With the 2025 AP Exams firmly in the rearview mirror, many Morris Knolls students are reflecting on their preparation, how they might have done better, and what they can do to prepare for future exams. With that being said, there is never a clear path to achieving success, and so through extensive research, the MK Quill has found some of the best studying practices that you can implement to shed some light on the blurry journey towards maximizing your potential AP score.
Plan
Everyone knows this, but it’s often disregarded. The first step to studying successfully is to plan; without planning, you are walking in a dark alley with no certainty of light. Studies have shown that students who plan and study perform significantly better than those who just study. The first step in planning is to map out what you want to study. Then, you want to reasonably section the work into days, starting with what you want to work on the most to the least.
Prioritize Heavily-Weighted Topics
Valuing high-weight content sets you up when planning. It’s always better to study what is most common on the test to maintain maximum efficiency. For those of you who are studying late and don’t know where to start, we suggest prioritizing the topics with the highest percentages on AP testing. You can access this through a series of steps.
- Log in to AP Classroom,
- Go into the AP courses and exams section
- Select the AP course that you plan on testing.
- Scroll down until you see the subheading Course Contents
- Once you’ve reached the course contents, click on “expand all”
Practice Exams
Practice, Practice, Practice!!
The best way to study for the real deal is by simulating the actual exam. You can take practice tests by asking your teachers or even checking your Blue Book app, which is automatically installed in every school Chromebook. Practicing through online resources helps as well. If you cannot obtain practice tests, you can search the web for similar worksheets outside of the College Board containing your desired content.
Review
Let’s not forget to look over previous quizzes and assessments, if permitted.
Reviewing your old assignments and tests can help you to learn from your previous mistakes and pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses in the course. If you have free time during lunch, talk with your teacher to ask to review an old test or quiz.
Tutoring
Why stress yourself out by trying to formulate a justifiable explanation for an incorrect answer? Instead, speak with a professional who specializes in that specific topic. They can explain the concept in a way that is understandable to you. Feel free to schedule a meeting with a teacher either during lunch or after school for help. In either case, if your teacher is unable to help, there is always tutoring. Although some tutoring organizations can be very expensive and not everyone can afford it, have no fear because Tutor.com is available 24/7 and is free to any student in the Morris Hills district. It has a session for every single AP subject.
Hopefully, you found these tips and tricks useful. Remember, you only get one shot. Each small step you take into studying gets you one step closer to your ultimate goal of achieving your desired score on the AP test, so use everything you’ve got now and go out there and ace this AP test. Implement these practices now to be even more prepared for the AP Exams next year!
