skills and abilities no matter what test they are taking–have faith in yourself. College Board has a lot of reviews, they have a YouTube channel with videos about all the AP courses. Get a good night’s sleep– even just resting works as well. Trust your teachers,” said Mrs. Johnson, who teaches AP Language here at Park.
Consistent study throughout the school year is crucial to building a strong foundation of knowledge and understanding of core concepts. Regular practice using released exams and sample questions helps students with the test format and identifying where you struggle are key concepts to passing your test!
“Always going over your notes and going over vocabulary terms especially. I recommend looking for study books where they have extra tests and questions. A lot of preparation comes with practice, usually AP tests have written tests, so I usually use the rubric to give feedback. A lot of times the actual material you have to study on your own because there’s not enough time. Honestly, the most simple thing is to eat something and get rest. It’s probably better to come into the test feeling good than to cram everything,” said AP teacher, Mr. Cirilli.
Preparing for AP tests requires a lot of attention. By combining these methods, students can significantly increase their chances of success on AP exams.
While the rigorous preparation and high-stakes nature of the exams can be stressful, the potential benefits are significant. Successfully navigating AP courses and exams demonstrates college readiness, providing students with valuable college credit and a competitive edge in the admissions process. Ultimately, the decision to pursue AP coursework is an incredible decision. Good Luck!
