With AP testing right around the corner, students are nearing an opportunity to show their brilliance on scantrons.
Diligent work that has been antithetical to procrastination of any kind will guide them to the glorious score of five. However, the aforementioned scenario only occurs in late august daydreams. For most students, the coming weeks will determine whether they will sink or swim. May is upon us, and with these tips, we can ensure that you’ll float your way to a high score. 
1) Do not procrastinate. There really is no way to study for an AP Test the day before. There’s far too much information to cover. Instead, break up the material and spread it out over a course of time. Prep for about one hour each day. And for those of you who have been hanging onto “night-before-cram sessions” like a crutch for the whole semester–it’s never too late to kick a bad habit.
2) Do not freak out. While it’s normal to be a bit nervous, just relax. Confidence will help you go a long way. Remember to get a decent breakfast and a good night’s sleep. Staring at a book isn’t going to get those answers into your head. During the test, it’s a good idea to bring a watch so that you can pace yourself .
3) Do not be careless about how well you do because the score isn’t part of your grade. You paid $89 per test, and you’ll be spending 4 hours of your life taking it. (That’s 4 hours you’ll never get back!) Not to mention, passing these tests will get you credit for certain general education (GE) courses in college. That means you won’t have to take them in the future.
4) Do not just rely on your AP test prep books. You have homework and notes (all in your own words) to refer to. (Hopefully you actually took notes and did your homework.)
5) Don’t know the answer? Some people say that if you don’t know the answer, mark B. And still others say, mark C. Well, I suppose if you don’t know the answer, might as well mark A, B, C, and D. One of them is bound to be right. Really, if you don’t know the answer, pick the best one. Sometimes, when it comes to English and History, there technically is more than one answer, but only one is the best choice.
What does that mean? Typically, it’s best to pick the most specific answer. Most of the time when an answer is too broad it can fall out of scope, making it “less correct” than another answer. Always remember that the answers will refer to the text.
If you are taking a math or science test, pick an answer and move on. You either know it or you don’t. The College Board does not expect you to get every answer right. In fact, they’d probably be concerned if you did. If you have extra time at the end, go back and re-work the problems you were having trouble with. It’s always best to mark an answer rather than to leave it blank.
Good luck and hit those books!
By Sandy Hoang and Amina Ahmed
