AP Exams Are Fast Approaching!
The 2013 test dates for your student’s AP exams are approaching. Yes, those elusive Advanced Placement tests that occur every year between the ACT and prom. If your Junior or Senior student happens to be taking an AP course this year, then you might want to pay attention and even consider using an AP Exam tutor.
Don't Assume They Are Prepared
One of the biggest mistakes students make each year is to assume that because they are taking their AP course, then they will automatically score well on their AP exams. While that may be the case for some, it certainly isn’t the case for most students. The AP exam, unlike the weekly tests and exams for the course, functions quite differently and a AP exam tutor could give your student a boost.
Most of these exams are comprised of both a multiple choice section and an essay section. Sounds pretty familiar to other exams, right? Well, AP exams are a bit different in that they aim to gauge whether a student not only understands the material, but also has grasped the “Big Picture” of that particular subject. In other words, your student might be a wiz at remembering dates, places and names for their U.S. History course, but are they at grasping how those people, places and events contribute to the development of the country and its people? Does your student remember the names and movements of various art pieces in their Art History course? Yes? That is great, but have they grasped how each movement or artist influenced each other?
Seeking Help Could Make The Difference
Seeking help for the AP exams is not unlike seeking help for the SAT or ACT. New sorts of exams challenge your students in a variety of ways. While there are various apps and practice tests for these exams (both free and costly), seeking the help of an expert outside of the classroom could reap great rewards. Certainly an app can help a student test their knowledge on the multiple choice section, but are they really grasping the information? Additionally, are they working on good testing strategy to make sure they achieve the highest score?
Learn Strategies
The AP exam “penalizes” wrong answers. Therefore, a student might be better off answering X amount of questions that they are absolutely sure about, guessing on Y amount of questions and leaving Z amount of questions blank. These sorts of strategies can be difficult to navigate. Hiring a tutor can help your student to construct an adequate game plan for their exams.
It's Better to Be Over Prepared
When your student writes an essay, do they take a long time to express their thoughts, or do they hurriedly rush through a paper without considering the content? The essays on these exams are taken quite seriously. A disorganized or unfinished essay could have a significant impact on their score. A tutor can help a student to practice essay writing in a timed setting. There are various ways that one can individualize the approach that suits that particular student. Working with a professional can help to keep your student focused in their efforts.
Overall, it is a good idea to start thinking about preparing for the AP exams, if you haven’t already. Many teachers will provide some information to help you get started, but it is a good idea to do some research on your own. Help your student to create a study schedule in the months ahead and even encourage your student to engage in study groups with their classmates. Remember, it is better to be over prepared for exams like these than to be underprepared.
Need Help?
Contact Chicago Academic to see how we can prepare your child for AP Tests
