Every May, as the Advanced Placement (AP) tests approach, the big questions emerge. How do I study? How much do I study? Where do I even start? Google may have general answers to these questions, but how does Google know the best way for you to get a five? Well, it doesn’t. Fortunately, students who’ve already taken the AP tests have tips to share.
Sydney Middleton, a multi-sport junior athlete, earned a five on the AP World History exam last May. Middleton did hours of in-class review and began studying outside of class about a week before the test.
“Definitely plan your [study] time [in advance]. I sectioned off chapters every day. If you’re trying to do it all in one or two days, you’re not going to [complete an] entire course. Try to plan what [you’ll be] studying on what day,” Middleton said.
Senior Annabelle Kilgore has had similar success, earning a five on the AP World History exam and a four on both the AP Biology and AP Spanish Language and Culture tests. While Kilgore’s classes did have in-class review, she began studying at home a little less than a month before the tests.
“I’ll start doing [light] review three weeks in advance and then heavy review and practice two weeks before,” Kilgore said.
Test takers also recommend figuring out what methods make you the most productive in order to be fully prepared. For Middleton’s AP World History exam, creating a visual timeline was the key to her success.
“I’m [a] visual [learner], and making big poster boards [and timelines] helps me. That doesn’t work for everyone. Find what works for you,” Middleton said.
Kilgore uses multiple techniques when preparing for the tests.
“I love doing practice tests because they show me what I know and what I need to improve on. I also love watching review videos,” Kilgore said.
The stress of AP exams causes most students to cram the night before, but experts argue it’s better to prioritize sleep. According to a Ted-Ed video by Anna Rothschild, sleep is the time when your brain takes all the information it’s learned and creates connections. If you stay up all night, your brain might retain simple facts but will lack the skills of cross-cutting concepts that are key to doing well on the AP tests.
Middleton makes sure she gets everything done throughout the day so she’s not up past 10:30 p.m. She’s learned she doesn’t work well late at night and prioritizes sleep.
“I don’t function on less than seven hours of sleep, which is why I start studying right when I get home from school. Once I’ve been studying for four hours, if I [study] for an hour more, nothing good comes from that. If I go to bed and wake up 45 minutes earlier, it’s way more productive,” Middleton said.
Kilgore shares a similar opinion that getting a full night of sleep is the best thing you can do the night before an AP test.
“The night before an AP test, at that point, there’s not a lot more you can retain. [I] go to bed when I feel tired [and] try to get to sleep by 10 p.m. [at the latest],” Kilgore said.
Whether you follow the study techniques recommended by Middleton, Kilgore or even Google, the key to success is finding techniques that work for you. Make a plan and stick to it. Good luck Giants!
