What’s the Best Way to Prepare for AP Classes Over the Summer?

It’s summer, and you’re probably thinking of going on a vacation or just simply lying around. But don’t let the summers divert you from the fact that college is the next step, and what could be better than earning some college credit right now, so that it helps you later?  It’s time to prepare for the AP exams, a set of standardized tests set by the College Board designed to assess students’ mastery of college-level material in various subjects.

But how to do that? Prepare for AP Classes over the summer tips will help you with just that. In this article, we’re diving deep into the best possible way to prepare for the AP exam in the summer, so you don’t fall behind anyone. Let’s get into it.

Understand What You’re Signing Up For

The AP exams help you earn college credit even before you set foot in college; not just that, it can also make your college application stand out. But if you think the exam is simple, you’re mistaken. The exam has a nuanced structure that you need to understand before starting your AP summer preparation. Ask yourself:

• What is the AP exam format for this subject?
• How is the course typically structured during the year?
• What skills are emphasised (memorization, essay writing, data analysis, etc.)?
• What’s the pass rate or difficulty level?

To get the answer to these questions, you should check out the College Board website, which offers free course and exam descriptions (CEDs). They include what portions the exam covers, what you need to focus on, etc. This will give you a clear idea of what’s next. 

Set Realistic Goals and Create a Loose Summer Plan

Now, while the exam isn’t simple, it doesn’t mean you need to set a rigorous study routine that lasts for hours. It’s summer, and cramming yourself in a room 24*7 while your friends are out, having fun isn’t a viable option; it would lead to severe FOMO and burnout. Instead, you need to set realistic goals and devote yourself to your AP summer preparation and getting your basics right. Though there are multiple AP exam study strategies, here’s a sample for your help:

• June: Light reading + research the course.
• July: Skill-building (writing, problem solving, memorisation techniques).
• August: Review core content and practice with AP-style questions.

Use the Right Resources (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

Now, the AP summer preparation can get overwhelming; there’s so much to cover, and you don’t know where to start. Amidst all of this, the biggest challenge that students often face is finding the right resources. Now, you don’t need to go out and buy every book there is out there; you need to have a few core resources in hand and read the most out of them.

Luckily, the College Board itself provides a lot of resources on its website for the AP. You can also refer to YouTube if you’re stuck on any topic. However, the best possible outcome can only be achieved if you take up some tutoring. More on this later.

Read Smart (Especially for Humanities APs)

If you’re taking AP English, history, or any other humanities-related subject, you need to be smart about it. The key is to read thoroughly; the more you read, the more you remember. But you don’t need to sit down and cram through every textbook in the world, at least not yet. Instead, you need to start with the basics first.

Here’s a simple AP summer preparation strategy for Humanities AP exams:

• Read 2–3 books that are commonly used in AP classes: For AP Lit, try Frankenstein, Beloved, or The Great Gatsby. For AP Lang, read some non-fiction essays or op-eds.
• Summarise as you go: After each chapter or section, write a 2-3 sentence summary. This builds retention and analysis skills.
• Annotate: Highlight key quotes, ask questions in the margins, and note stylistic devices.

But what if you’re not an avid reader? That’s okay. You just need to go to YouTube and listen to the summaries, and then you’ll be good to go.

Strengthen Core Skills (More Important Than Content Cramming)

These skills are going to be far more useful than you think in college. These AP classes require some basic skills that, if you don’t have, can have massive consequences later on in life. But what are those skills?

• Note-taking: Learn Cornell or outline-style notes.
• Essay writing: Practice timed essays for AP Lang, Lit, or History.
• Data analysis: For science or econ APs, practice interpreting graphs, charts, and experimental setups.
• Mental math: Crucial for AP Calc, Stats, Physics.

As for how to improve, the key is practice; the more you practice, the better you get at these core skills, which will help you not only in your AP summer preparation but also in your entire life. 

Form or Join a Summer Study Group

We all have heard the quote, “You are an average of the five people you are with”, and this applies to everyone, especially students. Research has shown that “a well-structured environment with engaged peers can positively influence students’ study performance, particularly in collaborative settings”. But as the title of this article suggests, it’s summer. So, most of your friends are busy and just not willing to study, so how can such an environment be created?

This is no longer a question in the era of the Internet. There are servers on Discord and online communities where students can come together to study. You can join one of them, and if you get coaching, try to form a group with your peers so that you can study together. You can join a Google Meet or Zoom call once a week, and study together, asking each other questions, and helping each other cover each other’s weaknesses.

Use Practice Questions But Don’t Obsess Over Them

There are both free and paid options available online. Practicing tests will help you gain confidence, familiarize yourself with the tests, and make sure you don’t falter when placed under the pressure of the real exam. But there’s one mistake that a lot of students make, which is being obsessed with the practice questions to the point they forget that it’s summer.

As important as it is to study, it is also important to enjoy the summer to its fullest, to prevent burnout. The goal is to build curiosity, be lightly engaged with the material, and keep discussing with your peers to stay aligned with the material.

Prep Mentally, Not Just Academically

While you’re enjoying your summer, keep in mind to mentally prepare yourself, you’re going to be exposed to college-level material for the first time. It’s important to understand that you’re growing up and start thinking of yourself as a college student from now on.

Set realistic goals, visualize that you’re successful, picture yourself taking the class with ease, and be confident. But just reading “be confident” won’t make you confident; that will come once you start talking with your seniors, who have already taken the class.

Conclusion

This summer, prepare for the AP exams instead of wasting the summer, but don’t forget to enjoy it as well. Remember, the goal is not to cram the whole thing, but to familiarize yourself and get ahead of your peers. But let’s be real, all this planning is difficult, which is why here at Turito, we prepare everything from study materials to routines so you don’t get behind anyone this summer.

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