You will invest a lot of time and effort in getting ready for the AP® US History exam, and how you approach your review is essential in getting the best score you can on the exam. This blog post will give you the three best methods for AP® US History review. It is important to remember that study methods are not “one size fits all”. What works for one student may not work for you. So, let’s get right into how to review for the APUSH exam!
What’s the Best Way to Review for the AP® US History Exam?
The AP® US History Exam is one of the most challenging AP® exams because of the huge time-frame and the number of important historical events, people, and developments that are covered. Regardless of the review methods you choose, they must be contained in an overarching, individualized study plan.
Have a Study Plan
Preparing for the AP® US History Exam can seem daunting because of the vast amount of material covered in the course. You need to figure out how you learn best and execute that plan from start to finish. This study plan should begin in the fall and take you all the way to the exam in May.
There are many different approaches to exam review, and you should tailor your methods by exploring your strengths and weaknesses and finding out how you learn best. One study method is to go over what you learned last and work your way back to the beginning. If you learn better chronologically, you should approach your review by starting from the beginning and progress to the most recent material covered. Both of these methods have merit, but you will have to determine what approach works for your learning style and helps you feel best prepared come exam time.
Method 1 – Do Some Research
Know what is on the APUSH Exam
A critical step in preparing for AP® US History Exam is to make sure you have all key concepts from the nine historical periods covered in class. These ideas are found in the AP® US History Course and Exam Description. You should review the course and assess your comfort level with each of the key concepts. This will give you an honest assessment of your strengths and weaknesses, then you will know where to put your energy in your study plan.
See what has been Tested in the Past
The next step in reviewing for the APUSH exam is to find out what the CollegeBoard has tested on past exams. The AP® US History Exam Page allows you to go back and see all of the past free-response questions (FRQs), as well as the scoring guidelines, sample student responses, AP® grader commentary, and score distributions. Use these resources to test your ability to answer AP® US History free-response questions. You can practice with actual test questions, compare your responses with student responses, and then find out how well you would have done on that question.
Explore all of Your Options
There are many online resources that you may use to supplement this article on approaching APUSH review. There are many helpful tips on all aspects of APUSH test prep. You will know before you start studying for the exam what you will need the most help with, so you can target your search to help you find ways to strengthen those areas of need and make sure that you are ready when May rolls around.
To find out what’s the best AP® US History exam prep guide, here is a great resource for you on the best AP® US History review books.
Method 2 – Have Some Tools and Resources Available to Help You Prepare
Your Own Test
Another way to ensure you get the practice you need before the AP® US History exam is to make your own test. There are a couple of ways to do that. The easy way is to get a stack of note cards and create cards with various concepts. You can do key terms and definitions, dates, people, and events. This method allows you to concentrate on areas that challenge you in the course and not have to go through questions that you already know. If you want to get fancy, you can do an Internet search and find “random test generators” that let you build your own test in any form. You can create multiple choice, fill in the blank, or even short answer questions. Practice is the key to learning the concepts you need to excel on the exam.
Method 3 – Put Your Study Plan into Action – Countdown to the Test
September – December
The beginning of your study plan is the best place to focus on content. The chapter summaries and practice exercises are an excellent way to review each chapter. This will keep you focused on all the course topics that will be on the exam. Also, flashcards are a great way to memorize vocabulary words, people, events, and concepts.
January – February
Now that you have spent some time reviewing content, it is time to shift into exam mode. Get out those practice exams and any exams that your teacher has given you for review. Also, try to replicate testing conditions as best you can. Take it in a quiet place and only use the time allowed for the exam.
Let’s see if your study plan is working. So, you have completed your first full-length practice exam, and you have scored the multiple-choice and free-response questions. How did you do? To improve on those weak areas, you will need to go through the questions that you missed. Note the topic/concept of the question. Now you have areas you can study up on for your next practice exam. You will be surprised how fast your list of weak areas will shrink after you go through a few practice exams. By the time exam day rolls around, you will be as ready as you can be. Don’t worry if you still have areas you are not totally comfortable with; no one is perfect, not even those who get a 5 on the AP® US History exam.
March
Focus on your weak areas by going back and reviewing any questions that you missed on the practice and released exams. For the multiple-choice questions, you can review your vocabulary and concept flashcards to bone up on those areas that still are still a bit confusing or you have not totally mastered. Also, try this resource from Albert: AP® US History Multiple-Choice Strategies.
If you did get the full points on the practice exam free-response questions, retake the FRQs until you feel comfortable with your essay writing skills. The DBQ is probably the hardest of the FRQs to get ready for.
April
You may have figured out that practice is the key to success. You should take several full-length practice tests and time yourself this month! Keep your focus on your weak areas and make notes of the areas you need to review. Keep your head down and stay focused — you are almost there!
Don’t forget to start your one-month countdown by reading our One Month AP® US History Study Guide.
May
The time to shine is almost here! You have prepared long and hard for the exam, but don’t ease up now. The week before the exam, get into “game mode” and take one more full-length practice exam. Make sure you replicate exam conditions as best you are able. It may also be a good idea to review the exam directions during that last practice session. That way, when test day comes and you sit down to take the exam, trying to understand the directions is one less thing you have to worry about.
Success on the exam is not just about how well you prepared, but your state of mind and body. Don’t try and pull an all-nighter the night before the test. Instead, relax, listen to your favorite music, meditate, get a good night sleep. Being mentally sharp and physically rested will let you focus more on the exam.
Conclusion
When you’re getting ready for the AP® US History exam, you need to think like a historian. Focus on course themes and concepts while you study and get used to dealing with primary source documents. Also, use your study calendar to keep you focused on your study plan. The more ways you can approach test preparation, the better. The key to success is to have a study plan and stick to it without fail. For the free-response questions, we can’t stress this enough – practice as much as you can. The more you hone your essay writing skills, the more you will look forward to the time when you can sit down and write your essays with the confidence on the AP® US History exam and get that AP® score that you dreamed of.
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