As the end of the year rolls around yet again, students (and especially seniors) are counting down the days until summer. However, for Advanced Placement students, it is considered to be the most important time of year for AP classes. Within the first few weeks of May, thousands of students across the country will take the College Board exam in their given subject—for some, multiple—which will determine whether or not they receive college credit for the class they worked so hard in. 

Taking an AP exam can be an intimidating and stressful experience. Schools with high enrollment numbers, such as Ridge, set up hundreds of folding tables in the gym with a panel of counselors to watch for cheating. As soon as the exam begins, the room is filled with the sound of furious typing, clicking, and writing. The time constraints require students to write multiple essays and answer dozens of multiple choice questions in just a few hours. Many students will be taking several of these tests back to back. Others may be unfortunate enough to take two in one day.

As a veteran of the AP program at Ridge, I will have completed 10 AP exams by the end of this May. This will cover nearly a semester of college credit and allow me the time to minor in a subject, graduate early, or spend a semester abroad. Needless to say, these exams have been well worth the time, effort, and money.

If you are taking an AP exam for the first time this year, it can be incredibly overwhelming to know what to expect and how to prepare. There are dozens of programs online that charge exorbitant fees for study tools and lessons. While these can be helpful, there are also a lot of options that don’t require you to spend even more money than you already have on the exam fee itself. So, here are five tips for success on your AP exams, including budget friendly (AKA free!) study options:

       1. Begin the Studying Process Early

It’s never too late to start studying— but it’s a great idea to start now. You’ll probably hear lots of stories about students who wait until the night before the AP exam to watch videos about the test the next day. In complete honesty, I have also tried this strategy. While I passed the exam, it was definitely more stressful due to my lack of preparedness. There was also a certain factor of luck considering I didn’t get an FRQ prompt about something that wasn’t on the review video. It’s safe to say that waiting a mere twenty-four hours before is not the optimal strategy to getting the grade you want.

While it may seem daunting to begin studying for an exam weeks in advance, there’s actually a significant advantage to it. Having the time allows you to break up the task in smaller, more manageable quantities. Instead of trying to tackle several hundred years of world history in one weekend, you could simply spend just ten minutes each day looking at review materials. This method helps to prevent burnout from overstudying and will likely help with retention as you begin each study session with a set of fresh eyes.

     2. Watch Free Video Series to Review

If you’re getting tired of reading your own handwriting, try looking up some crash course videos on Youtube to help. There are a variety of channels and teaching styles that combine engaging styles with important content. However, you need to avoid the common pitfall of watching videos while you are mentally zoning out. Try to engage with the video in a meaningful way by taking some sort of notes while you watch. You will get out of these videos what you put into them. Don’t expect to watch them on the couch with your phone nearby and still get something out of it. These can be incredibly helpful tools if you treat them like an assignment for class.

The best part about these series are the price tag—or, rather, the lack thereof. There are several websites out there that will charge a lot of money for review content. However, if you are prepared to take these videos seriously, they will be just as beneficial.

My favorite content videos for history (US, World, and Euro) are Heimler’s History channel and the “Around the AP World in 80 days” series by Freeman-pedia. For most subjects, there will be a current teacher that specializes in making videos about their class. One example of this is AP Environmental Science teacher, Jordan Dischinger-Smedes, who has put together an incredible series for exam review. Take the time to search for quality videos, and you will be sure to find a great resource.

        3. Review Content from Class

You’ve probably heard your teacher say this time and time again, but you probably haven’t listened- which is why I’m including it here. All of the assignments, quizzes, and exams from your course this year were meant to prepare you for the AP Exam. Reviewing notes and other classwork is a surefire way to refresh your memory and provide insight into what the questions may be modeled like. You may not want to hear it but your teacher is probably right; they run their class a certain way for a reason, and if you take advantage of those materials, you are destined for success. 

While studying for an AP US History test last year and an AP European History one this year, my first move is to reach for the old unit tests. Each one is filled with the highlights from each time period with the most pertinent information all in one place. Don’t overcomplicate your studying process—because the odds are you’ve already done it earlier this year.

       4. Review Books and Practice Exams

If you do prefer more structured learning, review books could be a great place to start. Most of them offer exercises, practice exams, and more. But, before you buy them at full price, check your local library. They often have review books for nearly every major AP subject in the reference section. Some may be available to check out and some may not, but this free resource is one that seems to be scarcely taken advantage of. If you’d like a book that you are able to write in, head over to a used bookstore such as Half Price Books where you can find the same selection for, well, half the price. Most copies are hardly used, if not at all. If self-guided learning isn’t for you, this sort of pacing may be a great solution.

The College Board also publishes past exams for use on their website. They come with scoring guidelines and example papers. Over two decades worth of tests are available on their website, ensuring that you don’t get any surprises this year. These resources are also free and will mirror the format that you see in May.

      5. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself

This last piece of advice may be the most important. Testing anxiety can make or break your performance on these exams. You are entirely capable of passing the test, which is something that you’ve proven in class all year. In the very worst case scenario, you retake the course in college. There’s really nothing to lose, only to gain. So, take a deep breath and show your knowledge. Instead of seeing it as pressure to succeed, try to think of it as an opportunity.

Hopefully these tips will make this May just a little bit less stressful. Putting in the time and effort now will make all the difference on test day. Having certainty and feeling prepared could help you get the score you want to see. Happy testing!