Advanced placement classes are classes that many students will take at least once in their high school career, and with proper guidance, many of these students will succeed. The College Board offers their AP program, allowing students to take college level courses and exams in high school. Below are four significant tips and tricks that will help you succeed in your advanced placement classes. Advice from current advanced placement students are also included.

Organization

Organization comes in many forms, and to succeed in an AP class, being organized is one of the most essential skills to have. Having a planner to keep track of assignments and tests is crucial in ensuring that you are always prepared. Having concise and organized notes is also just as important. 

Studying and Note Taking

Active studying is the best way to retain and understand information. Types of active studying include teaching others, creating mnemonic devices or relating information to your personal life, creating a study guide (make questions from your notes and answer them), creating concept maps, and many more. It is also important to have organized, concise, and clear notes that will help you study for tests and the AP exam. When taking notes, don’t write everything down, just the most critical pieces of information. Allison Gorton, a high school senior, explains that when taking notes, she “underlines the most important information that I know will be important on the test.”

Time Management

AP classes bring large amounts of work which means that, as a student, you need to make sure that all your work is completed on time. Ella Phipps, another high school senior, explains that she “had at least half an hour set aside to complete homework and assignments for my AP class.” Create a schedule for yourself where you designate time to work on the class. Make sure to take breaks during studying, or else you will overwork yourself. For example, work for 20 minutes and then take a five minute break. 

Preparing for the AP Exam

The AP exam is an optional exam that you can take at the end of the school year that allows you to earn college credits. The exam is scored on a scale of one to five (five being the highest score and one being the lowest). Most colleges typically only accept scores between three and five. You should start preparing for the exam at least two months before. Creating a study plan will make sure that you cover all the topics on the test. 

Hopefully, these tips will help you succeed in your AP class. If you have any other tips and tricks for fellow students, comment them below!