STUDYING FOR AP AND IB TESTS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
AP and IB testing season is coming up, and we’re so proud of all of our students who will be taking their tests after putting in a long year of hard work in their AP/IB classes! We know that studying for comprehensive exams like these can be stressful, especially if you plan on taking multiple tests. We would like to encourage you to take a careful look at your study plan and put in the time to prepare. For many students, the rewards can be significant.
As you are likely aware, AP/IB classes and test scores can increase the competitiveness of your college applications and prepare you for college level courses. But they can also mean waiving required courses once getting into college, fulfill college credits, and thus save you real time and money. For example, in 2015, a full IB diploma was worth up to 45 credits at Western Washington University (that is a full year of school). Therefore, preparation for these exams can often pay off considerably.
As with any standardized test, much of the work toward earning a satisfying score is to familiarize yourself with the test — its structure, the task, the timing, etc. — and to practice answering the questions in a test-like environment. These tests are designed to be tricky, so be sure to cover both the content, format, and strategies when studying. Try to study at least one exercise or a little bit each day. Start with the units that gave you the most trouble in class. Many individuals find that the AP/IB class is harder than the test (which is the idea!), and this way you start off hard and the process slowly gets easier.
In terms of resources, The College Board has a huge number of prior AP tests in all subjects, and they are great for practicing! Khan Academy also has some great practice material. The more you can practice answering the difficult material in a timed setting, the less stressed you will feel when you take the real test. Other than that, it mostly just comes down to practice, practice, practice.
With all that said, we know how much pressure can be placed on tests like this and want to caution students against biting off more than they can chew. You don’t want to take on anything that will cause you undue anxiety or stress. Remember, you can fail an AP or IB test, face little to no consequences, and be better off for trying! Our test prep tutors of course work on making sure students feel comfortable with the content of the test, but they also work with them on test taking and stress reduction strategies. Doing well on a test is about more than just knowing the material, being comfortable with the format and confident in your own abilities is also incredibly important. Our tutors prioritize working on all of these things during sessions to make sure the student is as prepared as possible to sit down in the testing environment and do their best. Regardless of the end test result, we think with a solid study plan and some regular practice, you will gain from the experience of trying.
If you are interested in one-on-one test prep tutoring support, please contact us.
(Looking for more help? Check out our articles on studying and finals.)