AP Exams

[fzun]

Anybody take AP courses last year and get their exam results back?

I just got mine in the mail today (along with most of my school) and I got 4's in all of them!! (Calculus AB, U.S. History & English Language) I couldn't believe the score on my calc and English exams, I didn't even think I would pass calc that exam was so hard LOL.

And to make this topic more open-ended, anybody taking AP courses next year or have taken AP courses in the past? I'm signed up for English Literature, Chemistry, U.S. Government and Calculus BC (shoot me now XD) and I'd love some words of wisdom from people who have conquered these exams before

[Siniri]

Congrats on your scores, fzun! I took all 4 my senior year (way back in 1996) -- I also took French and European history that year, too. I managed to get 5's on English and government; my AP English teacher was so tough that the AP exam was easier than any of her tests. I would suggest practice exams -- especially the essays/writing sections. For government, you'll probably do fine (it was waaay easier than U.S. history, on which I only got a 4) -- the hardest part for me was remembering the court cases.

I only got 3's on the AP chem and calculus. I didn't know how to use my calculator and tried to do the calculator section by hand (so only answered like 6/30) -- don't do that! For chem (well, really all my classes), pay attention in class and don't do your homework for your later classes during class (oh, yeah, and try not to make it your 6th AP exam in 1.5 weeks and your 3rd in 2 days -- my brain left my body halfway through, I kid you not -- I couldn't even put a simple sentence together at the end).

Knowing I had so many exams, I tried to start studying about a month in advance, but it was hard because the teachers were piling on the work. Honestly, I wish I'd started sooner for calc and chem. Of course, they all had exam reviews, but I missed some of those because I was taking my other exams. Any other advice would be useless because I'm sure they've changed the tests significantly since I took them. Well, except: don't forget to enjoy your (senior?) year, too. I hope you don't have too much summer homework...

[fzun]

I have to read a book for Lit but otherwise no homework this summer .

Man you really loaded yourself down it sounds like. I had to force myself not to take more than 4 APs next year (I was sorely tempted to do micro/macroeconomics instead of gov but it's 2 exams instead of 1 lol). I know I'm in for a lot.

This year I started studying about a month and a half in advance for the APUSH exam and the calc exam we did a lot of review in class (which to be honest didn't actually help much). I think I'm going to buy one of those help books they sell in B&N to help me with that class. And chemistry ugh I doubt we'll even finish the book but I will definitely make a note to start studying early on.

I'm gonna do my best to balance school, my job and my life next year but it's gonna be pretty hard lol.

[Siniri]

My parents got me some of those help books. It helped for Euro history. It would have helped with chem if I'd used it more -- we didn't cover all the material (huge blizzard that year took us out for 2 or 3 weeks), and I could have taught myself using that book. I had 9 books to read (with essays, tests, or book summaries for each), as well as French, calculus, and chemistry homework over the summer. I didn't really have time to research (or apply to) many colleges, and I didn't enjoy myself in high school like I should have... I started college with 39 credits, but still took 4 years to graduate -- although the extra credits enabled me to double-major and still take a class just for "fun" every semester.

Four APs is a lot, but I'm sure you'll be fine; it probably won't be much worse than this year was. The US history is supposed to be hardest, while gov't is one of the easiest. And BC calc is just an extension of AB, so as long as you don't forget too much over the summer, it shouldn't be too bad. Just stay away from Taylor series -- they bite!

[fzun]

I don't even think I've heard of the Taylor series so we're good lol.

I definitely worked my butt off studying for the US history exam so I didn't find it hard. It also helped that the DBQ essay was on slavery XD.

I'm feeling more confident about calc BC next year now that I know I'm not a total failure at calculus LOL. I got C's in that class all year so it was such a relief to see I passed the exam. All the kids that took the government exam at my school last year said it was easy so I'm looking forward to that, plus I have a genuine interest in politics and government so I'm excited for that course. The real kicker will probably be doing poetry for Lit and just chem as a whole. But I will definitely buy help books for those .

Wow 39 credits.. that's ridiculous lol. I'm looking at two colleges mostly (applying to like 5 probably but I'm only seriously considering two). I have 9 credits at my first pick college and 16 at the university I'll probably go to if I can't afford my first pick. Even if I get 5's on all my exams next year I won't have 39 credits XD. And I'm sure you would have been able to finish early if you didn't decide to double major (out of curiosity, what did you major in?)

[Byakuya San]

I'm taking my first AP class this year (US history), but it's a two year course, so I won't be taking the Exam until the spring after next.

So, any words of wisdom about taking APs?

[Siniri]

I'm taking my first AP class this year (US history), but it's a two year course, so I won't be taking the Exam until the spring after next.

So, any words of wisdom about taking APs?

1. Try to learn rather than memorizing just for quizzes/tests -- it'll make the studying a lot easier.
2. Take some practice tests -- I think there are some available on-line now; your teacher should also give you some. This is especially important for the essays and the "document-based questions." You can do just a few questions or one essay at a time.
3. Usually, you can't cover the entire US history curriculum, so I'd suggest studying modern events on your own, but hopefully you guys won't have this problem. Instead, you'll want to refresh yourself on the first year stuff over the summer, and again over the winter holidays (the midterm should help with the newer stuff).
4. Take the exam, even if you're nervous or don't think you'll do well. It's good practice for college-level exams, if nothing else.
5. Keep things in perspective -- don't sacrifice your other classes or your social life for the class. Enjoy it...

(I feel officially old now...)

[fzun]

I'm taking my first AP class this year (US history), but it's a two year course, so I won't be taking the Exam until the spring after next.

So, any words of wisdom about taking APs?

Read. the. textbook.

You'll actually end up remembering a lot of odd little tidbits that you never thought you'd remember. But yeah seriously just do all the reading especially if you have the American Pageant book.

And you probably won't get past Vietnam but familiarize yourself with the Reagan and Clinton administrations anyways.

[Sakura]

AP World History - Five Baby
AP Computer Science A - Another Five!!

Haha I'm looking forward to/dreading the AP's I'm taking starting August 11 (Calc BC, Bio, Chem, Lang).

Some advice:

Buy a Princeton Review/5 Steps to a 5 Review book BEFORE the course and go through them as you go through the class. They have broad ideas and deal with connections, so it gives you a better "global" view of what you're learning. Plus there's practice, which is really key! Also, it's helpful to be a little intimidated, so it gives you drive and stuff like that. Your teacher might not be a good teacher of the subject, either, so APs are kind of a "learn self-reliance or sink" kind of thing. Of course you've taken them already so I'm sure you know. Haha what helped me was being a total geek and contributing to class.

I have 3 books and essays and rhetorical devices to memorize for lang. Also a buttload of Bio homework that I should be/kind of am working on as we speak. Well.. half-heartedly.

[Byakuya San]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Read. the. textbook.

Oh, I will.

[fzun]

I have 3 books and essays and rhetorical devices to memorize for lang. Also a buttload of Bio homework that I should be/kind of am working on as we speak. Well.. half-heartedly.

I had to learn all the rhetorical devices for the class as well and to be honest I don't actually remember them asking me about any on the exam last year. Which is good cause I can't tell you about any of them now LOL. My advice for AP Lang is mostly just do practices. I can't think of any other way to prepare for English O_o.

Are you in 11th or 12th grade this coming school year?

And I so wish I could take computer science but my school doesn't offer it

[Sakura]

11th haha, which is why I'm doubling up in Science. Yeah, AP lang is intimidating, but I'm not so concerned about it as I am for the other three. My Comp Sci teacher was crazy but I think it was worth it, because the AP exam was easy business

[Syrill]

Oooh. AP Tests. What fun!

I took a total of 7 I think. I did terrible junior year with only 3's in English Language and Spanish Language. Surprisingly, I did much better senior year with 4's in Psychology, Macreconomics, US History [There's an interesting story about this that is only funny now. XD], and Biology, and scoring my first 5 [Yay ] on Calculus BC.

Congrats on all your shiny fours! Keep it up for a shiny [well not really] piece of paper that may come after graduation. XD That's what it did for me anyways.

Calculus BC was actually, amusingly one of the easiest exams. This might have been because there was one point where I was on the verge of failing and I got really scared and began massively studying for the class. If you have a really good teacher, which I did, I just found it sufficient to review class notes so I never actually touched an AP review guide for that class. The one thing that I would focus on though is Taylor or Maclaurin Polynomials as was mentioned before. I don't think I fully grasped the concept or didn't study it as well as I should have and it showed up right on the test. XD Fortunately, I err...managed I suppose to churn out some decent way of solving it. You should definitely try to take a practice AP test though. Our teacher held one and it did help to see that I actually knew more than I thought. I got a 4 on that one and was expecting somewhere around there or lower for the actual test. The moral of this scary block of text is study, study, study.

As for US History, nobody should ask my opinion on that. XD I'll let you imagine what happened.

If anybody wants advice for AP tests though outside the scope of how to take a specific one, I'd suggest actually seeing if the credits fall into your chosen major since I ended up with many useless "elective" credits. There's some crazy grant thing if you stay within a range from your suggested amount of hours over four years. I exceeded that amount because I wanted to keep my AP credits. XD I'd also try and get evil Physics out of the way in high school. XD Electromagnetism is the substance of nightmares unless, of course, you're one of those crazy types that loves Physics. If so, please help me with these evil problems that refuse to die. The only way they'll return to the world of the dead from which they came is if I solve them. :O

[fzun]

Oooh. AP Tests. What fun!

I took a total of 7 I think. I did terrible junior year with only 3's in English Language and Spanish Language. Surprisingly, I did much better senior year with 4's in Psychology, Macreconomics, US History [There's an interesting story about this that is only funny now. XD], and Biology, and scoring my first 5 [Yay ] on Calculus BC.

Congrats on all your shiny fours! Keep it up for a shiny [well not really] piece of paper that may come after graduation. XD That's what it did for me anyways.

Calculus BC was actually, amusingly one of the easiest exams. This might have been because there was one point where I was on the verge of failing and I got really scared and began massively studying for the class. If you have a really good teacher, which I did, I just found it sufficient to review class notes so I never actually touched an AP review guide for that class. The one thing that I would focus on though is Taylor or Maclaurin Polynomials as was mentioned before. I don't think I fully grasped the concept or didn't study it as well as I should have and it showed up right on the test. XD Fortunately, I err...managed I suppose to churn out some decent way of solving it. You should definitely try to take a practice AP test though. Our teacher held one and it did help to see that I actually knew more than I thought. I got a 4 on that one and was expecting somewhere around there or lower for the actual test. The moral of this scary block of text is study, study, study.

As for US History, nobody should ask my opinion on that. XD I'll let you imagine what happened.

If anybody wants advice for AP tests though outside the scope of how to take a specific one, I'd suggest actually seeing if the credits fall into your chosen major since I ended up with many useless "elective" credits. There's some crazy grant thing if you stay within a range from your suggested amount of hours over four years. I exceeded that amount because I wanted to keep my AP credits. XD I'd also try and get evil Physics out of the way in high school. XD Electromagnetism is the substance of nightmares unless, of course, you're one of those crazy types that loves Physics. If so, please help me with these evil problems that refuse to die. The only way they'll return to the world of the dead from which they came is if I solve them. :O

I took physics honors last year... and didn't learn a single thing. We have the worst physics teacher in the history of mankind. So I'm so screwed when I get to college but I"m definitely not taking AP physics lol.

My calc teacher is horrible. And what stinks even more is that there might not be a class just for Calculus BC next year because there's only like 8 kids taking the class and the school won't let us have our own class. So we'll have to be merged with Calculus AB which means we'll go slower and probably won't even get to cover the new material that will show up on the exam. Stupid administration *shakes fist at them*. But I will definitely remember to study those things you mentioned once they come up in class

[Uncle Xyzzy]

4 on Calculus AB. Happy!

Taking 5 tests next year >.<