The first tip that we have for you is to not procrastinate. There are plenty of tools out there that will show you how to take the test and how to get yourself prepared, but do not fall into the trap of just waiting until the last minute to take care of your preparations. You can not expect to get the perfect score on the AP Calculus exam just because you took the extra time to prepare. In reality, you should start taking notes immediately after you get back from class.
There is no such thing as overpreparation in this instance. The more you do, the less you will get tested. That means that you need to start getting your studying in order. Start by reviewing everything that you have learned so far. Use your notes to jot down everything you heard and understood, even if you do not really understand what is being said. Reviewing ahead will even help you prepare for tougher questions.
The next thing that you should do is to spend a lot of time with your friends and family. These types of situations are exactly why the old adage “don’t sweat the little stuff” is so true. Spend time with family and friends and see how they are doing. If they seem to be having a great time, chances are you will have a good time as well.
While you are at it, also work on your study habits. Make sure that you do not leave any work unfinished. When you start the class, make sure that you read everything. Read every phrase and word that you can from the test. Reading will give you the ammunition you need to succeed on the test. It will also help you remember everything that you heard and what you learned in class.
Plan a class around a test date. If you know that you are going to have an exam, you should already be planning how you are going to take it. Whether you plan on taking the AP Exam in January or the CLEP in April, make sure that you are practicing measures before each class session. This way, when the time for that test rolls around, you will already be up to speed with the material and you will be ready for it.
Lastly, take your preparations seriously. A solid grasp of what is expected of you during tests, and a thorough understanding of what goes into a successful test, will all contribute to your success. Although you may think that just having the ability to follow directions and doing well on a test is enough, you would be surprised by just how much a solid grasp of the material and practice can help you get past marks. The more you study, the better your chances are of getting ahead of the competition.
Once you have completed your class work, you need to find a review guide that can give you tips on what to focus on and how to best approach each class section. You can find these and there are even books available with sample tests from past students to give you an idea of what topics may come up. With your own personal review guide, you will be able to pinpoint the weak areas of your course so that you can improve. That is the essence of success.
