3 Tips to Work Ahead in AP Classes This Winter Break
Most high school students are grateful for winter break. After all, it is an opportunity to fully relax.
But for students who are enrolled in AP courses -- especially those taking multiple AP classes -- this break can also be an opportunity to improve or solidify grades in these courses and prepare for the important end-of-year AP exams in May.
The following are three strategies that students can use to position their winter break as a key building block on the path toward receiving a top score of 5 on their exams.
Follow [five keys to success in AP classes.]
1. Outline the remainder of the year: Before you do any work for your AP courses, set aside an hour or so to outline the remaining months of the school year. Ensure your schedule extends through the AP exams in May and pay careful attention to due dates of major assignments and any study conflicts that may arise as a result.
Once you've identified the busiest and most important dates for the rest of your school year, you can then note the periods of time that will be relatively slow. Schedule extra study sessions or practice test sessions during those times.
This is especially important for students who are taking multiple AP classes, since juggling the coursework for more than one class can be extremely challenging. Creating a schedule now can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed or intimidated in the months ahead.
Learn to [balance winter break fun with test prep.]
2. Take practice tests: Even with a schedule in hand, unexpected complications may occur, and you may find yourself reassigning the time that you had budgeted for AP exam preparation. Practice tests require a certain amount of uninterrupted time if they are to be truly useful, so take advantage of long stretches of downtime -- like winter break -- to complete practice exams for the AP courses that you are enrolled in.
Although you will not have covered all the material that the practice tests contain, they are still an ideal way to become acquainted with the format and pace of the exam. The most important preparation for any standardized test is taking practice exams, and students may have no better time during the year to do so than during their winter breaks.
Find ways to [ reflect on your academic weaknesses and improve performance.]
3. Reread key texts and read ahead: AP classes move quickly, and for some students, it is difficult, if not impossible, to remain current with all of the material over the course of an entire school year. You may forget a chapter or a topic, or you may find that you need to review material once more before your end-of-year exam.
During winter break, aim to reread chapters that may have slipped through the cracks during the first half of the year. You should also read ahead in your textbook, as --this can help you familiarize yourself with the material that you will see in the coming months. Even if you do not fully understand this new content, you can save valuable time by learning a portion of it now.
While winter break is and should be seen primarily as a time to relax and recharge your batteries, it can serve you well to use some of your time productively. Outlining the remainder of the school year, taking practice exams and rereading and reading ahead in your course materials can alleviate the stress that is often found in the latter part of the year, when AP exam time is quickly approaching. A little time set aside now can greatly lessen your chance of a headache later.
Bradford Holmes is a professional SAT and Latin tutor with Varsity Tutors. He earned his B.A. from Harvard University and his master's degree from the University of Southern California.
