By Madi Andrada and Zoie Osborne
The time has come, the second semester is here and AP exams are on the way. As two people who have gone through the exam process before, we definitely know what not to do.
The cycle of saying you are going to begin studying months before, then wait to start until three days before the exam– really not a good idea. We know everyone wants to pass their upcoming exams so here’s some advice that will benefit you.
From our experience with AP testing, we have picked some do’s and don’ts with studying tips. Some don’ts are, make sure to not procrastinate studying for your exam the night of, and take the studying seriously. Also make sure to have a plan on what to study, don’t go into a study session without knowing what you need to study.
We asked one of our senior students, Joseph Zhang, what you should not do when studying for an AP exam and he said, “Avoid spending too much time reviewing areas that you know you’re strong in, as that just boosts false confidence.”
We also went and spoke to the AP U.S. History teacher, Mr Coyne he emphasized “Not to stay up too late studying. Make sure to get plenty of sleep. Don’t take any sort of adderall or any sort of drug that you think will help you study.” Profe Martinez, the teacher of AP Spanish agreed to not stay up late the night before.
Some studying habits that we have found the most helpful is reviewing small chunks weeks before your test. This method will be the most helpful if during these study sessions you’re not drowsy or tired. Another good studying habit is to test yourself on your knowledge of the subject if your test has a multiple choice section, then after studying the things you got wrong.
Additionally, we asked what you should do when preparing and Zhang said, “Identify your struggles early, target them, and don’t be afraid to ask your teachers a million questions.”
After observing his previous AP U.S. History classes, Mr. Coyne also suggested you study in groups saying, “If you’re in it together, it’s much better.”
We also asked Profe Martinez what he suggests his students do and he said, “ I tell them to trust themselves…”
As Zhang said, “… as long as your knowledge of content is solidified, you’ll do just fine.” Good luck on AP testing!
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