As we get closer to the end of the year, the inevitable AP test season is once again upon us. Everyone is scrambling to cram in last-minute studying and trying to find the best way for them to achieve a five on their tests. Last-minute studying seems to be the way most high school students study for their exams, but what are the most effective ways to do so? Here is a list of the top 7 ways to study for your AP tests!
Study with a group!
Not only does studying with peers make studying way more fun and enjoyable, but studies have also shown that repeating things out loud helps people better retain the information they are learning. Studying in groups feels more motivating, and it helps you learn new perspectives and comprehension on topics that you need to know for your exams. Studying in groups also allows for you not to feel pressure for making time for a social life because you are able to be social and study at the same time. For some people this may not be for them if they tend to get too distracted by studying with friends, so it is important to decrease distractions, and know your strengths when it comes to studying.
Don’t procrastinate! (Decrease distractions)
Procrastination is a constant issue many people face when it comes to studying. Jeopardizing your own exam score because at the moment, you don’t feel like studying. To stop procrastinating it is important to eliminate all of the distractions in your study area. This also means choosing a study area that is comfortable, but not distracting for you. To ensure you stay on task and get everything done, it is also important to admit when you are procrastinating. Recognizing this behavior makes it easier to stop, and get back on track with your studies.
Use College Board and outside resources!
Websites such as College Board, Albert.io, and more have many resources available to help you study for your AP tests. College Board has review videos for you to watch that quickly summarize the most important information of every unit. Albert.io is another outside resource where you can sign up to access countless practice questions for every unit, FRQs, and practice tests. These resources can give you access to more information that might not be present in your notes, which allows you to further study and gain more knowledge about the topic.
Complete practice tests!
Practice tests allow you to study the material in a way that is beneficial for your learning but also will show you what topics you need to review so you can later dive deeper into those sections. As practice tests usually closely compare to the AP test, taking practice tests will help improve your concentration and test-taking skills. You will be able to practice staying focused for long periods of time, just like what you would face during the actual AP test. You are also exposed to the format of how your AP test will be set up. This helps you know what to expect, and will help you feel more prepared.
Make a plan!
It’s been proven that the most productive studying comes from creating a plan early on in the year. While this might seem extremely early, try to start studying in January or February. Just studying for a half hour a week, but for more months can help you better retain the information. Never try to cram in all of your studying the week before the test. Studying early will help allow you to find what topics you need to put the most energy in, and it will give you more time to review those areas. These tests always seem to come up quicker than expected, so starting your studying earlier can help ease the anticipation of the test.
Be confident!
Remember, you got this! You’ve been taking these classes all year, and have been preparing for them probably more than you think. Don’t second guess everything now, and remind yourself of all the work you have done to get to this point. Believing in yourself is key when it comes to your own confidence and believing in your abilities to do good on the test and succeed in the course is important if you are trying to study the topics. Believing in yourself is the first step to success. If you don’t believe you can pass the test then you are setting yourself up for failure. Put in the work, believe you can do it, and try your hardest.
Focus on areas of weakness!
The best way to build an even level of knowledge is to focus on your weakest areas and make sure you feel confident in them. Study these topics using whatever methods work best for you, and put more attention into these areas. Being honest with yourself and accepting your weaker topics is important in identifying them and then improving your knowledge through more intense studying. It may seem more comfortable to focus on the topics you know the best, but it’s okay to not be fully confident on all the topics. It is more important to admit this to yourself and focus on those topics, rather than just letting them go and having an imbalance in your confidence.
These are just a few of the many strategies we utilize when studying for our AP tests. Everyone has their own ways of studying, and it is important to know what study habits work the best for you. Use all of these methods, a combination, or different strategies that work better for you. Good luck on AP tests, and we hope you try out some of our study habits to help prepare!
