From May 2 to May 13, Advanced Placement (AP) exams will be administered in person with paper and pencil. End-of-course (EOC) exams are computer-based, in person, and take place May 2–27. Classes with an EOC include Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology 1, U.S. History, and middle school Civics. Most AP courses have an AP exam.
With these key exams on the horizon, middle and high schoolers are starting to feel the pressure. Preparation for exams can easily be overwhelming and may lead to procrastination or simply not studying. Here are some tips.
Practice Tests
Practice makes perfect. Practice tests are helpful to students because they highlight what they need to study. Unfamiliar topics or questions may come up, and making a note to study that specific information provides a starting place for review. Practice tests also help familiarize students with the question style.
Florida Statewide Assessments offers online practice tests for reading and writing tests and all EOCs, which is particularly helpful as it is coming from the test creators. AP Classroom also provides practice tests, both multiple-choice and free-response questions. APPracticeExams.com has links to free practice AP exams as well as notes, outlines, videos, study guides, and study packets. Many AP test guides also include practice problems.
YouTube Videos
Videos that go over course material can be very helpful. They don’t take up hours of time, making them appealing to students. You can pick whichever video appeals to you most, whether it is a teacher going over practice problems or animated characters explaining information. YouTube videos typically offer lots of information in a condensed manner, making them good refreshers. Some videos focus on specific topics in depth.
Simply searching the topic brings up hundreds of YouTube videos. A popular channel for biology is the Amoeba Sisters, frequently recommended by teachers. Its regular content videos are 10 minutes or less and animated, though there are review videos that go over large areas of content. Crash Course offers review videos on a variety of topics, including chemistry, linguistics, geography, history, engineering, and literature.
School Tutoring
Schools offer tutoring options to help students prepare for upcoming exams. The great part about receiving exam help from your own school is that teachers and administration are designated to those subjects. These tutoring options are usually run by the teachers who teach the subjects. They can be the best resource for these exams as they know the material and have experience with what is usually on the test.
Many schools offer great tutoring for students struggling in certain subjects who need review before exams. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School provides its students with many after-school tutoring options. There are teacher-led EOC reviews for biology, geometry, and U.S. history.
Planning Study Schedule
Students should plan out their study schedule to avoid feeling overwhelmed with the number of tasks they have to complete to prepare for exams. Planning ensures they have enough time and don’t forget any tasks. It’s easy to forget to study quadratic equations, but setting aside some time erases this potential problem.
There are many options when selecting what to use to plan. For those who prefer to plan on paper, planners can be found for as little as $10. But notebook paper works too. Online offers even more variety, such as Apple Notes for Apple users, Google Keep for Android users, any calendar app, Evernote, and Todoist.
Khan Academy
Studying for upcoming exams can be time-consuming, and having to stay after school or out of school to receive tutoring can be a hassle. With the homework that is often piled on, it is hard to designate time to just study for these exams. One great resource to solve that is Khan Academy, a website that can be accessed by anyone. It is a free organization that provides resources and online courses for students. Khan Academy provides multiple courses ranging from elementary school subjects to AP classes. With Khan Academy’s help, students can review for their upcoming exams with the resources provided.
Asking Questions
One big problem that students face during their learning careers is they do not ask questions. When they are stuck or need help, they tend to brush it off and hope to figure it out later or pray it is not on the test. By doing this, they may lose points, leading them to a grade they didn’t want.
When you are stuck on a certain topic in class, ask a question! By doing this, it can give you the answer and help you later when faced with a similar question. Asking questions can be hard for many students, but it can benefit you in the long run when you have to apply what you have learned to your exams.
Staying Relaxed
One of the best things students can do is to avoid putting too much pressure on themselves. While these exams are important, failing is not the end of the world, and there are other options if they do fail. Students struggling with anxiety related to exams can reach out to their teachers, school counselors, guardians, or a trusted adult.