Are you looking for an AP® study plan? You’ve come to the right place! Studying for AP® classes can be stressful or overwhelming – but it definitely doesn’t have to be, especially when you have the right tools. This article will run you through the importance of AP® classes (something that you might need to remind yourself of during an otherwise crazy time), how to get started on the path to the score you need, a month by month AP® study plan, and finally, we’ll examine different schools are their requirements for AP® testing.
See anything you think will be helpful? Then read on!
Why Should I Take AP® Courses?
AP® classes are a pretty big deal. Highly selective schools have been known to hardly glance at your application if you do not have at least several present on your transcript. However, admission to a prestigious school should not be the only reason you should strive to take and excel in these core courses.
AP® classes make you a better student.
You gain research abilities, problem solving skills, and new ways of thinking that you might not have access to on the academic track. You’ll get to dig deeper into subjects you enjoy to unlock the roots of knowledge. If you don’t like the particular subject, the breadth of material presented can often cause you to begin to at least appreciate the field.
The rigorous and collaborative nature of AP® classes also better prepares you for college. While you might find it difficult now, you’ll be thankful during your freshman year of college when the transition into post-secondary education is much smoother for you than it is for your classmates who skipped AP® classes altogether.
How Do AP® Classes Impact My College Applications?
The way college admissions offices are set up ensures that there is always a regional manager of some sort who only reads applications from particular parts of the country. This enables them to become very familiar with different schools and cities, so when this person reads your application, they read it in context.
Think of it like this: say you attend a large public high school in an affluent part of a major American city. It’s more than likely that your school would offer a high number of AP® courses, and the regional manager for the college of your dreams would know this. So, if your school offered 10 or more APs and you only took 2, and did average in them, your application would not be considered that competitive.
However, if you live in the middle-of-nowhere, USA and your high school only offered AP® Chemistry and AP® United States History, and you took both of them, and did well in them, your application might be seen in a better light than someone who only took the same classes at different school, because technically, due to your school’s specific situation, you seem more ambitious.
All of this to say, that if your school doesn’t offer a lot of APs courses, don’t think your Ivy League Dreams are over. You can take what is offered, or to prove that you have initiative, you can talk to your school’s guidance counselor about possibly taking the AP® class you have your eye on from a licensed online provider
How Do I Start Studying for the AP® exams?
The best AP® study plan is a long and consistent one. The AP® tests are not like a normal final. You are going to do better on them if you spend the majority of the school year reviewing the material and revising your notes. You might be surprised that is you start studying for your AP® tests 2, or even three months beforehand that you are still going to be behind. This is because the AP® exams literally cover an entire school year’s worth of material.
So, while you can read more about how to study for the AP® exams here, to get started, you need to establish a regular homework routine and solid study habits.
Below, you’ll find a month-by-month AP® study plan.
Month-by-Month AP® Study Plan
This calendar is just meant to give you a general idea of when you should begin certain activities when studying for the AP® exams. If you’re reading this in March and the exam is in May – don’t panic! Although you might be getting a late start on your review, there is no reason you cannot adjust the calendar to fit your needs.The steps in the list below can be combined and edited to fit a more condensed schedule. Also, as you read, you’ll be surprised to see how much of the recommendation review you have already completed.
August
You should spend August setting yourself up for a successful school year. A lot of the things you do now can really positively impact your overall grades and eventual AP® scores. As your teachers will also probably tell you, you need to stay organized. You might want to go a little overboard with the school supplies if you’re in any AP® classes.
It’s a good idea to get the follow things prepared within the first week of school:
• A couple of packs of note cards so you can review for your first test. If you’re not a pen and paper kind of person, make sure to sign up for a Quizlet account (or online flashcard service of your choice) so you can make digital flashcards.
• Purchase 3 or 4 different color highlighters so you can color code your notes.
• Make sure you have a college ruled notebook for each AP® class. You will be taking TONS of notes this year, so it’s unlikely that combining subjects into one book will work.
Remember, it’s never too late! You can spend winter, or even spring break, getting organized.
September
Now that you’re all set up, it’s time to create a study routine and stick to it. You’ll find that studying for the AP® exams is really achieved by constant review of class material. During each class period, take detailed notes. Make sure you write down anything written on the board, as well as the key names, dates, and formulas.
A quick tip: when dealing with numbers, write them down first before you add any explanation. For example, if your AP® World History teacher mentions that civilian English seamen defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588, you’d want to copy down 1588 before its significance. For some reason, our brains forget numbers really quickly.
At the end of each week, read over your class notes and type up a weekly review sheet. Pull what you think is important from each day. This way, when you’re studying f! class tests and the eventual AP® exam, you’ll have less information to sort through.
It’s never too late to begin taking better notes. You will find that your stress level will be lower and your content retention higher if your follow this advice, no matter when in the semester you begin.
October
Keep up the good work! Make sure your binders are all staying organized and your notes detailed. This is also a good time to partner with a friend or classmate or two and form an AP® study group. You’ll want to have at least one study partner for each AP® class you are taking.
Remember how you signed up for Quizlet? Now is the time to put it to use. When it’s time to review and make flashcards, you can divide up the work among your friends and share your results. Just make sure everyone is actually doing his or her fair share. No one likes a freeloader, especially when there are grades on the line.
As you get into the swing of things, you’ll see that being a part of a study group makes reviewing for AP® classes less overwhelming. You’ll also find that the collaborative atmosphere can keep you focused and fill in the gaps of your content knowledge.
If you miss a day at school, your study group buddies will have your back, and you can do the same for them.
Sometimes students wait until the spring semester to really start studying for the exams and form review groups. While this isn’t ideal, because you’ve lost a whole semester of collaborative review, if you’re still looking for a study buddy in January, it’s not the end of the world.
November
Remember to review your class notes at your weekly AP® study group. Your classmates might have a unique perspective on the material and noted important information that you did not. If you haven’t already, it’s also time to purchase an AP® review book for each AP® course you are enrolled in. You can find them in many places, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart, and many local independent booksellers.
As you progress through the curriculum, check your weekly note compilations against the material in the book to make sure that you didn’t miss anything. If you see any holes, ask you teacher if you’ll be covering that material in class. If not, most teachers give private tutorials on certain days before school. Make plans to attend one.
December
Because of your consistent, hard work this semester, preparing for any exams at the end of the year should be a breeze. Continue to review your notes and pay attention during class. Resist the urge to sleep, text, or succumb to any other distraction during the lecture. It’s almost winter break!
January
It’s a good idea to look over your notes from each class at least once or twice during winter break so that you don’t lose your momentum. While you haven’t covered quite enough material to take a full mock AP® test by this point in the school year, you should begin trying your hand at the questions in your AP® review books and on the College Board website. You can practice guessing and process of elimination strategies.
February
Continue to take good notes and review them frequently. There is still lots of new information coming your way, so now is not the time to slack off. If you feel discouraged, lean on your friends or study group mates for support. You’re all in the same situation and can help each other succeed.
March
You have now covered a significant portion of the material that will be present on the exam. Take once of the practice tests included in the AP® review book your purchased so you can continue working on your pacing. Treat the practice test like the real thing so you can get used to the testing environment. Set aside one morning and take it uninterrupted.
April
Take another practice exam. By now, the multiple-choice questions should be a breeze for you, as all your teacher will have reviewing everything that will be present on the AP® test. If you’re taking a test that has essays, practice doing timed writing exercises. You’ve probably already completed a few in class, but see if your teacher can provide you with extra prompts. The more practice, the better.
May
It’s finally test time! You’ve worked hard all year – so there is no need to cram. Make sure to avoid all test prep the day before each exam – you’ll only freak yourself out. Instead, you should take the day off, go do something fun, and relax in preparation for the big day.
Remember: this is an ideal timeline.
While it’s better to start early, the recommendations for note taking, study groups, AP® review guides, and more can be started during different months and still produce solid results, if you put in the hard work and stay committed.
What AP® Score Do I Need to Receive College Credit from Different Schools?
The Ivy League
School Name |
AP® Policy |
| Brown University | Brown says, “Advanced Placement exam scores are not eligible for course credit at Brown, but students may use certain AP® scores to enroll in higher-level courses, to satisfy concentration requirements, or to advance their semester standing.” Whether it’s a 4 or 5 that unlocks these privileges is entirely up to each department. |
| Columbia University | Check out this webpage for information about Columbia’s scoring policies. A 4 or a 5 on an AP® exam will earn you credit in many departments there. |
| Cornell University* | While many Cornell departments require you to take another exam to determine placement, more still allow a 4 or 5 on the AP® exam to stand for credit. Find a list here. |
| Dartmouth College | Dartmouth follows the pattern of its Ivy friends. Find out what you need to score here. |
| Harvard University | Harvard has an entire office dedicated to advanced standing. You can find an explanation that suits your exact situation here. |
| Princeton University | Math, Science, and Foreign Languages are pretty much the only APs that will get you ahead at Princeton. Check out its guide here. |
| University of Pennsylvania | If you want to major in a STEM field at Penn, a 5 on a related AP® exam will jump start your college career. See the details here. |
| Yale University | Yale says, “In some subjects, such as economics, a high score on the AP® test does not in itself give you acceleration credits. But the AP® test score may qualify you to enroll in intermediate-level courses, by which you can earn acceleration credits during freshman year.” |
Not interested in the Ivy League? Check out these options:
Top Public Universities
School Name |
AP® Policy |
| College of William and Mary | AP® scores can give you course credit or exemption. Full list here. |
| Georgia Tech | Offers credit to qualified students. See the requirements here |
| UC Berkeley | If you score above a 3, you’re good to go. More information here. |
| UCLA | UC campus. Same as above. |
| UC San Diego | UC campus. Same as above. |
| University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign | 3s, 4s,and 5s, will give you course credit. See the full list here. |
| University of Michigan | Accepts AP® scores as credit. You can fine the rules here. |
| UNC Chapel Hill | Requirements change from year to year. UNC says you’ll need to check with each department. |
| University of Virginia | You can find a list of all courses and their AP® requirements here. |
| University of Wisconsin | 3s,4s, and 5s can accelerate your freshman year. Here’s the info. |
Top Liberal Arts Colleges
School Name |
AP® Policy |
| Williams College | You can find a full list of the AP® requirements here. |
| Amherst College | Amherst consider APs as evidence of a strong academic record, but do not give course credit for them. |
| Swarthmore College | Swarthmore offers many options. See what your scores will get you here. |
| Bowdoin College | Bowdoin offers advanced standing and credit for certain APs. See the list here. |
| Middlebury College | AP® credits don’t fulfill distribution requirements, but they can get you out of other classes. See the full list here. |
| Pomona College | The requirements vary by department. Find the policy here. |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley leans towards only accepting 5s for credit. See where you stand. |
| Carleton College | Carleton accepts up to 36 outside credits. Some of these may be earned through AP® courses. See the list here. |
| Claremont McKenna College | You’ll need to talk to the department chair to secure your credit. Here’s the info. |
| Davidson College | You can receive 4 course credits from AP® tests. Pick yours here. |
If you are interested in learning about the Advanced Placement course policy of other colleges and universities, all you have to do is complete a quick internet search for “X AP” replacing X with your school’s name, and the complete list of what is required will pop up.
A quick recap:
• AP® courses make you a better student and expand your general content knowledge.
• AP® courses will make the transition to college academic easier for you.
• You need to consistently review for the AP® tests throughout the entire school year if you want to do well on them.
• It’s easy to find out what different school’s AP® policies are through a quick internet search.
So there you have it, a complete AP® study plan! You now know when to start studying for the AP® exams and how to succeed on them. Now it’s time to stop reading and get to work.
Good luck!
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