Editor-in-Chief
As AP exam week approaches, many students begin to feel stressed out and worried about taking college-credit tests. Although it is easy to become overwhelmed with studying, the following tips and advice will
surely put your mind at ease:
Eat a good breakfast.
Since kindergarten, students have been advised to eat a large, healthy meal before taking a test. Many of us tend to brush this off as not very important, but eating a good breakfast actually has multiple benefits. Try eating a meal composed of most food groups: toast with almond or peanut butter and fruit on the side with a tall glass of milk will keep you focused, alert, and confident.
AP prep books give you a good idea of what to expect on exam day. Target, Barnes & Noble, as well as amazon.com carry various AP workbooks. Since most range anywhere from $15-30, ask your teacher if he/she has extra books for you to borrow and return after the exam.Start studying early.
It’s really easy to wait until a few days before a test to begin studying. End of year excitement, senioritis, and prom anticipation only contribute to procrastination. However, you’ll feel more prepared if you begin studying at least a couple of weeks in advance. Creating a study schedule could assist you in staying on task, even if it’s only 30 minutes per day.
Take advantage of study sessions.
Many teachers provide at least one study session per exam. These give you an opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for what you should expect come exam day.
Organize a study group.
Find a few friends who you can meet up and study with. Try going to someone’s house, the local Common Grounds Coffee House in downtown Apex, or Apex Community Park. Discussing topics with peers can make studying seem somewhat more fun and less stressful.
Relax.
Everyone knows what it’s like to become overwhelmed with stress before taking an exam. To combat this anxiety, try to keep the situation in perspective. Although AP tests give you an opportunity to earn college credit, if your score is less than satisfactory, it’s not the end of the world, since scores won’t impact your actual grade for the class.
