AP EXAM PREP: Do’s & Don’t’s According to Students

Students at WGHS who have taken AP exams shared their biggest do’s and don’ts when preparing for test day.
by Chloe Fankah

Mimi Cabrol (12th) believes one of the best ways to prepare for an AP exam is by studying with friends. “Studying with friends! I always thought it would just be a distraction,” Mimi said, “but it was very effective and enjoyable.” She explained that group studying allowed students to quiz each other and help explain topics that others might not fully understand yet. Mimi also emphasized the importance of reviewing every topic, even the ones students already feel confident about. “A little brush-up on the subject won’t hurt,” she explained. “It’s always best just to double-check or skim while studying something you’re confident in.”

To balance AP studying with school and other responsibilities, Mimi said she uses her free time wisely. “I spend a lot of time in the library for peer facilitation, and during downtime, I can study and look over other work,” she said. Looking back, she wishes she had paid more attention to the tools provided on the exam. “I did not utilize some of them like I could have,” Mimi admitted. If she could prepare differently, she said, “I would spend more time memorizing formulas and practicing different equations.”

Mya Brown (12th) shared that practicing timed essays helped her more than she expected. “At first, I thought just knowing the material would be enough,” Mya said, “but actually writing essays under time pressure helped me learn how to organize my thoughts quickly and manage my time better during the real exam.” She explained that practicing under pressure also made her feel more confident because she already knew what the testing environment would feel like.

Mya also warned students against relying too much on passive studying. “One mistake I made while preparing was spending too much time rereading notes instead of actually practicing questions,” she explained. According to Mya, procrastination can make preparation much harder, so students should start practicing exam-style questions earlier. To balance AP classes with sports and homework, Mya created a schedule and studied a little every day. “I tried to use free time during the day to review vocabulary, themes, or practice questions so I would not feel overwhelmed later,” she said.

Looking back, Mya said she wishes she had better understood the pacing of the exams. “Even if you understand the material, timing can still be difficult,” she explained. She also noted the importance of answering essay prompts clearly instead of overcomplicating responses. If she had one week left before an AP exam, Mya said she would “spend less time reviewing notes and more time doing full practice sections under timed conditions.”

Sam Seybert (12th) explained that YouTube review videos became one of the most useful study tools for AP exams. “A lot of the AP classes have YouTube videos with full individual unit videos,” Sam said. “I’ll pair my class notes with the video so I can refresh my brain.” Sam also stressed the importance of preparing early instead of waiting until the last minute. “If you start preparing a whole semester before and revisit it once a week, it stays fresh,” Sam explained.

Another strategy Sam mentioned was taking timed mock exams in class. “My teachers had us take timed mocks, so we already had an idea of timing,” Sam said. Looking back, Sam believes consistency would have improved preparation even more. “I would study for an hour and a half every day instead of 20 minutes every day,” Sam admitted.

Chris Peck (12th) emphasized the importance of getting enough rest before AP exams. “Getting a couple of days of sleep” was one of the most helpful things during preparation, Chris said. Chris also admitted making the mistake of reviewing familiar material too much. “I spent more time stressing over stuff I already know than going over stuff I didn’t know,” Chris explained.

To stay prepared throughout the year, Chris focused on understanding concepts the first time they were taught. “I just make sure I get everything the first time so I don’t have to figure it out the second time,” Chris said. Since Chris has been taking AP classes since freshman year, the experience has also made future exams less intimidating. “You know what to expect,” Chris explained. For quick review before exams, Chris said one helpful strategy was simply “binging YouTube review videos.”