As a sophomore, I took my first Advanced Placement class, which was AP US History (APUSH). AP courses challenge you in the same way you'll be challenged academically in college, so they're a great way to prepare for your future in higher education. It was daunting to walk into the testing room at the end of the year and take the AP exam, but with good preparation, I scored a five. Here are five tips to help you walk out of that exam with confidence too! These tips can also easily be applied to other history courses as well, so if you have friends taking European or World History, share this advice with them too.
1. Stay organized
This is a common tip for many academic matters, but it’s crucial. Throughout the year, I kept my typed notes organized by each of the nine APUSH periods in folders on my computer. I further organized them into folders for each chapter. Because my notes were saved digitally on my computer instead of having hard copies haphazardly crammed into a binder, I was able to easily keep track of all my materials until the day of the AP exam. However, some teachers require you to take notes by hand. If that's the case, you'll have to be more diligent about keeping your notes organized and in a safe place.
Related: How to Get Organized and Manage Your Time as a High School Student
2. Don’t stress about specific dates and facts
Although there are a lot of dates, people, and events mentioned in every history textbook, you don’t have to remember them all. Quick! Name the four states that the “Five Civilized Tribes” were from! (The answer is Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi. Don’t worry. I had to look it up too.) Although you’ll have to remember some specific information for both the document-based question (DBQ) and long-essay question (LEQ), it’s much more important for you to understand the main themes and trends of each era. If you’re learning about the battles of the Civil War, you only need to know the context and impact of the major conflicts. You’ll never need to remember that the first Levittown was built in 1947. Never. That being said, it’s still a good idea to have a rough sense of chronology.
3. Remember the heart of history
Just as globalization and widespread technology use are evident in our daily lives, child labor and monopolization were the trends of the pre-progressive era. Whenever you look at a statistic or read about a Supreme Court case, think about the people whose lives were affected. History becomes a lot more meaningful when you realize the events and trends you’re learning about were the inescapable realities of thousands or even millions of people at the time. Humanize your studies and really connect to them. Reading with empathy will help you get more out of your studying.
Related: A Passion for the Past: How to Use a History Degree
4. Find the fun
It’s difficult for me to remember facts when I just read them quietly, so I chose to study by reading my APUSH notes aloud in a dramatic (and sometimes loud) voice with accompanying gestures. Although history is often denounced to be boring memorization, I was actually able to turn studying into an entertaining experience. You could also do this by forming a study group, but make sure you find people you can count on to stay focused and be productive. You can also gamify your studies by using resources like Quizlet to review notes with their Match and Gravity games. If you’re going to have to study anyway, try to make it enjoyable so you won’t put it off longer.
5. Do what works best for you
I have my own unconventional study techniques, but that doesn’t mean you should study the same way. Which resource works best? That depends on you. If you don’t want to only use your notes, there are tons of resources out there, and a lot of them are free too. College Board has an AP US History page with an official practice test which can help you get comfortable writing both the LEQ and the DBQ within the time constraints. Other resources include the Packet of Doom (it’s less scary than it sounds!), which is a good summary of the APUSH topics you’ll need to know. The Gilder Lehrman Institute has a study guide, videos, primary sources, and timelines for each APUSH period. Adam Norris is an American history teacher who has review sheets, links to other helpful websites, chapter videos for many APUSH textbooks, flashcard sets, and more on his website at apushreview.com. Khan Academy is another great free resource with video and text lessons as well as practice questions.
Related: Infographic: Find Your Learning Style and Study Smarter
Now that you’ve reached the end of this blog, do yourself a favor by cracking open your notes and putting this advice to good use. AP classes seem a lot more intimidating than they are, simply due to the sheer volume of material you get through in a year. Trust that your efforts will only pay off when you're more prepared for college in the future. Plus, you’ll thank yourself later when you’re not cramming past midnight the night before the AP exam.
For more excellent advice on getting through AP courses and exams in high school, check out the tag "advanced placement."
