In order to successfully complete the college education requirement you must achieve a certain minimum GPA. Without a certain GPA it’s not going to be possible for you to earn a Bachelor’s degree from any accredited college or university. Therefore, while you’re certainly prepared to earn your Bachelor’s degree, achieving a GPA that meets the college education requirement can be one of the more difficult parts. You may have heard that in order to get into the top ten percent of a given college’s class averages you have to actually attend classes nearly every single day. While that certainly is true, you should know that in order to effectively prepare for the college level exam you must maximize your learning.
One of the best ways to learn and improve is to take regular college classes that are scheduled. This not only saves you the time and expense of driving back and forth to school each day, but it also gives you the opportunity to work on some core subjects that you may have struggled with throughout your years of schooling. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because you have taken classes on a regular basis that you’re doing well. Instead, you should assess how far you have come and consider what has been added or changed since you took those classes. That way, you can better understand the material and therefore make smarter choices when it comes to the real world.
The next step to take is to get a study guide. While you may be very familiar with AP Exam topics, chances are you have forgotten many of them. Take the time to get a guide that covers the topics you know you’ll need to be able to pass the exam. You can also find study guides online or through your school’s IT department. Some of the main topics you’ll need to focus on include reading, writing, math, and listening.
After you’ve worked on your preparation and gotten yourself a guide, you’ll need to determine which college class you’ll be taking. If possible, try to choose a class that will let you use a graphing calculator during the course of the semester, since this makes it easier to grasp concepts. You might also want to get started studying for the SAT.
When it comes to actually taking the exam itself, the first thing you will need to do is register for the exam. The AP Exam will only allow you to take the exam once, so you will need to make sure you register for it early enough to do so. You can either visit the AP website or the College Board’s website to register. Both websites will provide you with easy to understand instructions on how to register.
Once you have registered, take the time to study. Most people who plan on taking the exam tend to spend an inordinate amount of time studying. Although this is essential, you shouldn’t neglect your personal life and other responsibilities while you are preparing for college. Try to study for about one hour each night, and then another hour prior to every class you will be taking. If you can schedule these hours around your responsibilities, you’ll find studying much easier and you’ll have more time to relax and take in the atmosphere of the college you’re going to.
Of course, the most important tip is to take your time. Although the tips above will certainly help you tremendously, it doesn’t mean that you can’t push yourself a little further. Plan on taking as many practice tests as possible before the actual test day. This will help you get a feel for the types of questions that you will face on the real exam and will give you a chance to familiarize yourself with the format before you begin studying for the test.
