Last-Minute Digital AP Exam Strategies
College Board will introduce digital Advanced Placement (AP) exams for the May 2025 APs. Although the subject material for the digital AP exams will typically remain the same as last year, the way students should approach this year’s digital AP exams will change. Students must apply new test-taking strategies for the digital AP exams.
Practice Typing
Since the May 2025 digital Advanced Placement (AP) Section 2 Free-Response Questions (FRQs) will be administered online, students must practice typing ahead of time. Previously, FRQs were handwritten. However, this year students will need to type FRQs. This can impact students that may not be as confident with typing quickly. A productive way to build confidence is to practice typing homework or even textbook chapters just to build up speed. Students must also practice typing without software functions such as spell-check, grammar check, cut and paste, and copy and paste. Personal or school computers may have these functions automatically enabled to help students complete typed assignments. However, students should not assume that College Board will enable these functions on the May 2025 digital AP exams. Plus, students should be motivated to depend on their own proofreading skills!
Review Units, Modules and Chapters
Yes, students should of course review Advanced Placement (AP) course units, modules and chapters. This really goes without saying. Students should review the material to build strong muscle memory. But what students may overlook is whether or not they have actually reviewed all material that College Board will require. For example, many AP students depend on their high school teachers to explain and review all textbook chapters in class. But this is premised on the dangerous assumption that the given textbook will cover all units required on the corresponding AP exams. Sometimes, College Board amends, or even adds, units or modules to certain AP courses. But this does not mean that high schools will instantly have access to textbooks with these same changes. High school teachers may even forget to cover all units, or may run out of time during the school semester. Teachers make mistakes as well! Therefore, we strongly recommend that students cross-reference their current high school syllabi, textbooks and school materials with the actual College Board 2025 AP course catalogs.
Complete Diagnostic Tests (DTs)
Unfortunately, many high schools may finish teaching Advanced Placement (AP) subject material by the end of April 2025. Unsurprisingly, high schools may even finish teaching their AP subject material the week before the May 2025 digital AP exams start. But this will not provide students with reasonable time to complete diagnostic tests (DTs), which are full practice tests just like the actual AP exams. For students that have not taken DTs yet, or have not taken a sufficient number of DTs, we strongly recommend students immediately complete as many DTs as possible. For the Section 2 Free-Response Questions (FRQs), we especially recommend students obtain professional guidance to provide constructive feedback. This will ensure students receive unbiased critical feedback on writing. For students that have yet to complete their self-study or high school training, we suggest that they try their best to read ahead in order to start the DT process. Learning the AP course material is of course vital, but students need application practice in order to verify if they will have the skills to actually execute on the May 2025 digital AP exams.
Stay Healthy
Staying healthy must be an absolute priority. Students must stay hydrated and eat well in order to have energy. Certain foods can make students feel sluggish. Eating right is so important! Studying hard is expected and encouraged, but students must also ensure that they get sufficient sleep. This cannot be underestimated. Cramming is often ineffective for long-term memory retention. Making sacrifices like staying up late or waking up early to finish reviewing homework is respectable, but students must be reasonable and know when to rest. Furthermore, students should try their best to make time for exercise. Regular exercise can help students clear their minds and relieve stress. This will really help students. Exercise will also increase strength. Separately, students must think of the big picture and avoid situations that could get them sick. Avoiding big crowds will reduce the chances of contracting COVID-19. This is something students must take seriously because timing is everything. Getting COVID-19 right before the May 2025 AP exams will really hurt the chances of success. Making smart decisions, like avoiding big social gatherings, washing hands and sanitizing personal belongings, will help protect students. So, stay safe and stay healthy!
Make SACRIFICES
Advanced Placement (AP) students are expected to be the best of the best. They accept far more academic responsibilities and pressure than non-AP students. This means AP students need to constantly think of the big picture. Even if students want to go out late with friends, or binge-watch their favorite television shows, they need to put all of that on hold at least until the May 2025 digital AP exams are finished. Students need to make the responsible, mature decision to cut out all unnecessary distractions. There is a key difference between making regular time to go to the gym to relieve stress and gain energy, and spending hours upon hours looking at social media. Socializing with friends at lunch during school days is acceptable. But going shopping or going to the beach now can take away precious time that could be allocated for studying. Essentially, all decisions need to be evaluated on whether or not they will contribute to AP exam success.
