Now that AP testing season is upon us, many students at Rancho Cucamonga High School are taking and preparing to take their AP tests. Testing began on Monday, May 4, and it concludes on Friday, May 15.
AP tests are college-level exams that students take in high school. Although they don’t affect a student’s GPA or grade in that specific class, it is an opportunity for students to gain college credits if they pass. The tests are graded 1-5, with 5 being the highest score, and for many schools, a 3 is considered passing.
Teachers help prepare their AP students for these tests all school year so they feel confident and prepared when it’s time to take the test.
“I feel relatively confident about most of my tests. However, I will need to study extensively for AP Chemistry and AP Calculus BC if I want to pull through with a 5, as the content is extremely challenging to me,” junior Elena Nguyen said.
It is common for students to start studying weeks or even months in advance for these tests, and there are many free resources available to help make studying feel less stressful.
“I like taking a bunch of practice tests and watching YouTube videos and taking notes on the topics I struggled with,” junior Eujin Kim said. “I’m studying for AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP U.S. History, and AP Language and Composition. I start studying for my tests two weeks beforehand, and I’m confident that I’ll be able to prepare in the time I have left.”
Students can access released FRQs from past tests and take full-length, timed practice exams. Most tests last around 2-3 hours, and taking practice tests can help students build endurance.
Effective studying methods include active recall, spaced repetition, mind mapping, the Pomodoro Technique (timed work intervals), and the Feynman Technique (teaching concepts). It is crucial to have a good studying method because it can increase efficiency and allow students to have long-term retention of a subject instead of cramming everything in at once and forgetting everything shortly after.
“Active recall is my favorite, especially for memorizing terminology and difficult concepts. I’ve also been using Pomodoro’s Method,” said Nguyen.
Junior Jochelle Lucas is also preparing to take AP tests. She shared her favorite study methods to help her with the tests.
“My favorite study methods are peer teaching and active recall,” Lucas said.
College Board provides all the necessary tools for free to ensure that all students taking AP tests are prepared.
