raiderade

Starting Monday, I'm going to begin reviewing for my first AP exams ever and I'm really nervous. My plan so far is for AP Euro to start by rereading a chapter ever 1-2 nights until I complete the book. Then take a practice exam and see the areas I need to work on and then study those areas intensely for a week. Take another practice exam and do the same thing for a week. Then take another prep test and for review what I missed for a few days. Then I'll work through a prep book for my remaining week.

For AP Art History, I'm really in the dark about how to study. I suppose I should begin by reviewing the book buts its 1200 pages which is really tough. I guess I'll try to do the same as I'm doing for Euro but on more of a skim type basis.

Please, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do so any help is greatly appreciated.

haikumarukuchan

REVIEW
just review chapters (usually the end of chapters have a summary), notes, important info

don't exceed the review sessions over an hour and DEFINETLY not study a day or two before

and above all

don't stress it, CHILL, if u don't study then whatever... freaking out about them won't help u.

I DIDNT STDY AT ALL FOR ANY AP TESTS AND I PASSED THEM!

So yeah... also some of my friends took AP Music theory with not even taking the class

PASSED

I took both AP English Lit/Lang tests without taking the class either and PASSED (above 3)

the only thing is that well.....

U gotta be relaxed and not freak out.... it's key

rachael525

^ Good advice, but most of us want 5's...

AeroEngineer3141

Don't burn yourself out lest you come to a point where you stop retaining what you've studied.

Also take comfort in the fact that you (should) have studied copiously for these tests over the past school year. A comprehensive review to jolt your memory will suffice.

Practice tests are the best way to gauge your readiness. Focus on the things you don't fully understand; use your time intelligently.

jamesford

For AP Art, The Annotated Mona Lisa and REA are supposedly great study guides. Try them out.

haikumarukuchan

^ rachael 525

Well, I got a five on one of my AP tests with this plan, sure I could've gotten 5's on the ones I got 3's but whatever...

lol

Then again my friends did the same thing, didn't study for any of their AP tests, got all 5's

I guess it's a personal talent to Not study and still super excel

hopeful_gtb

my ap study plan has disintegrated with the arrival of senioritis.

good luck to everyone else who has escaped this grade-threatening disease

aristotle1990

Don't reread your textbook. In fact, that's the last thing you should do. It contains way too much irrelevant information and not enough relevant information (which is what's on the test, of course). It is also basically impossible to read the entire thing through in a week or two.

What you do -- tried and true, to great effect -- is stock up on review books made for the tests (check the reviews to be sure they're good -- I recommend Princeton). At the beginning of the year, buy one for every exam you're taking for which they are available. Throughout the courses, read the books -- use them to study for in-class exams. A couple of weeks before your AP exams, fully reread the review books. Do some of the questions if you have time, but I've found that the questions are not usually as spot-on as the content, which is typically pretty fantastic.

Obviously you're not in this position. I'd advise you to pick up the review books and read as much of them as you can. These books sell so well for a reason: the people who write them have extensive experience with the test and know exactly what's on it. Of the 12 APs I have taken, I cannot recall a single one whose content was more than slightly different from that of the review book I used to study for it. Trust me; they're worth the investment.

ThisCouldBeHeavn

One other benefit the review books have is that they give you confidence. If you feel like you know what's on the test and you know what you need to do to get a 5, you'll do a lot better. If you know that the 5 is pretty safe it will definitely help you relax and just do your best. Taking a practice test also helps you know how much you need to study. If you get 140/180 in APUSH (~115 is needed for a 5), you really shouldn't waste your time and energy studying.

1 Sky Pilot

People study for AP exams? I wouldn't know, having only taken the AP Lang/Comp test, which really didn't require much prep work (maybe a few practice multiple choice exams).

I may glance over some material this year for my AP's, but as a senior it's hard to care all that much lol. I plan on re-taking the classes anyway in college...bring that gpa up .

Good luck.

Millancad

I'm mainly only planning to study for my Calculus BC test. The rest of them I could probably get 5s on without trying much. I've never been one to study for exams and I don't usually study much for tests, but I still usually get the highest grades in my other 3 APs (as opposed to Calc, where I consistently get the lowest grade in my class).
For Art History, the main thing I'd do is pull out my book and just flip through and say info about each image. Like title, artist, culture (might be sort of obvious if your flipping through in order), period, etc, because usually, if I know that, I know pretty much everything.
I'm really not planning to do anything in Human Geography. Maybe I'll reread my vocab, but even that's unlikely. I'll probably end up getting on the phone with my friend or meeting up that Friday morning, since we get the half day before APs off, and we'll read through our notes. I mean, come on, it's human geography.
How would I even study for English Lang? You just have to know that stuff.

Really, if you have to intensively study for an exam, AP or not, you either didn't learn the material in the first place and it's your fault if you do badly or you're just one of those people who unfortunately can't retain much information. In Calculus, unfortunately, I'm both. I'm hoping for a 3. I was sort of both in APUSH but I think that was mostly because I hated and didn't care in the least about the class. I read AMSCO like crazy and got a 4. My sister (ugh) broke the curve on every test in the class, didn't study a lick and got a 5.

raiderade

History is my major weakness in life because the way I remember things is to follow the logic behind it (eg math and science), but frequently history follows no logical path. I've gotten B's all through AP Euro and Art History and for Art History I feel like I've retained most of the information but for AP Euro I swear it's like I haven't even been in class all year because I know so little. I'll be lucky to get a 3.

Secret Asian Man

You don't want to reread your textbook. That's essentially cramming a bunch of information that you don't need.

You want to review your material and actually learn it. If it sticks in your head in the long run then you won't have to go back and study as much later. Just do well in class, and then review your notes from the year a week or so before.

Poseur

French Language: Look over Barron's about 10 min/night for the week before in hopes of picking up new vocabulary (my grammar is fairly solid), then for an hour or two the night before.

Calculus BC: No prep; teacher is excellent.

English Literature: No prep; I know how to read.

Biology: Look over Barron's in the week or two before. Highlight important words; hope that they stick in my head. Review important fairly general concepts that may have escaped me.

Chemistry: Look over Barron's in the week or two before. Pray. If intimidated by the test, will not attempt it; will draw pictures with my scantron bubbles and in the space they give me for writing reactions, free responses, etc.

Psychology: Look over Barron's in the week or two before.

...uggghhhh it's practically the week or two before! Not excited.

mochabear

Barrons and REA test prep books have been a godsend the last few years studying for AP tests. I've had fairly poor teachers in terms of how well they prepare us for AP tests, so I effectively self-studied for every AP History and Government test, and I got 5s on all of them except for a 4 on AP Euro.

I'm literally self-studying (didn't take the course at all) for AP Psych this year, anyone have any tips other than reading standard prep books? (i.e. good websites you've found, outlines, etc?)