AP Tests

[purplehairedwonder]

I'm taking two AP classes this year (Biology and European History) and we are getting to the end of our books. We finish them in a few weeks and start reviewing for the AP tests. May 7th is European History and May 10th is Biology. I'm starting to get nervous, because those classes make me feel really dumb:sweat: So, anyone who has taken AP tests in high school, any tips?

[Tapout]

My advice: Don't take them. My senior year of high school I had AP calculus and did really well in the class. Then I took the AP test. Bad idea. That thing kicked my ass so bad I'm still feeling it three years later. If you don't feel comfortable in the class don't even bother with the tests.

EDIT: Changed algebra to calculus. If you're taking algebra as a senior, something's wrong.

[Ikki D LEO]

Well,, I took one, but it was Spanish AP and to me(and to about 95% of my classmates) it was easy the only problem to me was the oral part, other than that it was really easy, and you asked about any tips, well I can only tell you this, just relax, I know to some people this is really hard but AP tests aren't as hard as they say, and remember to answear in complete sentences, but try to keep your answears short.....

[AndreaBeaumont]

what part of the world do you live in? Here all of us got up at 4 in the morning and they were posting the questions and answers from japan MWAHAHAH...

[redDragon]

what part of the world do you live in? Here all of us got up at 4 in the morning and they were posting the questions and answers from japan MWAHAHAH...

Em, they have different tests overseas =P.

I took English Language and U.S. History last year and I'm taking English Literature and Calculus AB this year.

Last year I was pretty comfortable and did decently and this year I'm a little worried about English Literature because I don't feel as prepared by my teacher.

But I agree with Dirtbag, unless you feel comfortable with your knowledge of the subject don't take it...I have a bunch of friends who are taking AP Biology right now and are just dying in that class.

There's also the matter of where you want to go to college and if they accept AP credit. If they're not going to give you credit for the tests and you're not comfortable with them then it's only a waste of money to take them.

[Jaguar]

Yipes! And I'm taking AP World History this year! =[

[DonkeyKongSnes]

You are all lucky to have AP Biology and stuff. The only AP courses my crappy school offers are AP chem, AP euro history which I am taking next year, and AP english and AP calc which I am taking my senior year. My older brother took the euro test last year and got a 5 or a 4 on it. He said it was really easy and the same goes with the calc test apparently.

[The_NewCatwoman]

I'm taking A.P. US History and A.P. English this year. I was going to take both tests, but then I came to my senses and only decided to take A.P. English. I'm starting to think that I might have made a mistake. A.P. History has suddenly gotten very easy for me while A.P. English has been hard. Eghhh...

tNC

[JDuncan]

I'm taking the AP Government test and the AP 11th English test, I hope to pass them both but not if it involves extensive studying. Next year I'm planning to take the Calc, Bio and AP 12th English tests, no clue as to how that'll turn out.

[Steve Jester]

I'm not taking the AP US History test, despite taking the coruse. Ugghhh.... that class is hard. :(

[The Landstander]

I'm taking AP US History in May. =(

Given the course itself, I was kind of nervous about it...but then as sort of a mid-term, my teacher made us take an old exam sometime in January. Out of 5 (AP Grades on a 1/2/3/4/5), I got a 4. That brought my confidence up. Also, the teacher I have for that class is really good, one of the best teachers I've had, so I think I'll do fine, myself.

If you're nervous about the tests, you should check the internet for a practice site of some sort. Back when I was taking the practice test I found a site pretty easily.

[Allen's Nickname.]

AP World History.

I'm a little worried, being that I'm not the least scatterberined person in the world, but I think I can pull a 3 at least.

[ZorBrak]

I'm taking two AP classes this year (Biology and European History) and we are getting to the end of our books. We finish them in a few weeks and start reviewing for the AP tests. May 7th is European History and May 10th is Biology. I'm starting to get nervous, because those classes make me feel really dumb:sweat: So, anyone who has taken AP tests in high school, any tips?
Check Princeton's "cracking the AP" book series. and get lots and lots of sleep. Don't drink too much water...and hope you are put in a quiet enviroment.

[silverwings]

Yeah, those cracking the AP books work well. As due the Princeton Review books - they're filled with tons of sample problems.

I suggust taking the tests if you are taking the class. Why? If you do well, you can report it to the college you'll attend and they'll give you credits. If you do badly, you don't have to report it and all is well.

Also, from friends who took AP history, preping for the AP can be very good review for the final exam (if you have one. AP bio at my high school gave you a final grade based on your score from the AP. :sweat: )

[RogueMartian]

Honestly, it's all about chances.

Me? I took four AP tests: AP US History, AP Government, AP Calculus, and AP European History.

The end result? I did well enough to get the AP credit on most of them and did EXCEPTIONAL on the European history one. I don't know why, i didn't study for that one at all and i had no clue what was going on. On the plus side I got to shove it in the face of the jerkoffs who thought they were smarter than me all semester. It was fun.

Regardless, it doesn't hurt to take them and with princeton books, studying, etc. I'm guessing a little luck has a lot to do with it too.

[Zach Logan]

This Year:
AP American
AP Biology

Next Year
AP Chemistry
AP Government
AP Economics (Micro and Macro)
AP Theory
AP Statistics
AP English

[jrh31584]

10th grade
Statistics: 4

11th grade
English Language: 4
U.S. History: 5

12th grade
English Literature: 3
Calculus AB: 5
U.S. Government: 4
Physics B: 4

No real strategy, I'm not really the best to talk about study habits because I never was really into the whole studying thing.

[Sailor Chibi Otaku]

Pardon the interruption, but what does "AP" stand for?

[Allen's Nickname.]

Advanced Placement.

You take college level courses in high skool, then take a test (Hence, AP Tests) to get a college credit.

[Sailor Chibi Otaku]

Ahh. I see.

I don't think we have that unless Quebec is the only province that doesn't have such tests. We're the only province in Canada that doesn't have grade 12. Well.. only place in North America that only goes up to Secondary V (grade 11).

[G. Wen]

When I was in high school (I can't believe that was already 3 yrs. ago) I took AP U.S. History, AP environmental sci, & AP U.S. Govt. I only passed two of the tests. My advice: study hard in your AP classes. That way, you can pass the tests, recieve college credit, and get into better colleges.

[Turtle25]

I'm taking AP Calculus AB and AP Physics B (why they don't start at A is beyond me). They're coming up, May 5th and 10th respectively. We're just about done our cirriculum for both courses, and we'll be starting review soon. So it's a final push. Last year our school got, for a class of about 30, 2 fours, and the rest fives on the AP exam. Same with Physics... about 15, one person got a four, teh rest got fives. This year our teachers are pressing for our classes to get all 5s... so there's a bit of pressure. Update in a month... =)

[The Landstander]

Bumped because this week and next week are the AP weeks.

The only one I'm taking, US History, is on Friday. I'm currently trying to prepare for it via doing an old exam copy my class got from our teacher...still a little nervous, though. =o

So anyone take their exam yet or have one coming up soon?

[Alaskanbullworm]

AP Physics B on the 10th and I'm getting nervous about it, but I'm studying hard this whole last week. Got to shoot for a 70% for that 5, in fact I should go study more right now.

[The Gunnshuu]

Took AP Spanish Language Tuesday and I probably got a 2, but I'm pushing for a 3. Today was my AP Calculus BC exam and I think I did fairly well, thinking about a 3 or 4. Tomorrow is my AP English Lit exam, next Monday my AP Physics B exam, and finally next Wednesday, my AP Govt exam. As you can see, I'll probably be a zombie by then.

[JDuncan]

I took the AP English language test Monday. I think I did okay but, of course, I won't know until July. Next up is the AP U.S. Government test next Wednesday, which has me more-or-less scared as hell.

[Jade_GL]

I took two years of AP Art and took AP English my senior year. I ended up taking three AP tests, two pretty normal tests for English and one for US Government (didn't have a class but I had good knowledge of the subject) and I sent in a portfolio for art.

I say take the tests. My college gave me 14 credits and I was able to save myself thousands of dollars on courses, housing, etc because I finished college a semester early.

Not only that, but I didn't have to take a silly Freshman Composition course. Sweeeeeeeeeeeet...

[purplehairedwonder]

I had my AP European History test this afternoon. The multiple choice was kinda hard but the essays were easy, so I think I pulled a 3 or a 4. I have my AP Bio test on Monday morning.

What's cool is when we graded our AP Bio finals, I got the equivalent of a 3, and that would be without writing any essays. That gives me a little more confidence going into Monday.:)

[Turtle25]

I had my Calculus AB on the 5th. Now I have Physics B on the 10th. Gotta get half the multiple choice right. Then 60% on the free-response. If I can get that, somehow, I'll be golden. =) But... can I?

[The_NewCatwoman]

I took my final for the A.P.U.S.H. (AP US History, since people keep asking me what A-Push is.) last thursday, and I took my actual AP English Literature exam this past thursday. History was easier, English was hard in that "I'm not sure how I did and I'll be damned if I get a 1" kind of way. I hope I did well.

tNC

[Yuss]

I took my AP European History test on Friday. I wasn't prepared at all, but the test wasn't nearly as horrible as I thought it would be. I may have passed which would be nice. :p

~B+:

[purplehairedwonder]

Had my AP Biology test today, which is my last one. I was pretty hard. I guess I'm more of a history person rather than a science person, but oh well. My AP classes are over now, so we just get to hang out and have fun. Life is good:cool:

[UberMonkey]

I never bothered with AP myself. I haven't really heard many great things about it either. But whatever works for you. Back in the day I took part in the "Running Start" program. I don't know if it's a country-wide thing, but basically you take college courses at like your local community college and earn credit both there and at high school. Then at the end you either transfer your credits to a University or finish your Associates degree and plan from there. I liked it.

[tigerrunner]

Last year I took AP Euro and got a 3/5, which is good enough for college credit. I absolutely sucked throughout the school year, so I was shocked that I did well (especially considering most of my friends got 1s and 2s). This year, however, in AP US, it was the complete opposite. I did extremely well thoughout the year, and probably bombed the exam (I completely messed up one essay... I got two different things confused and just gave up). And, lucky me, I'm taking 3 AP courses next year: Psychology (which i thgink I'll do well on, I like Psychology), AP Government (it was that or AP Economics), and AP English (I don't know which exam I'm supposed to take, though). I doubt I'll take all 3 exams, though... I'm not paying $82 to take a test, let alone $246 for 3 of 'em.

The one perk about AP courses: state tests are extraordinarily simple after taking them. I got a 98 on my NYS Regents for Global History because of it (we only had to learn some African and Asian events). And this year, since the Regent is only on US History, for the next 6 weeks all were doing in class is projects and watching videos.