As a high school student who has taken various AP exams in the past and who is getting ready to take the 2026 exams in just a week, I feel everyone who is dreading exam season. But AP exam season doesn’t have to be full of doom and gloom, as so many people make it out to be.
Success is definitely possible, and I’m here to give you some advice on how to not only study for your exams and do well, but also how to do that without all of the exam stress that comes with it. I’ll cover the exams by category since the best study method differs depending on the content type; so let’s get into it!
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These include AP English Language and AP English Literature: the two English-centered exams from College Board. The strategy for these is simple: read a lot, write a lot. English classes teach you so many things without noticing it (yes, all of those books they force you to read actually have a purpose!), and those soft skills are critical for succeeding on these exams. Not only have you been learning how to apply grammar conventions and form a compelling argument all year through analyzing other authors’ arguments, but you’ve also been taking in foundational writing and reading skills the entire course.
When it comes to these exams, the best thing you can do is keep up with reading, whether it’s looking at the news every day or picking up a book, and keep writing. When it comes to writing, crank out those released FRQs from College Board, they’re great practice! And for the multiple choice sections, use the AP Classroom resources to work on those skills as well. You’ve been studying for this exam the entire course, even if you didn’t realize it, so stay calm and focused, and you’ll do great!
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Science Exams
These exams are typically dreaded the most, with AP Biology, AP Chemistry, and all of the AP Physics exams falling into this category. All are consistently regarded as among the top five hardest exams, but, although they are intimidating, they aren’t impossible to succeed in.
The best thing you can do for the math-based sciences (physics and chemistry) is practice problems. Not only will they help you catch any repetitive mistakes, but they will also help ingrain some last-minute information into your mind. Practice problems are the best type of active studying for these types of exams.
When it comes to the conceptual exams, like biology and environmental science, try concept mapping. This technique involves visualizing relationships between concepts so you can see the flow of ideas. This is another type of active studying, which is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of any review. There are also a lot of great YouTube channels that cover these courses unit by unit, so take a look at those and work out the problems alongside the creators!
Math Exams
These exams include the Calculus trilogy and AP Statistics. The best resources for these exams are the prep books! There are dozens of prep book guides that contain hundreds of practice problems, unit breakdowns, and full-length practice AP exams.
If you aren’t sure which book to get, ask your math teacher if they have a favorite one and try that one out. There’s a good chance they have one in mind that they’ve seen the most success with, and since each teacher has a different method of teaching the material, they will have a more personalized recommendation based on the methods you’re familiar with!
Another key study tip is to focus on the foundational skills. This includes algebra and the respective foundational skills for each exam. For AP Precalculus, this is mainly algebra and trigonometry, but for the AP Calculus exams, make sure you’re confident with derivatives and integrals. Missing out on points because you forgot the basics is extremely avoidable, so solidify those skills as quickly as possible!
History and Social Science Exams
These exams tend to be the most content-heavy when it comes to memorization. With a plethora of names, models, and theories you have to remember, these exams can become overwhelming very quickly. What I’ve found to work best for these types of exams is physically making flashcards for key vocabulary. The act of writing it out helps you retain the information better than when you type it, and when you know the key terms, both multiple choice and free response become easier.
Another great source for these exams is Knowt. Out of all of the exam categories, Knowt is most helpful for this one. The website has multiple-choice practice you can do for a specific unit or an entire full-length practice test as well.
They also integrate AI that allows you to practice FRQs and get them graded. If you’re struggling to find tools within the app when using the free version, try Khan Academy; it works great for multiple-choice review as well!
Takeaways
In the end, you have to remind yourself that you are more than your score. Even if you have an off day and you don’t do as well as you wanted when exam day comes, it isn’t the end of the world. The most important part is that you try to set yourself up for success as strongly as you can. Once you do that, you realize that the significance of your effort means much more than the score you get in July.
So, study hard, but don’t forget to play hard too. Take some time after AP exams to celebrate your effort and start off the summer strong. Good luck to everyone during exam season! And remember—the students who succeed aren’t the ones who study the most—they’re the ones who study the right way.
