Advanced Placement (AP®) courses are a great way for high school students to prepare for college-level classes and stand out to university admissions officers. While some students may choose to take these courses for the experience, others take them to earn college credit before graduation.
If your child does well on multiple AP exams and meets the minimum GPA requirements, they may be eligible for an AP Scholar award. This can help boost your child’s college application, which could improve the chances of being accepted into their dream school.
With so much at stake, it’s important to ensure your child has a solid study plan that can help them make the most of their AP classes. These exams are different from any test your child has encountered until now. As such, simply cramming for the exam the night before won’t be enough to earn a competitive score.
What Makes Studying for an AP Exam Different from Other Tests?
AP classes are designed to give your child a glimpse of what they’ll encounter in college. They cover a ton of material in a relatively short amount of time, and require your child to take a more proactive approach to stay on top of their studies. That’s because…
Each AP Exam Covers a Year’s Worth of Course Material
High school classes typically have quizzes and exams every few weeks to gauge your child’s comprehension of different skills. After taking their final, they learn a new skill set and the process repeats itself.
On the contrary, AP exams happen only once a year in May, and cover a year’s worth of material. This can be a huge adjustment for your child, which could cause them to feel overwhelmed by the amount of material covered.
Some high schools offer some AP courses as one-semester courses. This can make AP exams even more challenging since students will not take the exam until May even if they completed the course during the fall.
AP Scores Can Impact College Admissions
While most colleges do not look closely at AP exam scores as part of the admissions process, they do consider those scores in conjunction with a child’s grades in the corresponding classes. Strong AP exam scores confirm a good grade in the course, helping colleges to better understand the grading curves at a given high school.
Additionally, a growing number of schools have begun to adopt test flexible admissions policies. Under such policies, students can use AP exam scores in lieu of ACT or SAT scores for admission. New York University and Yale are examples of test flexible schools. Carnegie Mellon University also recently adopted a test flexible policy for students applying for fall 2026 admission.
AP Scores Can Count Towards College Credits
Many colleges and universities count AP scores of three or more toward your child’s college credits. This can help your child bypass certain introductory courses, which allows them to save time and money when completing their degree. Each postsecondary institution has their own AP policy, so it’s important for your child to see if their desired school accepts AP scores.
How Should You Study for an AP Exam?
Creating a strong study plan starts with ensuring your child is being realistic about their workload. Generally speaking, your child should plan to devote anywhere from one to three hours every day studying for each AP class they take.
There are a few things your child can do as part of their study routine that can help them gauge their progress and stay on track.
Work with a Qualified Tutor
Your child’s AP teacher realistically only has class time to devote to your child’s progress. Working with a tutor can give your child the one-on-one attention and support they deserve. Working with a tutor in small group settings can create a supportive environment where your child can confidently ask questions, receive feedback, and practice in realistic test day conditions.
AP tutors can teach your child to identify key themes and critical data to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information they receive throughout the year.
C2 Education offers customized exam prep to help your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, adjust to exam formats, and develop solid study habits. In our regular AP prep program, your child can steadily prepare for their AP exams over several months. In our intensive AP Boot Camp program, we can bring out their potential in less time.
In both programs, your child will engage with curricula in a way that is tailored to your child’s current abilities and goals. Each session is led by expert tutors who can help your child continuously progress toward their goals. Whether they hope to master a single AP course or multiple, C2 can offer the assistance they need to succeed
Take (and Retake) Practice Exams
Taking a practice exam before creating a set study schedule allows your child to establish a starting point. This baseline can highlight their strengths and areas for improvement. The College Board offers free resources for students, including questions from previous exams.
Working with an AP tutor can give your child access to additional practice materials and immerse them in conditions similar to what they’ll experience on test day. These tutors can continue to schedule routine practice exams throughout their study sessions to mark their progress. This can be used to adjust your child’s study routine, and ensure they’re getting the most out of each session.
Set a Target Score
Creating a target score after establishing a baseline gives your child a goalpost to work toward as they prepare for AP exams. This can help your child maintain focus while studying, and pivot as necessary if they’re not making progress.
Create a Study Routine and Stick With It
If doing self-study, your child may need to experiment with different study methods to discover what works best for them. We strongly encourage your child to work with a tutor as they can pivot their approach to continuously meet your child where they are. This also gives your child structure, which can hold them accountable and create a routine.
Tutors can create a quiet, distraction-free study environment, which can help your child focus. They can work in short bursts each day to regularly revisit older information rather than cramming for hours on end.
When Should You Start Studying for AP Exams?
While formal AP test prep may not begin until several months before their scheduled exam date, your child can start reinforcing the material as soon as their classes begin in the fall. The AP Classroom portal offers resources like AP Daily videos, an extensive Question Bank, and built-in Progress Checks to help students bolster their knowledge base as they advance through each course.
At C2, we generally recommend studying two to three months before their exams. However, if your child is taking multiple AP classes, they may need to factor in additional time to prepare.
Prepare for AP Exams with C2 Education
At C2 Education, we’re committed to helping students reach their full potential in the classroom. From small-group sessions throughout the school year to rigorous boot camp programs, our tutoring models can help your child feel confident on test day and learn valuable study habits that can last a lifetime.
Request more information today to start your student on the path to success!
