The Advanced Placement (AP) exams are a significant challenge for high school students aiming to earn college credit. These exams not only test students’ academic knowledge but also their ability to handle pressure, manage time, and apply critical thinking. As AP courses are rigorous and require extensive preparation, both teachers and students employ various strategies to ensure success. In this article, we explore insights from teachers and students on the most effective approaches to tackling AP exams.
Samantha Nicole Gwinn, an experienced AP Lang teacher, emphasizes that time management is one of the most challenging aspects of the AP exams. She notes that students often struggle with completing all the required tasks within the strict time limits. To help students overcome this challenge, she recommends practicing under timed conditions and strategizing for the multiple-choice section.
“The most challenging part of the AP Lang exam is definitely the time, or lack thereof, that students have to complete all of the MCQs and FRQs,” Gwinn said. “Practice and strategizing are key, as the multiple-choice questions can be difficult, but there are patterns that students can learn.”
Gwinn also highlights the importance of developing strong writing skills. For essay writing, she advises students to practice clear and structured responses—using a simple formula of claim, evidence, and commentary. This helps students stay focused and organized under the pressure of timed conditions.
“Practice, and formulaic practices to help as well as feedback, are essential for writing strong essays,” Gwinn said. “Clear structure helps every time.”
To prepare students for rhetorical analysis, Gwinn uses a mix of social media and impromptu debates. By introducing rhetorical analysis with current popular media like TikToks, students can see the relevance of rhetorical devices in everyday communication.
“I like teaching argument through impromptu debates and showing how rhetorical devices are everywhere,” Gwinn said. “It’s important for students to see how these skills apply to real-world situations.”
Gregorio Velez, an AP student with a strong track record, shares his experience of taking six AP exams, earning five 5s and one 4. Velez underscores the importance of consistency and disciplined study routines. He spent around 25-30 hours preparing for each test, spreading his study sessions over several months to avoid last-minute cramming.
“Sticking to a schedule really helped,” Velez said. “Even though it was tough balancing everything, I made sure to study consistently over time.”
For Velez, the key to his success was using a combination of AP prep books, flashcards, and practice questions. Additionally, he focused on practicing timed essays, ensuring that he would be ready for the high-pressure writing portion of the exams.
“Practice tests and writing under a timer helped me get comfortable with the exam format,” Velez said. “It’s all about preparation and getting used to the test’s pace.”
When asked about how the school could better prepare students, Velez suggests starting review sessions earlier in the year and offering more practice tests throughout the course.
“I think starting review sessions earlier and giving out more practice tests would make a big difference,” he said.
Santiago Ramos, another top-performing AP student, emphasizes the importance of integrating study into a daily routine rather than relying on cramming. Ramos, who scored 5s on all his AP exams, spent 15-20 hours studying for each test. He managed his time efficiently, focusing on consistent studying throughout the year.
“I didn’t really struggle to find time to study,” Ramos said. “I made studying part of my daily routine, so it wasn’t overwhelming when exam time came around.”
Ramos’s strategy included creating unit outlines, taking numerous practice tests, and utilizing online videos for topics he found challenging. He also enrolled in an online AP Calculus prep course to boost his performance further.
“Watching videos online helped me understand concepts I didn’t quite get in class,” he said. “The online course was also really useful for AP Calculus.”
While Ramos found the school’s preparation sufficient, he believes that more frequent AP-style quizzes throughout the year would further enhance students’ readiness.
“It would be great if we had more AP-style quizzes during the year,” Ramos said. “It helps you get used to the exam format and improve over time.”
In addition to the personal strategies students employ, teachers play a crucial role in helping students prepare for the AP exams. According to Gwinn, consistent class participation and engagement are vital for success. She believes that students who actively participate in class discussions and assignments tend to perform better on the AP exams.
“It impacts greatly,” Gwinn said. “As a teacher, I do a lot, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the student and/or the class atmosphere as a whole.”
Moreover, both Velez and Ramos agree that teacher support is a critical factor in AP preparation. Teachers provide study guides, host review sessions, and offer individualized feedback to ensure that students understand the material.
“Teachers gave us practice tests, held after-school sessions, and answered all our questions,” Velez said. “That support was incredibly helpful.”
In light of their experiences, both students and teachers believe that the school could improve its AP exam preparation by starting earlier and providing more structured review sessions. Gwinn also suggests reducing extracurricular events during the weeks leading up to the exams, as they can disrupt study time for students who need to focus on test prep.
“I would like to have less events in the weeks leading up to the exams,” Gwinn said. “Purposefully setting aside school time for practice exams would help students stay focused and motivated.”
The journey to AP exam success involves a mix of strategic planning, consistent practice, and effective support from teachers and peers. Whether it’s through structured review sessions, daily study routines, or practical exam strategies, both students and teachers must collaborate to ensure the best outcomes. While the path to success may vary for each individual, one thing is clear: thorough preparation, clear goals, and sustained effort are key to performing well on these challenging exams.