Feeling a little nervous about your AP exams coming up? Whether the test is in three months or a week, we collected the best advice around AP exam prep techniques. Special attention will be dedicated to using flashcards. You can’t miss this guide!
What Is AP?
If you are new to the topic, it is worth clarifying what we are discussing. The AP (Advanced Placement) exam is a standardized test administered by the College Board in the United States. They are passed by students every May and usually young people study the course the whole year before passing the AP as a final assessment test. AP exams are used to check the knowledge of 30 subjects including STEM fields (Сalculus, Biology, and Physics) and (English Literature, History, and Foreign Languages).
So, basically, you have one year to prepare for the AP exam prep. But let’s be realistic, it does not mean that you actually study for the exam the whole time. You can attend classes and do all the assignments, but exam preparation is a slightly different thing.
How to Study for AP Exams Effectively?
Exams like this are complex projects. You want to have a plan to succeed (and reduce anxiety during your preparation!)
✔️ Learn About the Format
Studying history is not the same as studying for AP exams in history. AP exams typically have multiple-choice questions and free-response sections (essays, short answers, or problems). The College Board website published the Course and Exam Description (CED) for each course. Take the time to read about your exam format and understand better how to study for AP tests.
✔️ Set Deadlines for AP Exam Prep
We hope that you don’t read this article one day before the exam (if so, we believe in you anyway). Typically it takes months to review one year of materials without a rush and finalise AP exams prep. But it also depends on your personal habits and other factors, like how many exams you have this exam session and do you have other obligations.
✔️ Create a Plan
Use the exam description from the College Board website as a guide how to study for AP tests. Each course and exam description consists of several units. This will help you to create a study schedule. The easiest way to do it is to split the number of units in the CED by the number of weeks you have to study. But also make sure you have additional time to go into topics you have trouble understanding (maybe you need some additional assistance for it?).
✔️ Use AP-Specific Study Materials
More likely, your professors already provided you with special textbooks and guidelines designed especially to help you pass the exam. Make sure to use them, it is the fastest way to how to study for AP tests
✔️ Practice Writing for Free-Response Sections
Some of the AP exams have free writing parts — essays or problem-solving tasks. Practice writing responses within the time limits for exams like English or History. Focus on structuring essays with a clear thesis and supporting evidence. For problem-solving exams (like Math or Physics), solve several free-response questions to get comfortable with the format and time pressure. For these questions, you may need the help of a teacher who will check your answers, and give you feedback and advice.
✔️ Practice the Test Format
Practice passing the AP exam test in a real-time environment: set a timer and start answering questions. Don’t use any materials, textbooks or google. Check what you really know, what may be missing, where the questions are confusing and you need to understand them better. After you finish, check your answers and think about what you need to improve.
Can Flashcards Help with AP?
When you have studied all the materials from your professors and additional books, time to organize this information in a format that actually can be learned.
Depending on the topic you study, the approach to preparation for the AP exam might be different. But definitely, flashcards are the best in preparation for language exams and exams where you need to memorize a lot of information — read, almost all.
Basically, using a flashcard app with spaced repetition means using the most scientifically proven way to memorize information. For example,
How to Use Flashcards for AP Test Prep?
Let’s get straight to some tips and ideas on how to use flashcards in the process of preparation for your AP exam prep. It’s a flexible instrument to play with but you want to know the best practices!
Create Your Own Decks
Making flashcards is also a form of learning. Organise information in the form that is most comfortable for you. But don’t forget the key idea: flashcards should be short and clear to understand.
Some tips on what to add to flashcards for different subjects preparation:
- Math: formulas, key principles, and problem-solving steps;
- Languages: vocabulary, verb conjugations, and grammar rules;
- Sciences: definitions, processes, and diagrams (like the steps of mitosis or the parts of a cell;)
- History: dates, key events, and historical figures.
Find Pre-Made Decks
It’s very good for your memory to make your own decks but sometimes it really helps to find a pre-made set of flashcards. For the AP test prep, you can type in different keywords and search decks in the library. Using library materials is totally free! You should just make sure that the deck you found is adequate and suitable.
Use Visuals for Better Retention
If you wonder how to study for AP exams with flashcards and really retain knowledge, you have to understand that your brain loves visuals! For subjects of AP exams that require visualization, like biology or geography, add small images or diagrams on the back of the flashcards. It will help you memorize and crate longer with memory retention.
Focus on Harder Topics
Create separate decks for concepts you find hard in your AP exams and review them more often. This ensures you spend more time on your weaker areas and finally catch the topic. Don’t ignore the problem if you feel something is not completely clear. Anki Pro spaced repetition system asks you for feedback after each flashcard in order to make sure you memorize your material proportionally.
Review Flashcards Every Day
Flashcards are most effective for AP exams prep when reviewed consistently. Use the spaced repetition method, which means reviewing your cards at increasing intervals. Anki Pro automates this process for you and shows cards you already learned less often and those, which you still need to memorize, more often.
Practice in Small Batches
Do not try to learn the whole deck in one day and start the other next day. Spend approximately 25 minutes daily learning one deck. Do the same next day. It will help you with your AP exam prep.
Use Advanced Learning Features
Anki Pro flashcards are highly customizable without the overwhelm. It means you can add some learning features to your experience, such as Text-to-Speech, Image Occlusion, Reverse Cards, etc. Take those extras as learning challenges that will only make your knowledge stronger.
How to Study for AP Exams in a Group?
As you studied the course for a year, you probably have a couple of classmates with whom you can organize the AP exams prep group. You can help each other to study (exams are the best team-building activity.) Luckily, Anki Pro is one of the best tools for collaborative studying. Here are some ideas:
- Quiz each other. Use your digital decks to ask each other AP exam questions. This is how you practice active recall – working in a group or pairs will force you to formulate an answer and pronounce it out loud.
- Collaborate on difficult topics. If one of the topics is unclear for most people in the group, you can divide the questions and work on them together: divide flashcards to make, and collect information on the topics connected to AP exams.
- Teach each other. One person takes a flashcard, answers it, and then explains the answer to the group. Teaching is an effective way to solidify understanding and will help all of you to understand the material deeper.
- Discuss! After one person answers the question, discuss the topic: ask each other questions, go deeper into the meaning, and connect topics to each other. It not only will
- Collaborate in problem-solving. For subjects like math or physics, work together on problem-solving tasks based on the content of the flashcards.
- Support each other and be empathetic. Work as a team: avoid giving nonconstructive feedback, distribute tasks fairly, and support each other during AP test prep. Remind your friends to rest in time: take a break together and go for a coffee to freshen your mind.
If You Have Multiple AP Exams…
Often students pass several AP exams in one exam session. If it is your case, you must simultaneously prepare for them. It would be harder, but manageable if you follow some tips.
✔️ Start preparation as early as possible.
✔️ Have at least 1 or 2 days free from studies each week.
✔️ Don’t mix topics in one study session.
For example, one day study for AP exam in history, next day for literature. This method will help you focus better on a single subject and increase retention.
So you now know everything about how to study for AP exams. Get a good rest before the test day and best of luck!
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