College 101
AP Do's and Don'ts Article Type: Panic Button
"AP" doesn't really stand for "All-Powerful," but it could.
If you're feelin' the pressure of the all-powerful AP® exams, and all you wanna do is snuggle up with a Little Hug juice and Full House, take a deep breath and take note of our top AP tips. You got this.
DON'T forget that breakfast is the breakfast of champions.
We're not saying you should eat the country stack of pancakes and a pound of bacon, but a growling stomach is a distraction, especially if it does the gurgling thing that everyone else can hear. On the flip side, it's also hard to concentrate on the argumentative strategies in an essay by Francis Bacon if all you're doing is regretting that pound of sweet, sweet bacon you consumed on your way out the door. There's a short break in between sections in case you forget breakfast entirely, so bring a granola bar or other nutritious munchies to sustain you. Remember, no food or drink can come with you into the exam room. No pets, either.
DON'T just bring a pencil.
You should, of course, bring multiple pencils, but you'll also need a photo ID and a few blue or black ink pens. You have options, kind of—for example, essays can be written in dark blue or black pen—but at the end of the day it all needs to be handwritten. Leave Grandpa's typewriter at home, because that will definitely be classed as a distraction. #thekeysarereallyloudokay #pluswehaveweakpinkies
Know what you need, and double-check what you need, for each AP course, before you're uh, sittin' in the seat staring at the exam.
DON'T bring a watch or timer that beeps or makes noise.
In other words, don't be that guy.
If you bring in a watch that inexplicably can't stop beeping every nine minutes, we can't be responsible for what happens to you.
DON'T walk in there not knowing what this thing looks like.
You know that dream where you show up to your exam naked? The AP equivalent of that is showing up without knowing your exam format. The first rule of exam prep is: do not talk about exam prep...wait, no...we mean, you should not be surprised by anything you see on exam day.
DON'T talk out loud to yourself.
It doesn't matter what you're talking about—just don't do it. You can be disqualified if the proctor gets even an inkling that you might be trying to give answers away or distract other students. This is not a happy situation.
DON'T over-guess on the free response section.
If you can't decide which equation to use, don't write down all the equations and hope that one will be right, since partial credit only extends so far. Guess, but make your best guess.
DO write something down.
Because, yes, the all-powerful AP overlords are merciful enough to offer partial credit.
Squelch your panic and take the time to write with good penmanship, complete sentences, and/or organization. The test graders are human—probably—and they reward well-written responses that they can actually read, not the second coming of the Rosetta Stone.
DO make yourself at home and mark up your test booklet.
Taking an AP exam is like being stranded on a desert island ("Wilsoooooon!"): use whatever is available to write on, whether it's blank space, margins, your arm…okay, probably not your arm. In the event of an emergency, your proctor can be used as a flotation device.
DO remember the time.
If you look at a question and have no clue, skip it (good) and come back to it later if there's time, even if it's only to guess randomly in one final burst of glory. Don't take too long on any single question, even if it brings you great personal satisfaction.
DO know how to use your calculator.
Three main things if your AP requires a calculator:
- Test day is not the day to debut the fancy new calculator that runs only on unicorn tears and a baby's laugh.
- If your finger slips, do the calculation again to double-check your work.
- Do all calculations with the figures intact, and don't round off the answer to significant figures until the end.
DO practice.
There's no way to know exactly what will show up on the test, but the College Board makes past exams available on their website with scoring guidelines. (Find your course and click Exam Practice in the top toolbar.) So giving yourself practice tests has never been easier. Passing this up is crazy; AP Lang has ten whole years!
DO churn out a vanilla five-paragraph essay if your burning question is HOW CAN I WRITE AN ENTIRE ESSAY IN FRENCH?
Whoa, easy on the caps lock. Learning to write in any foreign language takes consistent practice over a long time. The more you listen, the easier it'll get. YouTube is your friend. Search for French clips of TV shows or movies that you know well: you'll find songs from the French dubs of Disney movies, clips from the Simpsons, and other goodies. Maybe these clips are illegal, or maybe they're "fair use." Who are we to say?
And take it easy with the essay: Intro, point 1 (from source 1), point 2 (from source 2), point 3 (from source 3), conclusion.
Don't wipe out all your energy on the essay. Other sections will account for way more of your score. Stay frosty!
DO stay positive, even when it feels like your world is crumbling around you.
It's not, and you're awesome.
AP is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.