In preparation for AP tests, remember the most important thing is UNDERSTANDING the information WELL as you are studying throughout the school year. This will greatly reduce the amount of cramming you feel you need to do at the end of the school year.
Students who understand concepts rather than purely memorize information do much better on AP tests.
When you find an important concept (as pointed out by your study guide), you should make sure you understand it. Use the Feynman Technique - read the notes by clicking here or watch the video below. This technique will help you in ALL of your subjects, not just studying for a test!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
AP Study Guides
Please purchase a study guide now for each test you're considering taking. I prefer the Princeton Review and Kaplan study guides.
To use your study guide, just read the chapter/sections that go with whatever you are studying at the time. The chapter will give you condensed information about those topics. This way you will know which concepts you must really understand.
CLARIFICATION: Go to Amazon.com to get the best prices on study guides. There are many different options from various test-prep companies. Search for "AP Biology Study Guide" (or whatever test you are taking.)
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Productivity Plan
PRODUCTIVITY PLANS:
Do you have a productivity plan? If you want to be successful on an AP Test, you’ll need to learn to manage your time. Most people use the Guilt/Procrastination productivity plan. Guilt motivates you to do something when you’re lazy, and procrastination lets you relax when you want a break. Problem is that this is not the most efficient way to accomplish things and besides, it just makes you feel bad about yourself!
For 30 days, try to stick to a productivity plan that will allow you to reduce stress & procrastination, balance your workloads, and let you enjoy time off guilt-free.
Here is a simple way to increase productivity. It’ll take self-discipline to stick to it, but try it out for thirty days and see if it helps you out. Adapt it to your own needs.
1. Create a Weekly To-Do/Goal list. List all the assignments you have to do for the upcoming week and anything else you’d like to do. Try to keep the list to about 20-25 items. Try to condense tasks into 1 item, such as “morning routine” which might include chores, exercise, etc. You could list your routines on page that is posted on your wall in case you forget. You will also want to have a calendar to mark anything that is time-sensitive. After you have created this list, go over it with a parent in a weekly meeting. Your parent can help you see if you’ve overlooked anything.
2. Each night, create a Daily To-Do list. List all the things you want to accomplish the next day, using your Weekly To-do list and calendar. Try to keep this list to 5-10 items.
3. Each day, look at your Daily to-do list. Work from that list. When you have finished everything on the list, you are done for the day. Bring your list with you and check off items as you finish them. You can also set a time limit to be done by. For example, if your time limit is 6pm, you are done by 6pm, even if you haven’t finished everything. Avoid changing tasks or adding new ones to your list, you are trying to avoid an “infinite to-do list” and go for accomplishment. This system creates guilt-free time for rest, and helps prevent burnout.
4. Eliminate distractions. Look at how you spend your time. Do you have enough time to study? Are you spending too much time on the internet? Video games? Goofing around? Talking on the phone? Getting distracted? Extracurricular activities? Identify what distracts you, and make a plan for reducing distractions.
5. Make efficient use of your time - We all have a limited amount of time, so learn to structure it. You can create a time map where you block out your time, listing when you have classes and when you have study time. For example, if you have a class from 9-10am on Mondays, you could block out 10-12 for study time. Another way to manage time is to timebox. Whenever you have an hour, you work for 1 hour on your list and then you get to take a 10 minute break. Each week you should also schedule 1 day off from studying. Usually this is Sunday. If you schedule the day off and are efficient with your time the rest of the week, you can take the day off guilt-free. The last tip is to do like-tasks together. It is more efficient to make 5 phone calls at the same time. It is more efficient to write an entire essay all at once rather than working on it 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there.
Supplies You Will Need:
*Something to write on - something you will not lose. A clipboard is handy to keep your list on (half size or full size), A planner, a notebook, or just write your list on an index card and keep it in your pocket.
*Something to write with - any kind
*Calendar - hang it on the wall by your study area
A good productivity plan is something you’ll use for the rest of your life. It’s well worth trying to create a system that will work for you now!
Do you have a productivity plan? If you want to be successful on an AP Test, you’ll need to learn to manage your time. Most people use the Guilt/Procrastination productivity plan. Guilt motivates you to do something when you’re lazy, and procrastination lets you relax when you want a break. Problem is that this is not the most efficient way to accomplish things and besides, it just makes you feel bad about yourself!
For 30 days, try to stick to a productivity plan that will allow you to reduce stress & procrastination, balance your workloads, and let you enjoy time off guilt-free.
Here is a simple way to increase productivity. It’ll take self-discipline to stick to it, but try it out for thirty days and see if it helps you out. Adapt it to your own needs.
1. Create a Weekly To-Do/Goal list. List all the assignments you have to do for the upcoming week and anything else you’d like to do. Try to keep the list to about 20-25 items. Try to condense tasks into 1 item, such as “morning routine” which might include chores, exercise, etc. You could list your routines on page that is posted on your wall in case you forget. You will also want to have a calendar to mark anything that is time-sensitive. After you have created this list, go over it with a parent in a weekly meeting. Your parent can help you see if you’ve overlooked anything.
2. Each night, create a Daily To-Do list. List all the things you want to accomplish the next day, using your Weekly To-do list and calendar. Try to keep this list to 5-10 items.
3. Each day, look at your Daily to-do list. Work from that list. When you have finished everything on the list, you are done for the day. Bring your list with you and check off items as you finish them. You can also set a time limit to be done by. For example, if your time limit is 6pm, you are done by 6pm, even if you haven’t finished everything. Avoid changing tasks or adding new ones to your list, you are trying to avoid an “infinite to-do list” and go for accomplishment. This system creates guilt-free time for rest, and helps prevent burnout.
4. Eliminate distractions. Look at how you spend your time. Do you have enough time to study? Are you spending too much time on the internet? Video games? Goofing around? Talking on the phone? Getting distracted? Extracurricular activities? Identify what distracts you, and make a plan for reducing distractions.
5. Make efficient use of your time - We all have a limited amount of time, so learn to structure it. You can create a time map where you block out your time, listing when you have classes and when you have study time. For example, if you have a class from 9-10am on Mondays, you could block out 10-12 for study time. Another way to manage time is to timebox. Whenever you have an hour, you work for 1 hour on your list and then you get to take a 10 minute break. Each week you should also schedule 1 day off from studying. Usually this is Sunday. If you schedule the day off and are efficient with your time the rest of the week, you can take the day off guilt-free. The last tip is to do like-tasks together. It is more efficient to make 5 phone calls at the same time. It is more efficient to write an entire essay all at once rather than working on it 5 minutes here, 10 minutes there.
Supplies You Will Need:
*Something to write on - something you will not lose. A clipboard is handy to keep your list on (half size or full size), A planner, a notebook, or just write your list on an index card and keep it in your pocket.
*Something to write with - any kind
*Calendar - hang it on the wall by your study area
A good productivity plan is something you’ll use for the rest of your life. It’s well worth trying to create a system that will work for you now!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
AP Test FAQs
What You Need to Know about AP Tests
*AP Study Guide: You’ll need an AP study guide for each test you are taking. I tend to like the Princeton Review or Kaplan study guides the best. For biology, I prefer Kaplan, then Princeton, then Barron’s. Get a current version, as the information can tend to change from year to year. Look at reviews online for the previous year’s versions, though, since no one has used this year’s version yet!
*Grading: You can score between a 1 and a 5 on an AP test. 3,4, or 5 is considered passing and gives college credit.
*How much college credit: The amount of credits you get for passing an AP test will vary between colleges. Google “AP Credit Granting” and the name of the college you want to attend to find out how much credit you’d get. For example, passing US History or World History would get you 6 credits at BYU.
*Guessing: Due to a policy change last year, incorrect answers are no longer counted against your score. So it’s in your best interest to answer ALL the questions, making your best guess.
*What’s on the test & how long does it take? The test is 3 hours long and consists of 100 multiple choice questions (80 minutes), a 10 minute reading period, and 90 minute free response section.
*When: AP tests are given on specific times/dates between May 7-18. Everyone in the nation takes the tests pretty much at the same time. The exam schedule is here: http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ap/about/dates
*How much does it cost? It costs $87 per test. It will cost you around $200-$250 per college credit, and all the tests grant at least 3 credits.
*When do I need to decide if I’m taking the test? Schools order the tests in March, so you have till then to decide if you’re ready for the test.
*AP vs other ways of earning college credit: You can also take the CLEP tests, which are easier than AP tests, to get college credit. CLEP tests are offered any time during the year and are multiple choice only. However, many colleges do not accept CLEP tests. Passing an AP tests looks good on college applications (BYU encourages AP) and is much more widely accepted. You can also earn college credit through taking Distance Ed or concurrent enrollment courses. The grade you earn in these courses will forever be on your college transcript, whereas if you
don’t pass an AP test, that is not recorded on an official transcript.
*How hard are AP tests? AP tests are not simple. You definitely do need to learn the topic and study. However, you do not need to know everything about the topic perfectly; it is still possible to pass with around 50-60% correct.
*I’m a homeschooler, why would I want to “study for the test”? Of course you get college credit, but AP testing works well for homeschoolers who learn for the sake of learning. Those who do best on AP tests are those who understand the concepts, rather than those who try to cram in all the information and memorize it for the test. You will have to put in some extra time reviewing for the test, but if you try hard to understand the concepts throughout the year, you will have a much easier time on the test.
*How can an AP mentor help? I will give you encouragement to keep going throughout the year, as well as specific techniques to help you better memorize and understand concepts. So even if you’re not taking the AP test, these techniques will help you with learning no matter what courses you’re taking.
*AP Study Guide: You’ll need an AP study guide for each test you are taking. I tend to like the Princeton Review or Kaplan study guides the best. For biology, I prefer Kaplan, then Princeton, then Barron’s. Get a current version, as the information can tend to change from year to year. Look at reviews online for the previous year’s versions, though, since no one has used this year’s version yet!
*Grading: You can score between a 1 and a 5 on an AP test. 3,4, or 5 is considered passing and gives college credit.
*How much college credit: The amount of credits you get for passing an AP test will vary between colleges. Google “AP Credit Granting” and the name of the college you want to attend to find out how much credit you’d get. For example, passing US History or World History would get you 6 credits at BYU.
*Guessing: Due to a policy change last year, incorrect answers are no longer counted against your score. So it’s in your best interest to answer ALL the questions, making your best guess.
*What’s on the test & how long does it take? The test is 3 hours long and consists of 100 multiple choice questions (80 minutes), a 10 minute reading period, and 90 minute free response section.
*When: AP tests are given on specific times/dates between May 7-18. Everyone in the nation takes the tests pretty much at the same time. The exam schedule is here: http://professionals.
*How much does it cost? It costs $87 per test. It will cost you around $200-$250 per college credit, and all the tests grant at least 3 credits.
*When do I need to decide if I’m taking the test? Schools order the tests in March, so you have till then to decide if you’re ready for the test.
*AP vs other ways of earning college credit: You can also take the CLEP tests, which are easier than AP tests, to get college credit. CLEP tests are offered any time during the year and are multiple choice only. However, many colleges do not accept CLEP tests. Passing an AP tests looks good on college applications (BYU encourages AP) and is much more widely accepted. You can also earn college credit through taking Distance Ed or concurrent enrollment courses. The grade you earn in these courses will forever be on your college transcript, whereas if you
don’t pass an AP test, that is not recorded on an official transcript.
*How hard are AP tests? AP tests are not simple. You definitely do need to learn the topic and study. However, you do not need to know everything about the topic perfectly; it is still possible to pass with around 50-60% correct.
*I’m a homeschooler, why would I want to “study for the test”? Of course you get college credit, but AP testing works well for homeschoolers who learn for the sake of learning. Those who do best on AP tests are those who understand the concepts, rather than those who try to cram in all the information and memorize it for the test. You will have to put in some extra time reviewing for the test, but if you try hard to understand the concepts throughout the year, you will have a much easier time on the test.
*How can an AP mentor help? I will give you encouragement to keep going throughout the year, as well as specific techniques to help you better memorize and understand concepts. So even if you’re not taking the AP test, these techniques will help you with learning no matter what courses you’re taking.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Parental Support
Students who are new at studying for AP tests can really use parental support. The best way parents can support their students will be to:
(1) Meet weekly with your student to help them plan their studies and keep them on track. Parents can help by knowing what their students should be doing in each class.
(2) Understand and learn how students can best prepare for the AP tests, using the info on this blog.
(3) Encourage them!
The students need to put in the time to study and know the material, but you are the support crew - helping them have enough time to study, desire to study, to stay organized and to guide them through the test prep process. You should be studying the test prep process so they can use the time to be studying!
(1) Meet weekly with your student to help them plan their studies and keep them on track. Parents can help by knowing what their students should be doing in each class.
(2) Understand and learn how students can best prepare for the AP tests, using the info on this blog.
(3) Encourage them!
The students need to put in the time to study and know the material, but you are the support crew - helping them have enough time to study, desire to study, to stay organized and to guide them through the test prep process. You should be studying the test prep process so they can use the time to be studying!
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