AP season is here! As you look ahead at a busy spring semester—filled with that usual glut of exams, papers, extracurriculars, and standardized tests—start planning now for how you’ll survive and come out the other side with 5s on your APs. Here’s how to map out a comprehensive AP study timeline.
Know Your Test Dates
The College Board lumps every AP test into a ten-day gauntlet in May. Dates and times are listed on the College Board website, and you can double check with your AP teacher, your counselor, and your school itself to confirm when your test will be and how it will be administered. Mark your calendar.
Start Prepping and Planning Now
APs are important and can help you distinguish yourself on college applications (not to mention potentially earn college credit), so don’t let preparing for them be an afterthought. To ensure you’re fully prepared, you’ll want to do the following in the months leading up to your AP exams:
- Keep current with your coursework. That way you won’t have to scramble to catch up just a few weeks before the tests.
- Try not to load up on future commitments. These might include extended vacations or optional projects that might pull you away from your studies or conflict with key deadlines and exams.
- Create a timeline for studying. Make sure you’re reviewing on a regular basis, giving attention to areas where you need improvement, and mastering the material at a pace that works for your learning style.
Map out an AP Study Timeline
Putting in a little planning time up front will streamline your study process, saving you a lot of time and energy in the long run. It’s a short process well worth the effort!
- Examine your syllabi. Reflect on your current knowledge, identifying your strengths as well as key areas that need more focus.
- Make a list of your top three priorities. This will help you organize your initial study sessions as effectively as possible.
- Determine how much time you can (realistically!) devote to AP studies. Work backwards from your test dates to figure out roughly how much study time you’re looking at in total, and based on your priorities and your comfort level in each area, decide how much time to allot to each topic or skill each week.
- Build regular review sessions into your study plan. Make sure that you’re doing more than studying new material. Review sessions are vital because they help you strengthen your retention.
- Allow yourself some flexibility. Check in with yourself every other week to evaluate your progress, and adjust your plan if you’re spending more time than expected on certain topics or if you identify new areas to prioritize.
Planning to supplement AP classwork with private tutoring? Start meeting with your tutor at least 2-3 months ahead of your test date. Everyone’s needs are different, but students often see benefit from starting with an hour of tutoring each week, then gradually increasing the frequency and duration of sessions as they get closer to the actual tests. A tutor can help reinforce the material your teacher is covering, providing detailed feedback on your school assignments. They’ll supplement that with additional readings as well as multiple-choice questions and FRQs from previous years’ tests. That way, even if your classmates won’t be completely prepared, you will be.
Need help? Our expert tutors are ready to guide your child through the transition to the digital AP exams and help them create an effective study plan. Contact us for more information on our AP tutoring services.
