College 101
5 Foolproof Ways to Score a 5 on Your AP Exams Article Type: Checklist
'Tis the season to be panicky. If AP® Season's getting you all in a tizzy, we've got 5 foolproof tips to help you get your act together.
5 Foolproof* Ways to Score a 5 on Your AP Exams
1. Make Educated Guesses on Multiple-Choice Questions
There's no penalty for incorrect answers on AP multiple-choice questions, so even if a particular question is so confusing that it may as well be written in Akkadian, don't leave the answer blank. Eliminate any choices that are obviously wrong, and then give it your best shot.
2. Zoom In and Zoom Out
No matter which exam you're taking, you're going to want to think big picture and...small picture. Sure, for AP World, you'll want to know which empire was in power in East Asia in 618 CE, but you'll also want to think about broader themes of history, patterns of change, or how different areas of the world relate to each other. Ditto for Biology, English Lang, Comp Gov...the list goes on.
3. Think Outside the Box
Turns out critical thinking is an actual thing. A thing that will help you thrive in college and in your career. And a thing that will help you ace any AP exam. If you're not sure how to tackle a short answer question or an essay or a DBQ, start with some non-judgmental brainstorming. Like Forrest says, you never know what you're gonna get.
4. Use Shmoop's Test Prep
Uh...duh? If you don't already have a license, subscribe to Shmoop for less than $1/day and get access to prep for literally every single AP exam on the market. Start by taking the diagnostic exam, and then read all the parts of the guide corresponding with your weakest areas. Next, focus on drills that match those weak areas. Two weeks before test day, take a practice exam. After you've inevitably missed a bunch of questions, read the parts of the guide that you skipped before, and test yourself by answering all the sample questions. With a week to go, revisit those areas that didn't improve as much as you would have liked, drill like you've never drilled before, and take one last practice exam a few days before to (hopefully) boost your confidence.
5. Breathe
Seriously. In through your nose. Out through your mouth.
You got this (and we got you).
*Since you're not a fool, there's no guarantee.
AP is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.