Passing AP Tests: A Student's Guide

Hello comrades,

Now, since this isn't the USSR, we can all assume that not all of us have an equal chance at passing the AP tests. Whether you need some general knowledge, time management help, or believe your AP struggles to be nonexistent, I will help you pass your tests to the best of my ability.

Here are some of the things I have realized about the AP tests:

1. It doesn't matter how well you do in the class as long as you try your best throughout the entire year and ask for help.

• For example, at one point I was getting a C in AP Chemistry for a prolonged period of time (cue the horrified murmurs), but I tried my best in that class. Don't believe me? Well, I'd like to see you make a twenty-plus page study guide for the first semester final. In the end, I studied like no other and had a fantastic teacher, meriting a 4 on the newly revised test.
• Yes, you do have to go to all of the reviews your teacher offers, even if you lose sleep. They will help and they are offered for a reason!
• Try to surround yourself with people who know the material, but work at your own pace. If you have a friend who is really talented in the area you are studying, try to have conversations with them about the topic. However, when you are practicing, try to do the practice problems by yourself (and then ask your friend if you aren't sure the answers are right). Feel free to ask a teacher to help you as well! Personally, I just felt more comfortable asking my friends to help me out because they might teach me the same concept with a method that worked better for me.

2. If you have a teacher who is notoriously bad at teaching the content, switch teachers as soon as possible. Honestly, I cannot stress enough the impact that teachers make on your test grades. It's best to know which teachers you would be okay with having before you even go to the first day of school (so ask around)!

3. If you are a procrastinator, leave yourself at least two weeks to study.

• I got away with this when I had 5 AP tests to take (most of which on back-to-back days).
• Study what you are struggling with first if you have even the slightest sliver of hope that you will pass the test. If you are fairly even on chances of passing, study for the one coming up first and go from there.

4. Surrender all distractions to your parents.

• Get rid of your phone, computer, gaming devices, and whatever else might distract you. Don't try to convince yourself that you can study with it. Close down your Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat if need be.

5. Study somewhere free of distractions.

• Go to a coffee shop, the library, your basement, or your backyard. I liked to study on top of the monkey bars of our swing set.
• Unless you are really going to do some hardcore studying with your friends, DON'T study in groups. If it's a study session put on by your teacher, you should be able to get quite a bit of studying done.

6. Ditch the AP review books.

• Unless you want to know a ton of extra information about one specific era, it is very unlikely that you can make it through the entire thing, especially if you are a procrastinator. I tried using an AP review book before my AP European History test and the only thing I was able to learn about was the French Revolution. Unless you're studying months in advance, the AP review book isn't going to save your score.

7. ANSWER THE QUESTION BEING ASKED.

• If you don't answer the question being asked, you will get zero points. For English, relate your essay back to the prompt; for science, make sure you give them exactly what they ask for instead of just the steps leading up to the answer (also be sure not to go past the answer step because you will waste time).

8. ALWAYS put down units.

• The calculus and science tests will often give points for the units even if you have messed up all other parts of the question. It's like free points!

9. Skip around.

• Skim through the questions and answer the ones you think you can give a good answer to first. This saved me on my math and science tests, and it was a bit helpful when writing my English essays.

10. Look at old AP tests.

• Do this outside of class in addition to in class. This will let you know where most of the points will probably be in a question, and it will give you practice problems.
• Do the tests with timing to ensure that you will finish all of the problems in time.

11. Read a lot.

• There are lots of words in whatever section you will complete, so if you can read and comprehend faster, you will have more time to work on the problem itself. Practice your reading skills with some good books! I have a lot linked in my bio!

Who am I to tell you these work? I've passed nine out of nine AP tests that I have taken, and nearly all of them were fours or above (I blame calculus for all of my woes). Best of luck to all of you!

Kaylee