How Long Should I Self Study for Th Ecpc Exam Before Taking It Again

AP self-study is when you study for an AP exam on your ain and then take the AP test without taking the form. This is possible because the Higher Board does not actually crave you to have the class associated with a given AP test to take the test!

Yous might be request yourself: why practise people self-study? Is cocky-studying right for me? Then, one time you lot've decided to self-study, and you've chosen the AP exam you desire to study for, you may find yourself wondering how to go virtually preparing for the test on your own. Where should y'all start? What do you demand to cover? What materials should y'all use?

Never fearfulness, intrepid cocky-studiers! My seven-footstep approach to self-studying, from deciding if self-studying is right for you to taking the exam, will explain exactly how to self-study for an AP test and help you tackle the chore ahead of you in a way that is manageable, makes sense, and prepares you for the exam. Onward and upwardly!

Step 1: Decide If Self-Studying Is Something Yous Should Do

Before we go into how to self-written report, brand sure it's the correct approach for you.

You lot might self-study for a variety of reasons: your schedule doesn't allow you to take an AP course when it's offered at your school, your school doesn't offer an AP course in a subject you want to study, y'all accept a pre-existing knowledge base in a subject (like a foreign language yous speak at habitation), and so on. Some students also self-study for an AP exam while they are taking the non-AP version of a course. For instance, you might self-study for AP Biology while yous are taking Honors Biology and but supplement what you learn in course with the actress fabric that'south covered on the AP exam.

These are all valid reasons to self-study. When you practise make up one's mind whether or not to self-study, you'll need to consider how self-motivated you are, how much fourth dimension you actually have to do extra studying outside of class, and how difficult the exam you lot desire to take is.

In full general, yous'll want to self-study for an AP exam that is limited in scope, not also conceptual (and then no Calculus!), and that yous are interested in. Some popular self-report choices include AP Environmental Science, AP Man Geography, and AP Psychology.

For further info on cocky-study, as well every bit a guide to deciding whether or not to self-study, yous can encounter my introduction to AP self-study. To help you lot choose a cocky-study exam, you can also see my listing of Best APs to Self-Study.

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Step 2: Figure Out What You lot Need to Learn

I'm assuming you accept a general idea of what your called self-study exam is nigh, or yous wouldn't accept picked information technology. But yous demand more that to ready—y'all demand specific, actionable knowledge on exactly what the test is going to embrace.

Exactly what you personally need to comprehend will depend a lot on where yous are starting from. If yous already accept a basic proficiency in the skill or subject, y'all volition not need to cover the material as comprehensively as you lot will if you lot are starting from scratch. Similarly, if yous are going to self-study for an AP while y'all are in the Honors (or other non-AP) version of the class, you volition simply need to cover the material that won't exist taught in the classroom.

No matter your situation, though, you will need to compare what you know with what you are required to know for the exam. So you lot'll need a complete list of all of the core competencies necessary for the AP test.

For this, you will want to plough to your trusty College Board website. The showtime thing you'll want to look at is the "AP Course and Examination Description" for the course you are cocky-studying. Find this document on the main grade page which yous tin can admission from the College Board'south AP Pupil list of AP courses. This document volition include a comprehensive description of the skills and content areas you need to know for the exam.

(Note: for courses that haven't been revised for a long time, the document volition just exist called "AP Class Description.")

Examine this certificate closely; take dissever notes on what things yous however need to learn based on the course description. If you have preexisting cognition in the subject, you lot should also annotation content areas listed in the description that yous already have a handle on and things that y'all sort of know but might exist shaky on. If you are self-studying concurrently with a non-AP class, it will help you a lot to have a copy of the syllabus for your non-AP course. This will permit y'all meet what the exam covers merely your grade doesn't, and those are going to be the areas to focus on.

Y'all should also look at the teacher resources on the AP course audit page for the form yous are cocky-studying. In that location, you'll be able to look at sample syllabi for the grade. This may help you clarify some of the competencies in the form clarification if you aren't certain exactly what they mean. You lot tin likewise see textbook recommendations from the College Board on this folio.

Essentially, yous'll use the College Board's resources to develop your ain document describing what you need to learn before the test. Information technology doesn't quite accept to be a syllabus, just that'southward more or less how it will function for y'all—information technology will help y'all go on rails of what yous've learned and what you still demand to comprehend.

This can be a working document—if yous realize during the form of your prep that in that location's a topic expanse y'all missed, or one that doesn't seem particularly relevant for the test after all, feel costless to modify stuff around! This is simply how you'll institute a starting point for your preparation.

On your marker, get set, prep!

Stride three: Brand a Schedule and Stick to It!

In one case you've gotten a working document of what you need to comprehend for the test, divide it up into a schedule. Again, some topics may stop up taking you a little longer than you thought, and some may have less time. This is fine, just so long every bit you keep a steady pace and don't fall way backside in your schedule.

In addition to having an overall schedule — encompass topic X for two weeks, Y for iii weeks—make a schedule of when you are going to sit down down and set every week. Having consistent times each week that you set aside for self-report prep will keep you on rails and make it easier to go through the fabric. To that end, you may besides desire to decide on a specific identify where you're going to study: your kitchen table, the library, your grandma'south back porch—wherever, but a consistent place where you can piece of work gratuitous of distractions volition brand training feel more routine and keep yous motivated.

Stride 4: Find and Use a Multifariousness of Report Resources

Once you lot've drawn up a rough schedule, you'll need to figure out how y'all're going to acquire the textile: what resource volition you use?

I recommend using a variety of resources. Processing the information multiple ways and in multiple formats will help you retain it and keep the studying process interesting (well, equally interesting as it can exist). That said, do be aware of how you learn best—if you aren't an auditory learner, for instance, podcasts won't exist a especially useful written report tool for yous.

Here are four kinds of study resources you might consider.

Textbooks

A adept textbook is, in truth, the most important item in your arsenal for most AP exams. It's your one-cease learning shop that volition help you learn the cloth, construction your training, and try out review questions. So, it's critical that you choose a proficient one (or good ones! There's no rule that y'all can't use more one textbook to fix).

Hither are some ideas for finding good textbooks:

• Check the Higher Board'south list of textbook recommendations on the AP course audit page for your exam.

• If you're self-studying for an AP course that is actually offered at your school, y'all might see what textbook is used for the form. Ask students what they retrieve of it and if they observe it helpful.

• Read reviews of whatsoever textbook yous are thinking about purchasing (or getting from the library). Pay special attention to whether or not students felt it prepared them for the exam.

• Y'all tin can also encounter our textbook recommendations for AP US History, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and AP Psychology.

Review Books

A good review book is probably the second-most of import resources a self-studier tin have, later a good textbook.

It isn't necessarily the best fashion to learn the material in a comprehensive fashion, simply a lucid, test-focused prep book will aid yous review everything that'due south most important to remember for the exam. As the day of your exam draws closer, review books will help ensure all the noesis you learned by cocky-studying stays in your head.

To find a practiced prep book, read reviews! Nosotros have recommendations for AP U.s.a. History, AP Biological science, AP Human Geography, and AP Psychology, merely you lot tin as well expect on Amazon, College Confidential, and elsewhere for reviews. The Princeton Review and Barron'due south are two generally well-regarded AP review volume sources, but making certain you're getting the best book for the specific course you are studying is important.

Don't do this to your books if you got them from the library, please.

Online Content Providers and MOOCs

You will probably get the real meat of your self-report cloth from your trusty textbook(s) and review book(s), but there are other, supplemental resources that tin assistance you learn and review AP concepts. Online lecture videos and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are an fantabulous example of a supplementary resource you might utilise for self-written report.

Massive Open Online Courses are online classes created by educational institutions to make their educational resources accessible to a broader audience. They generally involve lecture videos; some likewise accept additional material similar practice exercises and assessments. Many of them are free!

Yous can utilise online lecture videos and MOOCs to learn all kinds of material. Some will have a more general, topical focus that is not AP-specific; others are specifically for learning AP material and review.

Even AP-specific MOOCs are more often than not non accredited by the College Lath (i.e. they practise not have the Higher Lath's official seal of approval, like an AP class at your high schoolhouse). This just means that you should stick to the nearly reputable providers and look for reviews from other self-studiers if you lot can observe them. (You might try to College Confidential forums or the Reddit AP pages.)

Some of the best online content and MOOC providers:

• Khan Academy offers tons of free educational modules on a huge diversity of topics covered by AP exams. In add-on to crawly video lessons, they take helpful quizzes to check your skills. Yous can also find almost of their videos on their YouTube aqueduct.

• EdX, founded by Harvard and MIT, has tons of complimentary MOOC modules applicable to the AP, including some specifically targeted to AP exams.

• Coursera also offers tons of relevant MOOCs from a multifariousness of colleges and universities.

I of the single most important parts of your college application is what classes you choose to take in high school (in conjunction with how well you do in those classes). Our team of PrepScholar admissions experts have compiled their knowledge into this single guide to planning out your high school course schedule. We'll advise you on how to remainder your schedule between regular and honors/AP/IB courses, how to cull your extracurriculars, and what classes yous tin can't beget not to take.

Podcasts and YouTube Videos

Podcasts and YouTube videos are some other great supplemental resource for learning near specific topics and concepts. You can find channels on everything from WWII History to astronomy to foreign language learning—definitely poke effectually to see what might be useful!

To requite you lot a caput-beginning, hither are some helpful resource you lot might desire to cheque out, sorted by topic:

General (Little Bit of Everything)

TedEd - a YouTube channel from the people who bring you lot Ted Talks. Videos on all kinds of subjects that could be useful for your AP exam.

Science

The SciShow — This YouTube channel explains all kinds of scientific phenomena. Probably of specific interest to AP Bio self-studiers, every bit there are lots of explanations of biological processes (and answers to some very of import questions, like whether or non you have to requite up bacon.)

The Naked Scientists — a podcast covering all kinds of science topics. Useful for cocky-studying whatever science AP. (But delight don't cocky-report AP chemical science or AP physics! I'one thousand very serious! Encounter my list of best AP classes to self-study if you don't believe me).

History

Biography channel — Their YouTube channel offers tons of "mini-biography" videos for notable historical figures. A proficient manner to acquire some key points virtually the major players in your history textbook.

APUSH review by Adam Norris — a YouTube channel well-nigh, you guessed it, reviewing AP US History. He also has videos on AP Regime.

The Podcast History of Our World — A podcast series focusing on world history. About of the current episodes embrace ancient history (so, periods 1 and 2 for the AP World History exam).

The History Chicks — A podcast by women about notable women from history. Mostly Euro-centric.

English

Grammar Girl — A podcast with super-short episodes on grammar and writing tips. If there's a particular idiom or grammatical rule that trips you up, this is a peachy resource!

Foreign Language

Audiria — A podcast site specifically for Spanish-language learners. You can pick podcasts by difficulty level and topic. How cool is that?

An early podcaster in his native chemical element.

Pace v: Take Notes and Self-Assess

While you're consuming all of your top-quality study resources—reading your textbook, watching your Khan University videos, perusing your review book—it's very important that you collaborate with the material. That means take notes!

I know; taking notes is boring and not fun. But you volition use your self-report time more efficiently if you accept expert notes that you can refer back to later on. This way, when information technology's time to review everything you've learned, you'll accept an piece of cake, comprehensive resource to expect at. You don't accept to take regular outline-based notes if yous don't want to. You could draw out a heed map or make flashcards for the content you learn instead. (In fact, I highly recommend making flashcards at some point for content-heavy courses like AP Biological science or the history APs.) The important affair is that you are making a record of the pregnant information as yous learn it, to assist you retain information technology and to help you review.

On a similar note, information technology's also important that you occasionally test yourself to make sure you are really learning the material. Your trusty textbook probably has practice problems at the end of each chapter you lot can complete. Equally yous learn more material, you'll probably want to use AP practice tests to make certain you lot're really getting at the essential knowledge for the test (see step vii for more on AP practice exams).

Pace vi: Register for the Exam!

This is an essential step that you volition need to complete in early March. If your school offers AP courses, yous'll need to talk to your school'southward AP exam coordinator (probably a guidance counselor) most ordering the exam for you lot.

If your school doesn't offer AP courses, you will need to call AP Services (domestic number 888-225-5427) by March 1 to get the data for schools in your surface area that volition exam exterior students. You will then need to get in touch with the schoolhouse the College Board directs you to by March 15.

Y'all can see consummate instructions for registering for the test here, including registering for an exam your school doesn't offer.

Registering will set yous back $94. If you lot qualify for financial assistance from the College Board, you'll become a $32 discount.

You should too remember to make arrangements with your regular teachers since you'll be missing form the twenty-four hour period of your examination.

Non much else to say here except that if you forget to complete this step, all your prep time will be for nil!

Step 7: Exam Prep and Review

When the exam starts to draw closer—I would say around the midpoint of your designated written report time—you'll want to start reviewing fabric yous already covered and prepping for the exam format. This is when you lot'll want to bust out your notes/flashcards, your review book(s), and your practice tests. Come across my article on finding the best AP practice tests for tips on how to detect peak-quality practice resources.

Do AP tests will aid familiarize you with the exam format and let you know how to adapt your studying and what to focus on going forward. If you go on missing questions about the Enlightenment even though you lot already covered it, y'all'll know to go back and review that some more than.

In terms of how many practice tests you should complete, that's somewhat dependent on how much time you've allotted for self-study, but somewhere in the iii-5 range volition piece of work for most students. You may exercise more individual free-response or curt-answer exercise questions than that, but in terms of complete practice tests, iii to five should be sufficient.

You should programme to wrap upwards learning new content a few weeks to a calendar month before the examination and so you can dedicate the last few weeks solely to reviewing content and practicing. This will assistance you make sure that everything is polished and prepare, and you aren't scrambling to cram information on the Civil Rights Movement into your caput the night before the test.

In one case you're all prepped, all that'southward left is to take the test! Be sure to do all the usual test-taking best practices like getting a proficient nighttime's slumber and packing everything yous need the nighttime before, and then go rock that matter!

Stone information technology like this stack of rocks!

Staying Motivated While Self-Studying

Even with a solid study plan, it can be hard to stay motivated when you are taking on a pretty large project like studying for an AP exam on your own. So hither are 3 tips for keeping on task when you cocky-report:

#i: Build in Rewards

If you can think of a reward to requite yourself every time you consummate a scheduled study session and for milestones in your self-studying process, y'all'll accept an easier time staying on track. Maybe you'll spotter an episode of your favorite testify to close out every written report session or bake cookies every time you lot terminate out a topic surface area. The primal is to save that advantage for studying—so no binge-watching your show outside of study sessions or baking cookies for no reason! That way you'll keep the reward tied to your progress.

#two: Recruit a Written report Buddy

If you lot know someone else who is self-studying, written report together! Information technology doesn't even have to be the same AP just so long every bit y'all are consistently meeting. This will help ensure that you show up for written report sessions. Make a pact to assist keep each other on track, though—don't autumn into the addiction of goofing off together during your study times instead!

#3: Be Accountable to Someone

Even if y'all don't have a dedicated study buddy, you can still make yourself accountable to someone else—a parent, friend, or other trusted person in your life. Tell them your study schedule and ask them to help you lot enforce information technology. If you can get them to text or telephone call you when information technology's fourth dimension for you to start studying and ask you about your progress throughout the year, information technology will help you keep on task. There's cypher like knowing someone else expects yous to become something done to help you push through!

I'thousand accountable to this donut...for eating it.

Key Takeaways

Y'all'll find cocky-studying much easier if you're armed with a plan. Hither are my 6 steps to self-written report success:

1. Figure out what y'all need to learn.
2. Brand a schedule.
3. Find a multifariousness of high-quality materials.
4. Take notes and self-assess as y'all learn.
5. Annals for the test.
6. Prep for the exam and review what yous've learned!

Even with a program, it can be hard to stay motivated. Some strategies that might work for yous include:

1. Advantage yourself for getting work washed.
2. Detect someone to study with!
3. Be answerable to someone else.

Now you know how to self-written report for an AP exam. If you follow these steps and put in the work, you'll be sure to hit your target score!

What's Next?

If you want to know all of your AP course and exam options, we have a consummate list.

Thinking about online AP courses as an alternative to cocky-report? See my introduction to online AP courses and reviews of the all-time online AP class options.

Exist sure to check out our guide to the redesigned SAT to see what's been changed. You might also recall most taking the Act instead.

Want to improve your Sat score by 160 points or your Human activity score by four points? Nosotros've written a guide for each test about the height 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free at present:

Have friends who also demand assistance with test prep? Share this article!

Well-nigh the Author

Ellen has extensive education mentorship experience and is deeply committed to helping students succeed in all areas of life. She received a BA from Harvard in Folklore and Mythology and is currently pursuing graduate studies at Columbia University.

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Source: https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-to-self-study-for-ap-exams

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