As AP exam season rolls around, here are some tips to maximize your score before and during the exam.
Be prepared for your exam in the first place - if you don’t know the content, it’s unlikely you’ll suddenly remember it all during the exam. This means studying and revising well before the exam, so by the time exam day comes around, everything you need to know is already in your head.
Practice primarily with official AP questions from the College Board. Since the College Board writes the AP exams, the questions on their website will be the most accurate and closely aligned with what you’ll see on test day. Some of the questions on your actual AP exam may be so similar to College Board practice questions that you’ll feel like you’ve seen them before - and you’ll be able to solve them with confidence!
When preparing for an AP exam, follow the 1,000-question rule. Following this rule exponentially increases your probability of achieving a top AP score. The rule is straightforward: before taking the AP exam, complete 1,000 practice questions. But mastering the AP exam is not just about the number of practice questions you complete. You must also understand your mistakes.
To master any discipline, you must be self-motivated. One of the most powerful forces driving success in AP prep is self-motivation. There are two types of motivation: external and internal. External motivation comes from outside sources, such as parents or teachers who want you to do well. Internal motivation, on the other hand, is a self-generated force. It is the innate desire to achieve a personal goal, such as aiming for a particular college or a scholarship. This self-motivation works much better to sustain a consistent effect over the long term.
As a busy high school student, you are likely flooded with responsibilities such as classes, extracurriculars, and sports. Nevertheless, carving out time for AP prep is important. Make it one of your top priorities for a couple months before the exam.
One of the most effective ways to optimize your AP performance is by crossing out incorrect answer choices. By doing so, you can focus your attention on the remaining options. This will streamline your decision-making process and increase the accuracy of your answers.
The AP exam often creates test anxiety. Whether you feel it intensely or as a subtle undertone, test anxiety affects nearly all students. Staying calm during the AP exam is the key to a high score. If your heart is racing due to test anxiety, caffeine, or some other pressure you feel while you are taking the AP exam, you will not achieve your best score.
We hope these seven tips help you remember all you’ve learned and studied during your time at Pennsylvania Homeschoolers (or should I say AP Homeschoolers)? Happy AP studying!
Samantha Choi is a homeschooler in Massachusetts. She enjoys English, playing with kids, soccer, and viola.