Some high school students will sit for Advanced Placement exams in less than a month. Earning a score of 3, 4 or 5 on these AP assessments can save students an extraordinary amount of time and money in college.
But to earn such a score, students must both adequately review course material and ensure a smooth test-day experience. To be a successful AP test-taker, avoid these three common exam day mistakes.
[Find out the common mistakes students make prepping for AP exams.]
1. Failing to comprehend the nuances of prompts or questions: It is common for students, especially those who are anxious or exhausted, to read AP exam instructions, prompts and questions with less care than they should. However, the importance of carefully reviewing these items cannot be overstated.
The verbs used in such test materials clearly state what is expected of you. For example, consider the difference between these two prompts: “Identify the economic causes of the American Civil War,” and “Explain the economic causes of the American Civil War.”
Here, “identify” means to name or state. “Explain,” on the other hand, requires the test-taker to describe the causes. The second prompt requires analysis, while the first involves recall.
[Get three last-minute AP prep tips to ace the exam.]
2. Not writing clearly: When it comes to questions that aren’t multiple choice, a simple and often overlooked way to avoid deductions on AP exams is to write legibly on free-response items.
Remember: if the grader cannot read your free-response answers, he or she will not be able to award you full credit. Make it easy for graders to give you the score you deserve by minding your penmanship.
Beyond writing legibly, you should also aim to write articulately. It is better to say too much than to say too little, but the quality of the content is of utmost importance.
Avoid vague words like “this” or “that” that could be misinterpreted by the grader. When appropriate, employ sophisticated, technical vocabulary.
For instance, you might substitute “good” with “beneficial” and “surroundings” with “biosphere” when composing an AP Biology or AP Environmental Science response.
Finally, avoid generalizations that contain absolute language like “all,” “none,” “always” and “never.” These types of statements tend to be false.
[Learn how to juggle multiple AP exams.]
3. Second-guessing your answers: When reviewing answers, students can encounter trouble if they second-guess themselves.
There are, however, two circumstances under which changing your answers may be wise. If you were careless the first time you answered the question, perhaps you read too quickly or miscalculated. Or, you may have since discovered new information in a linked graphic or passage.
But if you have done all the right things — studied effectively, carefully read the instructions and double-checked your work — changing your answers during the review phase may not be a smart choice. Overthinking is not the same as double-checking your responses.
May is nearly upon us, which means that AP exams are just around the corner. While the exam experience itself can be half the struggle for some students, following this test-day advice can help you ensure that your study efforts pay off.
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How to Avoid 3 AP Test-Day Mistakes originally appeared on usnews.com
