By Priyam, IvyWise Master Tutor
AP exams are standardized tests administered by the College Board that allow high school students to earn college credit or advanced placement in college courses by demonstrating proficiency in various subjects. The AP program includes courses in various subject areas, followed by exams. Whether you’re prepping for the AP exam as part of your course curriculum or taking the exam on your own, it’s important that you not only know the content and how to review it but also know how to take the tests.
AP stands for “Advanced Placement” — this is a rigorous, college-level curriculum for high school students that consists of coursework and exams. Students can enroll in AP courses through their high school if they are offered but also have the option to register for AP exams on their own. Successfully completing AP courses and exams demonstrates to college admissions committees that you are ready to pursue a higher education.
AP exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Students who score a 3 or above can qualify for college credits and/or advanced placement at many schools across the U.S.
Generally, students take AP classes for the relevant AP exam, but in some cases, self-studying for an AP exam is also an option. However, self-studying requires high-quality resources to review and the ability to learn the exam materials with minimal guidance.
Typically, AP courses last a year, but others — such as micro or macroeconomics, U.S. government, and statistics — may be half- to even a quarter-year long. This means that while there might be less material to learn, there is also less classroom time to review it before the exam day. Because the AP exam schedule is in May, you may even have a large gap of time between the course and exam. It’s important to take this into account in order to budget your test prep timeline accordingly.
Most AP exams are divided between multiple-choice and free-response questions. For students who are self-studying, the hardest part of AP exam prep is usually the free-response questions, since these are the most difficult to assess without feedback from an instructor. For the multiple-choice questions, you can use previous exams with the answer keys or outside prep material to score your responses.
Other AP courses, like Spanish language and culture, can be difficult for self-studiers because they require collaboration in the form of conversational practice. Unless you are a native speaker of a non-English language, self-studying for this form of AP exam could be difficult. Beyond that, your background, the amount of time you can devote to studying and the resources you have will determine which tests you can effectively self-study for. Tests in English, history, math, and science are likely suitable options if you have a strong foundation in the subject and can devote the time to learn the material.
AP and IB (International Baccalaureate) courses have key differences in structure, focus, and recognition. If both options are available to you, choose the one that best fits your preferences and learning style.
AP courses are standalone, subject-specific classes, and students can choose which ones to take based on their interests and strengths. IB, on the other hand, is a comprehensive program with a set curriculum that spans multiple disciplines. IB students are typically required to take courses in six subject groups, along with completing the theory of knowledge (TOK); the extended essay; and creativity, activity, service (CAS) projects.
AP offers more flexibility, as students can take as many or as few AP courses as they like. IB, especially in the Diploma Program (DP), is more structured and typically requires students to commit to a full two-year program.
AP focuses more on in-depth knowledge of specific subjects, while IB emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and global perspectives. IB courses often require more research, analysis, and reflection.
AP exams are scored based on a single final exam at the end of the course. IB assessments include both internal assessments, such as projects and essays, and external exams. In the IB Diploma Program, students are graded on a combination of these assessments across all subjects.
Both programs are recognized by colleges and universities worldwide — college admissions committees have no preference when it comes to IB vs AP. However, AP is more common in the U.S., while IB has a broader international recognition, with many schools globally offering the IB Diploma Program.
Follow your school’s specific registration process and deadlines. In general, these are the steps involved to register for AP exams:
1. Talk to your teacher or school counselor: The first step is to speak with your teacher or counselor, as they manage AP exam registration. They will provide important information about deadlines, fees, and the registration process at your school.
2. Join your AP class section online: If you’re enrolled in an AP course, your teacher will give you a join code to access the course materials on the College Board’s My AP portal. You’ll need to join your class section on this platform to indicate that you are taking the AP exam.
3. Register on My AP: After joining the class section, log into your College Board account on the My AP website and indicate whether you plan to take the exam. Your school will finalize the registration based on your response.
4. Pay Exam Fees: Your school or AP coordinator will provide information on how to pay the exam fees. Expect a $99 fee per exam, though fee reductions are available for students who qualify.
5. Deadlines: Most schools have a registration deadline in the fall, typically by November. Make sure to register by your school’s deadline to avoid late fees or missing out on the opportunity to take the exam.
If you’re not taking an AP course through a school, contact AP Services for Students or visit the College Board website to find schools where you can register to take the exam as an independent student.
Assuming you are among the majority of students taking an AP exam as part of your AP course, it is imperative to create an AP exam study plan in order to master the content. This is why organization is key. The old-school method using a three-ring binder, which uses dividers based on categories (e.g., notes, handouts, quizzes, and tests), can work very well in helping you organize your material. If you prefer studying on your computer and have digital copies of all study material, then it is often very easy to organize all your digital material in a folder on your computer.
After you’ve organized your materials, it’s important to assess where you are in your AP course and your test prep timeline. Ideally, students will continually review the AP course’s materials throughout the length of the class.
For the first half of any AP course, it is imperative to buckle down and focus on content. During this time, don’t run out and buy study guides — focus instead on truly learning the detailed content. Most AP courses will generally use AP-style questions on in-class exams.
Midway through the course is the time to use a study guide, but the key objective at this junction should be to memorize the format of all your AP exams rather than being able to answer all the questions correctly.
At the beginning of the second half of the course, start taking practice free-response questions that cover the material you have already learned in class. As you look through your test booklets for appropriate questions, try answering based on the material you know. This way you will be able to simulate free responses to gain familiarity and practice.
Three-fourths of the way is a good time to take your first full-length practice exam. Yes, there will still be some gaps in your knowledge as the tail end material may not have been covered in the course yet, but that’s okay.
As you grade your exam, separate the questions you missed into two groups:
Only focus on the first set of questions as you start reviewing material. Even if you have not covered all the content, this is a good time to begin a review process. Start with the oldest material first, and work towards the present. You’ll be surprised by the amount of material you really need to review because you have forgotten it or only remember it vaguely.
Whether your course lasted a year or only a semester, AP exams are all given at the same time, so now’s the time to get serious about your test prep. In the month preceding the exam, focus on full-length practice exams, especially in the latter half. Take at least two full-length practice tests under timed conditions after reviewing all the material and focus on the areas of greatest weakness.
If you can, take one last practice exam a week before the test. This will generally give you the best predictor of your exam day performance. Analyze the results of the exams you took to carefully understand each missed question and the topic/concept the question represents — this is a great way to address any weaknesses.
Having good calculator skills is key to improving your speed and accuracy on the AP exam. You can hone your skills by using your calculator regularly to solve various types of problems, especially those commonly tested in AP math and science subjects, such as calculus or statistics.
Practice helpful calculator skills for the AP exam like graphing equations, finding intercepts and zeros, calculating derivatives or integrals, and performing statistical analysis. Reviewing the calculator’s manual or online tutorials can also help you discover shortcuts and lesser-known functions. Additionally, practicing with past AP exam questions that allow calculator use will help you use your time more efficiently during the actual exam.
AP exam scores are reported on a scale of 1 to 5, with each score reflecting how well a student performed in comparison to college-level expectations for the subject. Here’s how to interpret your scores:
After scores are released, students can view them online through their College Board account and check each college’s policy to see if their scores qualify for credit or placement.
If you’re not satisfied with your score or want to improve it, you can take the exam again in a future year. The College Board allows students to retake AP exams as many times as they wish. However, each attempt will require you to pay the exam fee again.
When sending scores to colleges, you can choose which scores to send, meaning you’re not obligated to submit all your attempts — only the ones you feel best reflect your abilities. Keep in mind that retaking the exam won’t replace previous scores, but the most recent one will be added to your score report.
Preparing for AP exams, whether it’s part of your normal course review or you’re self-studying, is critical to performing well on test day. Students need to review the material continually, take practice tests, and assess areas of weakness. This is not only important for AP exam performance, but also for prep for any final exams that might be given at the end of the semester in those AP courses.
At IvyWise, our team of expert tutors works with students to help them achieve their desired AP exam results and perform well in the course. Whether you need prep for one exam or tutoring for the semester, IvyWise tutors can help students in any subject. Contact us today for more information on our tutoring and test prep services.
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