It’s finally the last stretch to the finish line, the end of the school year! However, this does not mean to stop the hustle. After all, it’s almost AP season, so it’s time to start hunkering down and whipping out good study resources to get that desired score. If you’re feeling uneasy and stressed about trying to pass and achieve that ideal 5 for your AP exam, don’t worry. Take a deep breath and a deep dive into some useful study resources recommended by Prep Scholar to try out this exam season. 

Study solitary and use elaborative rehearsal.

The biggest obstacle to studying is concentration, in other words,  to focus on a topic for hours at a time. One way to do this is by eliminating any distractions coming your way. Unfortunately, Tiktok and Instagram cannot take an AP exam for you, so turn off those distractions and set aside your phone in an area out of reach to avoid potential temptations. Remember to take healthy breaks in between studying; set alarms to ensure you’re learning the information while also keeping your mind relaxed and concentrated. Slow and steady wins the race, so study at your own pace and take breaks once every few hours to avoid mental exhaustion. To the students who need the extra push to study, try to grab a sheet of paper or purchase a small whiteboard and a set of dry erase markers. Start by writing out everything you know about the topic, not in any specific order. Now analyze what you’ve written and begin examining the details, connections, and main ideas that were left out and study those topics first. Psychology Today notes the importance of elaborative rehearsal and references it. “Rehearsal is also linked to how strongly motivated we are to remember things later on since we are less likely to rehearse information we do not consider important.” Do not hesitate to create  acronyms or mnemonics to memorize a main idea or humming a rhythmic tune to absorb that knowledge. This study method may be much more effective than simple memorization for test day.  Using this method, you can slowly learn the topics that aren’t foundational while making time to go back and review what you already know last. Remember to repeat this step often by writing out everything you’ve learned about the topic you’ve just memorized. By writing out the steps manually, you ensure that the information is stored in your memory for extended periods of time. 

Remember to eat on time and get the recommended amount of sleep.

Studying may take up most of your time, but you should still make an effort to get your three meals for the day. It’s crucial to make sure that

your body is getting the nutrients and hydration it needs so it can aid your focus. During breaks, take a small snack time and eat something filling along with a glass of water. 

Review the practice tests supplied by the College Board.

If you’re in need of resources to prepare for your exam, look no further. The College Board supplies various free practice tests and allows students to review previous chapters of their course along with watching the videos for additional help. Prep Scholar has supplied a list of links for various AP tests that the College Board has distributed in previous years. Students may find it helpful to review previous administered tests to gain some general knowledge about what they will be given on test day.