AP Testing Tricks & Tips

Rozalia Finkelstein 

*DISCLAIMER* Following these tips may result in strange visions, supernatural encounters, and possession by unrestful souls. Theogony takes no responsibility for any side effects experienced. 

As AP Exams loom over the horizon, students are scrambling for ways to successfully prepare themselves. From freshmen in AP Human Geography to seniors in AP Government, the first week of May haunts anyone taking a College Board class.  Thankfully, students have been taking steps to prepare themselves since August. Here are some useful tips Theogony collected after talking to different AP Students. 

“Yeah, it can be really stressful to try and prepare before the big test,” said junior Tri Harrd.  Harrd is currently taking AP United States History, AP Seminar, AP Psychology, AP Language and Composition, AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1,AP Physics 2, and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism; Mechanics. “That’s why me and some other AP students have started meeting up every Thursday to try and help each other.”  

Study groups are a great way to increase motivation and build relationships with other students.  Especially for procrastinators, dedicating a certain time each week to studying can help hold yourself accountable.  

“Oh, procrastinators? We don’t talk about procrastinators here,” said Harrd. “I would be careful saying that word to anyone in our AP Class. They’re  always watching, y’know.”

Moving on from whoever ‘they’ is, another useful way to prepare for testing is by creating flashcards of important vocabulary. No matter which AP you’re taking, accurately understanding important terms and concepts can make or break your test grade. Multiple choice questions often have wordy language that can confuse students if they aren’t prepared.

“Flashcards are useful because they help me remember things that are really complicated,” said Freshman Grover A. Cheiver.  “Recently though, I’ve started writing all of my vocabulary terms in pigs blood, and it’s definitely helped. Would you like to see them?”

…Okay then! Anyway, one of the most effective ways to get started is by creating and committing to study goals. 

“I personally set a goal that I study for at least one hour every other day. At first, it was hard to make myself commit,” said Chiever. “But I’ve recently signed my soul away in a contract that means I’ll have to sacrifice my first born child if I don’t study every other day. Very useful, I’ll forward you an email with the details later if you’re interested.” 

While selling one’s soul may not be for everyone, there are plenty of other things that do not involve any supernatural experiences. It can help to look for practice tests on websites like Quizlet or Quizziz. Because AP classes are the same around the country, there are lots of online resources that can give specific advice for any questions. Even on youtube, channels like Heimlers History dedicate all of their videos to explaining and simplifying key AP concepts with no indications of the occult!

“Looking things up, especially on social media, has answered a lot of questions for me,” said   sophomore Per Fectionist.

Phew! It is very refreshing to have students discuss things they do that don’t involve any kind of paranormal activity! Social media in particular can definitely be a useful tool for studying while having the adding benefit of keeping things entertaining!

“Mostly though, for my AP history classes, I’ll summon the spirits of actual historical figures so I am able to know as much historical context as possible. Ghengis Khan is actually very pleasant to talk to when he’s not pillaging cities, ” Fectionist elaborated. 

Hopefully these tips will be able to give students who are feeling lost some direction.  AP classes can be stressful, so it’s most important to remember that AP tests directly tie into your self worth and value as a person.

“I sincerely believe that if I get less than a 5 on APUSH, I will be sent to Alcatraz, never to be able to apply to a T20 school again. In this sense, my life will lose all meaning, and there will be no hope for me, according to my God: usnews.com,” said Harrd.

Please don’t sell your soul, and good luck everyone!