Most students do best starting structured AP review about two months before the exams, which are usually held in the first two weeks of May. Start with a practice exam to find weak spots, build a weekly calendar that rotates subjects, and shift to timed practice in the final three weeks. Students with several exams should plan backward from each exam date and protect sleep in the last week.
When to start reviewing
Good AP preparation starts in September with keeping up in class. Dedicated review usually works best on this rough timeline:
- If the year went badly: start in February instead, beginning with the units covered before winter break, since those have faded the most.
- Early March: look up the exam dates, take one full practice exam per subject and note the weakest units.
- March into April: review the weakest units first, two or three short sessions per subject each week.
- Mid April to early May: timed practice, especially on the free-response or written sections, and checking answers against published scoring guidelines.
- Final days: light review, rest and logistics. Cramming new material the night before rarely helps.
Past free-response questions and scoring guidelines are published for many subjects, and teachers usually have practice materials. Ask the teacher which resources match the current exam format.
How to study for several AP exams at once
- Put every exam date on one calendar. Add school tests, finals, games, performances and work shifts too.
- Rank subjects by readiness. The exam with the weakest practice score and earliest date gets the most early time.
- Rotate, do not block. Studying two or three subjects in a day in shorter sessions usually works better than spending a whole week on one.
- Plan backward. For each exam, work out how many weeks remain and which units belong to each week.
- Use active practice. Practice questions, writing out answers from memory and explaining a concept aloud beat rereading notes. Our guide on studying for finals covers these methods.
- Review weekly. Every Sunday, look at what got done and adjust the coming week. A plan that never changes is usually a plan no one is following.
Fitting AP exams around finals and spring activities
May is crowded. AP exams, school finals, end-of-season sports, concerts and spring events often land in the same weeks.
- Ask the school how AP exams and finals interact. Some schools adjust finals for AP students; others do not.
- Look for overlaps early. Schools can arrange alternate or late testing for certain conflicts, such as two exams at the same time. Ask the AP coordinator well before May.
- Tell coaches and directors about exam dates in advance so practice schedules can flex where possible.
- Keep one light evening a week. Burned-out students make more mistakes. See teen time management.
- Protect sleep, especially the week of exams. See teen sleep and school.
The week of the exam
- Confirm the time, room and what to bring, which can differ for digital and paper exams.
- Do a short warm-up, not a marathon, the day before.
- Eat, sleep and arrive early.
- If nerves are a problem, practice under timed conditions in advance. Our guide to test anxiety in teens has strategies. Persistent anxiety is worth raising with a licensed professional.
Where a mentor helps
Most students know they should start early. The hard part is actually doing it while classes, activities and a social life continue. A mentor is not a tutor and does not teach content; a mentor helps the student build the review calendar, meets weekly to adjust it and checks in between sessions so the plan survives April. Parents see progress through regular updates instead of having to ask. Learn more about mentoring for high school students.
Related
- High school to college calendar
- AP scores explained
- How many AP classes should you take?
- Teen procrastination
- The Four-Year High School Plan: A Roadmap From 9th to 12th Grade
Common questions
How long should I study for an AP exam?
Many students do well with steady review over six to eight weeks, a few short sessions per subject each week, rather than a long cram at the end. Students who kept up all year may need less.
When are AP exams held?
AP exams are usually held over the first two weeks of May, with late testing available for certain conflicts. Check this year’s schedule with your school’s AP coordinator.
What is the best way to review for free-response questions?
Write timed answers to past questions and compare them to the published scoring guidelines. Ask the teacher to look at a few responses too.
Can I study for three AP exams at once?
Yes. Put all exam dates on one calendar, rotate subjects across each week and give the most early time to the weakest subject with the earliest date.
Get started
Want help turning AP review into a plan that holds? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.