AP Exams Are More Important than Ever: 5 Preparation Tips

Advanced Placement (AP) classes offer college level coursework to high school students.  This gives students opportunities to demonstrate a commitment to their education and college readiness, ultimately making them more competitive in the college application process. Over the years, more and more schools have offered AP level classes and exams, and the number of students taking these classes and tests has grown exponentially. In 2024, over three million students took more than five million AP Exams. That means nearly 30 percent of the graduating class in the United States took at least one AP Exam. This is a huge change from 1998, when over 600,00 students took over one million exams. 

With so many students taking AP Exams, they have become a de facto opportunity for colleges to even the playing field when comparing students’ academic profiles. In fact, these tests replaced class rank and the now obsolete SAT single subject tests in terms of evaluating students’ academic portfolios. AP Exams also help to evaluate students’ performances based on something other than GPAs, since grading practices greatly vary in high schools throughout the United States. And, since many students are opting out of taking SATs and ACTs, AP Exams offer a more targeted approach to assessing college readiness. 

AP Exams are graded based on a student’s mastery of the subject matter. Therefore, effort in class and participation does not count on AP Exams. The objective nature of the exam, graded on a five-point scale, provides extremely useful information for admissions offices. 

So, how should students approach the momentous task of preparing for AP Exams?

1. Create a study plan now. Right now, students have several weeks to prepare for AP Exams. They should use this time effectively and efficiently. Most students have been taking their AP class all year, consuming a significant amount of information. Organize that information, create an outline and timeline for reviewing the AP curriculum. Creating a timeline and study plan will help students work more efficiently and effectively. 
2. Practice. Spend 15 minutes a day practicing multiple choice questions. The more multiple choice questions that students practice, the more likely that they will encounter a variation of these problems on their AP Exams. This “drill and kill” approach helps students familiarize themselves with a wide variety of questions, giving them the opportunity to overcome potential roadblocks when they are sitting for the full exam. For essay preparation, students should outline two to three essays a week to familiarize themselves with format and the amount of information that needs to be included in each answer. 
3. Ask questions. Within students’ study plans, they should highlight any material that they find particularly challenging. Set up time to meet with teachers one-on-one and reach out to people who can offer extra help. Students spend a considerable amount of time in classroom settings, so finding time and resources to ask individualized questions and get one-to-one support is essential when preparing for an exam of this scope. Come prepared to these one-to-one sessions with questions to fill in knowledge gaps. If students need extra help, they should reach out to GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection to connect with a highly qualified AP tutor who can help to ensure they understand the AP curriculum. 
4. Pace yourself. Students should also put aside time to take at least two full mock tests to gain endurance. By practicing full tests, students can familiarize themselves with the testing structure and figure out how long they have for each section. Learning to manage timing on AP Exams before sitting for an AP Exam will help students set themselves up for success. 
5. Take time to exercise, eat nutritious meals, and get sleep to reduce stress levels. Do not pull all-nighters to study for AP Exams. If students create and follow study plans, they should be able to exercise, eat, and sleep well as they get ready for their upcoming tests. Moreover, sticking to a healthy protocol will help to ensure that they don’t become ill before the tests, which will put them at a disadvantage. Eating a nutritious, protein-heavy breakfast on the mornings of their exams will also help students to be more focused when taking their AP Exams. 

The stakes are higher these days. Now more than ever, AP Exams demonstrate college readiness. Get prepared to demonstrate your ability and aptitude this May.  GAMECHANGER Tutoring Connection is always here to help with one-to-one instruction that helps students identify their strengths and target any problems that are holding them back from AP Exam success.