Health & Beauty

Five Strategies to Get a 5 on Your AP Exams

Valentina Bernal, Reporter • May 18, 2026

Four students cram for an upcoming exam. Tulane Public Relations, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

As AP Exam season approaches, students are doing everything they can to earn the highest scores possible. While getting a 5 may seem challenging, the right preparation and mindset can make a major difference. These exams are not designed for students to fail, but rather to help them earn college credit and prepare for future academic success. Although testing can be stressful, staying calm and confident is one of the most important steps toward success. Here are some helpful study strategies to help you perform your best on your upcoming AP exams:

Practice with real AP questions: Look for past released AP exams that include free-response questions and multiple-choice questions from the College Board AP website so you can get used to the exact format and timing.

Study actively, not passively: While rereading notes is good practice, it is not what is going to get you a five. Quizzing yourself, making flashcards, teaching concepts outloud, or doing practice problems is what will truly lead you to success. Using all these methods will help you remember the material better and more in depth as well.

Focus on weak areas first: Spend extra time on those topics you miss often instead of those you’ve already mastered. Those are the type of questions that will affect your score the most. This strategy improves your score so much faster.

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Practice time management: Take timed practice sections so you learn how long to spend on multiple-choice and free-response questions without running out of time.

Learn the AP rubric and exam style ahead of time: For the essays and FRQs, know exactly how the points are awarded. Sometimes students know the content but lose points due to lack of knowledge in the formatting area.

Achieving that 5 isn’t about being the smartest person in the room, it’s about being the best prepared. By using strategies like these and accommodating them to your own personal needs, you will notice a significant difference in your confidence going into the test and see the merits of your hard work being reflected within your score.

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About the Contributor

Valentina Bernal, Social Media Team

Valentina is a freshman at St. Thomas Aquinas. This is her first year on the Raider Review staff. As a member of the social media team, she keeps up to date on trends and applies them to social media. Valentina’s favorite part of being on the Raider Review is being able to share news with people at STA. She is a member of the Marine Biology club. Her favorite movie is “The Notebook.”