One of the most stressful times of the year emerges as the school year comes to an end: AP exams and finals. There are numerous assignments to do, projects to complete and complicated subjects to study in a short period of time. With all the pressure to do well on AP exams, earn college credit and finish the year with good grades, it is easy for students to feel overwhelmed during this time of year. However, students can use certain strategies to finish off the year on a good note. Preparation and time management skills are key to avoiding burnout.
One of the most efficient ways to productively prepare for big exams is to create a schedule. By starting early and breaking up study material into small chunks everyday, it is less of a burden on your mental load and it helps to leave time for other activities and assignments. According to the American Psychological Association, spaced review is better for retaining information and is much more effective than cramming at the last minute. Additionally, making sure you get an adequate amount of sleep every night will consolidate your memory, improve focus and reduce stress.
Mrs. Rizo, a math teacher at Glenbard South who teaches a wide range of classes, says that consistent practice is key to success on exams. She recommends doing past FRQ questions and reviewing scoring guidelines to truly understand how points are counted. A common mistake Rizo has noticed among students is solely rereading notes rather than actually doing practice problems to see if they understand the concept enough to execute it. She emphasizes the importance of doing practice problems under timed conditions to alleviate anxiety before the test.
Gigi Mohorovic, a senior at Glenbard South, says that she stays organized and avoids cramming by creating a study schedule about a month in advance. She breaks down the study time for each subject and unit on specific days to build a plan. For vocabulary-heavy classes, Mohorovic likes to use recall and spaced repetition, while for work-heavy classes she finds practice problems and past exams helpful. Similar to what Mrs. Rizo expressed, she agrees it is useful to review the AP exam guidelines to be familiar with the expectations. Although Mohorovic prefers to study alone to reduce distractions, she does still think that studying with others can be nice to better understand the content and collaborate.
Students who are balancing AP exams and finals may find this time of year daunting, but it is doable if they maintain organization. Stress can be lowered by staying focused, practicing consistently and using efficient study methods. The perspectives of both students and teachers reflect that it is crucial to plan ahead rather than cram at the last minute. The key to success is to work smarter, not harder.
