AP/IB Exams: Your Month-long Study Plan

At the beginning of May, AP/IB testing will start. College Board has the AP exam schedule posted here and International Baccalaureate has the IB exam schedule posted here. But, most importantly, are you ready for your exams?

Studying for the AP/IB exams can be a daunting task, especially if your school is not equipped with the best resources. Hopefully, however, you have the materials necessary to succeed. The more important matter is using them! Even though it's the second week of April, don’t let the idea of “the tests are a month away” fool you. The tests will be here before you know it, so now is a good time to think about a study plan. Here are some key reminders and tips:

1. Slow and steady gets the high score.

Don’t go wild and try to tackle everything in a single week leading up to the exam. Since you have 3-4 weeks before the test date, you have ample time to space out your studying. Try to devote 30 minutes or an hour a day to practicing a concept, brushing over a time period, or reviewing whatever concept appropriate. You don’t even have to work every day, but a consistent schedule will keep your progress on track.

2. Use as many resources as possible to solidify your knowledge.

Now is not the time to go at this task alone. You need to ask for advice and assistance from your teachers, who should, after all, be helping you anyway. Also, you should meet with students in your class and try to teach them concepts. The surest sign of mastery is the ability to teach someone else. And while you’re at it, don’t feel shy about asking family members or about seeking help from private tutors, such as the ones at B2A. The hardest part of studying sometimes is just getting the process started and having the motivation to continue. By working with others and viewing your studies as a community activity, the whole ordeal becomes less burdensome.

3. Identify the areas that are weakest and start there.

Since you have extra time, you should give extra care to your weakest points. AP/IB exams aren’t going to test you on what you personally know, so even if you sharpen your strengths to their best, you could potentially lead wide gaps in knowledge that produce a low score. Let your weaknesses inspire you to work hard early so once you tackle your strengths, which you should do closer to the test date, you will have utmost confidence. And that’s key: confidence will make for a good testing experience.

Final thoughts...

However you decide to study for AP/IB tests, just know that starting early is always the best choice. Procrastination in this case can cost you money and hours spent taking college courses. Do yourself a favor and put in the extra work now so you don’t have to take a class later. And, as always, here at B2A we can assist you if you have any issues or concepts you want to address. Let us guide you and motivate you to get those high scores!