Keeping Up The Motivation For AP Exams

We completely understand that it can be challenging to keep up the energy and motivation with so many changes in tests going around. As we all know, the College Board has canceled Subject Tests and is expanding access to AP courses, which will let students showcase their skills through challenging coursework. It can still be a little daunting with Subject Tests out of the picture whether students take two AP exams or eight!
We all are familiar with the AP time crunch as each is a little different but equally challenging schedule.
Let’s lay down a few tips for staying focused and motivated while prepping for APs:

• Know YOURSELF!
  Are you a self-starter who can organize your study plan and execute it effectively, or are you someone who will need a little help to figure out things? Suppose students feel the need for any more guidance. It is essential to identify the need for professional service to develop a study plan and conquer material and concepts that students might be behind on. Unlike other standardized tests, AP exams are less about strategy and more about the actual in-depth knowledge of the content.
• Use practice materials
  AP exam guidebooks are an excellent help in studies because exam experts organize them! These books provide test material, study plans, practice questions, etc. 
• Do NOT Cram!
  By April, students should have learned all significant concepts and taken at least one practice test for each AP they are taking. Students should avoid trying to pull off last-minute studying during the exam period. Rushing through a prep book or taking tons of practice tests will only result in stress. Studying effectively from the beginning will give one plenty of time to review tricky concepts to ensure one has enough rest.
• Focusing MORE on weak points
  If there is one exam that a student thinks will be the hardest for them, they should prioritize any extra time for that test. For example, if a student is taking both AP Calculus and AP Biology- and is confident about Calculus-one can use any spare time to keep working on AP Biology. Students should memorize dates, practice questions, or review their notes.
• TIMING is EVERYTHING
  When doing practice sections in April/May, either multiple-choice questions or free-response questions, students should be sure to time themselves strictly so they’re prepared for actual AP test timing. Practicing this routine makes taking the AP test much less stressful since students will get used to time constraints!
• Do NOT burn yourself out.
  If there are multiple exams in a week, or two days in a row(or two in a day), students must limit heavy studying during that time and instead confirm that students are getting enough rest. One must eat a healthy-balanced breakfast or lunch and get enough sleep to do far better in improving scores than memorizing a few more facts or doing one more practice test right before the exam.
• Be self-reflective
  Students who obsess over studying and get anxious about tests should actively make time to do something fun or get some exercise during the AP exam period. Whether it’s doing yoga, going for a run, or reading a favorite book, taking time to relax is vital since anxiety can(and will) negatively affect performance on test days.
• Do NOT forget other classes.
  Students get a lot of sympathy and liberty from teachers about homework and assignments, but students still should be sure that their schedule is not filled over-piled up with AP prep if they need to deal with any non-AP class assignments. High school GPS is essential, and one must not let AP exams completely distract one from their classes! Recommended Article: SAT: Test-Taking Tips 

Even though it can be exhausting and stressful to have a handful of AP exams, making sure to keep the reasons for tests in the back of their minds will keep students motivated and focused. AP exams are an excellent opportunity to showcase knowledge and academic drive to teachers and colleges. So, instead of stressing out about the process, start studying to achieve the goal score. If you need any help creating a strategic study plan, feel free to contact us. We are happy to help.