5 Ways to Review for Your APs (2024)

Are you ready for your AP Exams?May is a hectic month with tests, finals, and school events, so prepping for your APs early and often will ensure you’ll do your best on these important tests. Learn how to put together your perfect review strategy.

5 Ways to Review for Your APs (1)

When should I start studying for AP Exams?

Many students start shifting to AP prep mode 1 to 3 months before test day, usually ramping up by spring break. The goal is to give yourself enough time to get used to AP question types, take a few practice tests, review content, and hone your test-taking strategy.

The good news is that all your hard work for your AP classes is setting a great foundation for the AP test. Use your old tests and quizzes to track where you need to beef up your knowledge and what topics you already know well.

How to study for multiple APs at once?

If you are taking more than one AP test this May, it’s important that you start early and make a schedule to map out your time. To come up with your study plan, ask yourself:

  • How many days/weeks/months away are your exams?
  • What time of day is your best, most focused study time?
  • How much time per day/week/month will you devote to preparing for each exam?
  • When will you prep? (Be as specific as possible: "Mondays & Wednesdays from 3 to 4 p.m. I will study for AP Bio," for example).

Studying in small chunks keeps the workload manageable, so try to stick to one AP subject per night.

How to Study for AP Exams

1. Start with old material.

Begin by reviewing the material you have already completed in class. Set aside 15 minutes or so each evening to review past work. Refreshing your memory on a regular basis is the best strategy for effective learning.

2. Approach new material with the AP test in mind.

You can’t just forget the material once you’ve been graded on it! The AP exam will be the culmination of the entire year. As you master new material, take a few minutes to make notes that you’ll use later for AP Exam review. Highlight the important points of each lesson while it’s still fresh in your mind, and note the areas where you struggled.

3. Don’t overly rely on your high school teacher.

Your teacher’s job is to ensure all the subject material is covered—not to help you study. There often isn’t enough time during class to teach the material AND do a thorough review by May. Our 6-hour AP Cram Courses are a quick and affordable way to review essential content.

4. Invest in an AP prep book.

A great test prep book will help you review essential content, introduce you to test format and question types, and help you practice for the big day. Check out our AP Prep series for essential test-taking strategies, practice tests, and drills.

5. Get expert AP help.

Our AP tutors are fantastic at helping students prep for AP tests. Whether you need comprehensive prep or a boost in a few areas, we’re here to help!Taking time to review material on a regular basis will ensure you are ready.College credit, here you come!

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5 Ways to Review for Your APs (2024)

FAQs

Is there a way to see your AP test answers? ›

If you've taken an AP Exam and want to review your answers to the free-response section, you can ask us to send your free-response booklet to you for a fee of $10 per available booklet. Fill out the Free-Response Booklet Request Form and return it by September 15 of the year you took the AP Exam(s).

How rare is a 5 on AP exam? ›

As you can see, while at least 5% of test takers scored a 5 on each AP exam, the perfect scores are teeny, teeny, teeny percentages.

What is a 75 on an AP test? ›

Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.

Do you lose points for guessing on AP Exam? ›

Multiple-choice scoring is straightforward—a computer totals your correct answers, with no penalties for incorrect answers or unanswered questions. For that reason, it's a good idea to attempt every question, selecting your best guess if you're not sure of the right answer.

Is it possible to get a 1 on an AP test? ›

Students who earn a 1 on their first AP Exam are also very likely (49%–70%) to take more AP courses and exams in high school. Many students who first earn an AP Exam score of 1 or 2 will then earn a higher score on the subsequent AP Exams they take.

Is 5 APs too little? ›

College counselors recommend that students strive to take 5-8 AP classes throughout their high school career, especially if they are interested in attending a highly-selective institution such as an Ivy League college. That said, you shouldn't feel pressured to take more AP classes than you can comfortably manage.

Is 5 APs enough for Ivy League? ›

Ivy League

To be a competitive candidate for admission, you will need to take at least 8 AP® classes, more if you can. It is a good idea to take 1 AP® course in each of the following core disciplines: English, Foreign Language, History, Math, and Science to impress the admissions officers.

Is 5 APs enough? ›

Taking and doing well on more than 5 AP course exams doesn't significantly improve a student's chances of getting good first-year college grades and four-year degree completion, the nonprofit found. In fact, just doing well on their first or second exam indicates future college success.

Is a 50% a 5 on the AP test? ›

As a general guide, though, you can consider roughly more than 70% correct as being in the 5 range, 50-69% for a score of 4, 40-49% for a score of 3, 30-39% for a 2, and below 30% would likely be a 1. Again, these ranges are approximations and can vary by subject and by year.

Is 70 a 5 on the AP exam? ›

What percent grade is a 5 on an AP Exam? A 70 to 75 percent out of 100 usually translates to a 5. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule of thumb. In July, students, high schools, colleges, and universities receive AP grades on a five-point scale: 5: Extremely knowledgeable.

What is the hardest AP test to pass? ›

What are the hardest AP classes? If you're looking at pass rates, Physics 1 is the toughest AP exam. And less than 8% of test-takers received a perfect score. Of course, the hardest AP exam depends on your strengths.

Is getting a 5 on an AP exam hard? ›

The odds of passing with a 5—the highest score—are quite low on any exam: between 10% and 20% for most tests. They are even lower for popular tests, such as AP English Lit and AP Environmental Science, which have 5 rates below 10%.

Does getting a 5 on an AP exam matter? ›

A passing score on the AP exam is generally considered a 3, and students who earn the highest score of 5 demonstrate mastery in their course. In many AP classes, students who achieve a 5 on their AP exam are rewarded with a potential boost to an A for their second semester grade.

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