How to Prepare for Online AP Exams 2020 & 2021: Tips from a National AP Scholar

Ms. Peer Editor
24 Mar 202010:20
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this informative video, the host, Miss Pure Editor, offers valuable tips for students preparing for the new format of AP exams, which will be 45 minutes long, free response style, and online. The tips include conducting practice sessions to decide between handwriting and typing responses, creating an info bank for quick recall of examples, developing an ABC taxonomy of terms for essays, establishing a planning method for structuring responses, and using Grammarly to refine writing style and catch errors. The host emphasizes the importance of first impressions with a strong introduction and the necessity of checking over work within the time constraints. These strategies aim to optimize students' performance on the AP exams.

Takeaways
  • 📝 Practice typing and handwriting responses to determine the most effective method for you during the 45-minute AP exam.
  • 📚 Create an info bank to organize and recall examples and information quickly for various AP exam prompts.
  • 📋 Develop an ABC taxonomy of terms relevant to your AP subject to ensure you understand and can use them effectively in your responses.
  • ✍️ Establish a planning method for your free response questions to avoid loss of direction mid-way through your exam.
  • ⏰ Allow time at the end of the exam to review your work for grammatical errors and to ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed.
  • 📉 Practice under slightly stricter time constraints than the actual exam to get accustomed to reviewing your work within a tight schedule.
  • 🧐 Pay special attention to your introductory paragraph, as it creates the first impression and should be as flawless as possible.
  • 🔍 Use Grammarly to refine your writing style, tone, and structure by receiving individualized feedback on common errors.
  • 🔄 Continuously input your practice responses into Grammarly to identify and correct recurring mistakes in your writing.
  • 📈 Subscribe to the channel, like the video, and turn on notifications to stay updated with new content and tips for AP exams.
  • 💬 Engage with the community by sharing your own tips for AP exams in the comments section to help others prepare effectively.
Q & A

  • What is the format of the AP exams this year?

    -The AP exams this year will be 45 minutes long, free-response style, and conducted online.

  • How can students determine whether to handwrite or type their responses?

    -Students can conduct two practice sessions: one typing their response and another handwriting it. They should compare both responses to determine which method is more effective for them.

  • What is an 'info Bank' and how can it aid in exam preparation?

    -An 'info Bank' is a chart organized to help recall examples quickly during the exam. It includes targeted books, symbols, motifs, themes, character analysis, and quotes that can be used to support prompts.

  • How can students create an effective 'info Bank'?

    -Students should anticipate the type of questions likely to appear on the exam and list relevant examples, themes, and references. This enables quick recall and application during the exam.

  • What is an ABC taxonomy of terms and how can it be useful?

    -An ABC taxonomy is an alphabetical list of words and their definitions. It includes literary devices, action verbs, transition words, or specific themes relevant to the exam. It aids in diversifying vocabulary and improving essay structure.

  • What is the importance of planning before starting the response?

    -Planning ensures that students organize their thoughts and evidence before writing, preventing them from being at a loss for words halfway through the response. It also contributes to the clarity and coherence of the essay.

  • What are some suggested planning methods for responding to the prompt?

    -Students can employ various methods such as creating mind maps, flowcharts, or bullet point lists of evidence and examples. The choice of method depends on individual preference and effectiveness.

  • Why is it essential to allocate time for checking over the response?

    -Checking over the response ensures that errors, whether grammatical or content-related, are corrected before submission. It also ensures that all parts of the prompt are adequately addressed.

  • What is the significance of reviewing the introduction of the essay?

    -The introduction sets the tone for the essay and creates the first impression on the reader. Ensuring that it is flawless in terms of spelling, grammar, and clarity is crucial as it establishes a strong foundation for the rest of the essay.

  • How can Grammarly assist students in refining their responses?

    -Grammarly is a free tool that helps refine the style, tone, and structure of writing. By inputting their responses into Grammarly, students receive individualized feedback on common errors, allowing them to improve their writing effectively.

Outlines
00:00
📝 Preparing for AP Exams: Tips and Strategies

The speaker provides six steps to start preparing for the new format of AP exams, which will be 45 minutes long, free response style, and online. The first tip is to conduct two practice sessions to decide between handwriting and typing the response. The second tip is to create an info Bank, a chart to recall examples for AP exam prompts. The third tip involves making an ABC taxonomy of terms that can be used in free response questions. The fourth tip is to develop a planning method for the free response question within the 45-minute time limit. The fifth tip is to review one's work, especially the introduction, for clarity and to ensure all parts of the prompt are answered. Lastly, the speaker recommends using Grammarly to refine the style, tone, and structure of the writing.

05:01
🔍 Crafting an Effective Info Bank and Taxonomy

The paragraph explains the concept of an info Bank, which is a personalized chart that helps students recall examples and details for their AP exam. It should contain targeted books, themes, motifs, and quotes for AP Literature or a decade-by-decade chart for AP U.S. History. The speaker also discusses creating an ABC taxonomy of terms, which is an alphabetical list of words and definitions, including literary devices and action verbs for AP Literature, and specific themes or historical references for APUSH. The speaker suggests adjusting the taxonomy based on the exam's requirements and using tools like Quizlet for studying.

10:01
✅ Final Tips for AP Exam Success

The final paragraph offers additional advice for AP exam preparation. It emphasizes the importance of planning during the exam to avoid being at a loss for words mid-response. The speaker recommends allowing time at the end of the exam to review one's work for grammatical errors and to ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed. The introduction of the essay is highlighted as crucial for making a strong first impression. Lastly, the speaker endorses using Grammarly to receive feedback on writing style and common errors, which can help improve performance on the actual AP exam.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡AP Exams
AP Exams refer to the Advanced Placement tests administered by the College Board. These standardized exams allow high school students to demonstrate their college-level knowledge in various subjects. In the video, the speaker discusses how to prepare for these exams, which are a significant part of the video's theme.
💡Free Response Style
Free response style is a type of question format on AP exams where students are required to write out their responses, often in essay form. The video emphasizes that this year's AP exams will be 45 minutes long and in this format, which is a key change affecting preparation strategies.
💡Online Exam
An online exam is a test taken over the internet rather than in a traditional classroom setting. The video mentions that this year's AP exams will be conducted online, which impacts how students should prepare and the methods they might use to take notes or write their responses.
💡Practice Sessions
Practice sessions are mock tests or exercises that students perform to prepare for an actual exam. The video suggests holding two practice sessions to determine the preferred method of answering questions, either by handwriting or typing, which is crucial for effective exam preparation.
💡Info Bank
An info bank is a personalized reference chart that students create to store and quickly recall information relevant to their AP exam. The video describes how to create an info bank for different AP subjects, which is a strategic tool for efficiently answering free response questions.
💡Taxonomy
A taxonomy is an organized classification system. In the context of the video, the speaker recommends creating a taxonomy of terms for use in free response questions. This helps students to have a structured list of terms and definitions that can be easily referenced during the exam.
💡Planning Method
A planning method refers to the strategy a student uses to outline and structure their response before starting to write. The video emphasizes the importance of planning to avoid loss of direction mid-response, which is particularly relevant for essay-based AP exams.
💡Grammarly
Grammarly is an online writing assistant tool that checks for grammar, spelling, and stylistic errors. The video suggests using Grammarly to refine writing for practice free response questions, which helps students identify and correct common mistakes, thereby improving their writing for the actual AP exams.
💡Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a central argument or claim that a student presents in an essay. The video mentions drafting a thesis statement as part of the planning method for AP Lang exams, which sets the direction for the essay and is crucial for a coherent and focused response.
💡Transition Words
Transition words are connectors used to link sentences and ideas in writing. The video discusses creating a taxonomy of transition words to avoid repetition and ensure smooth flow in essays, which is an important aspect of writing effectively on AP exams.
💡Rubric and Scoring Guidelines
A rubric is a set of criteria used for assessing the quality of students' work, and scoring guidelines provide the standards for assigning scores. The video advises using the rubric and scoring guidelines from the AP College Board website to evaluate practice responses, which helps students understand what is expected in their answers.
Highlights

AP exams this year will be 45 minutes long, free response style, and online.

Hold two practice sessions to determine whether to handwrite or type your response.

Use past free response questions from the AP College Board website for practice.

Create a focused info Bank to recall examples for AP exam prompts.

Info Bank should contain targeted books, symbols, motifs, themes, character analysis, and quotes.

Make a decade-by-decade chart for AP US History exam with important people, events, and documents.

Develop an ABC taxonomy of terms for use in free response questions.

Include literary devices, action verbs, and transition words in the taxonomy.

Create a planning method for free response questions to avoid loss of words mid-response.

Allow 1-3 minutes at the end of the exam to check over your work for errors.

Practice giving yourself slightly less time than allotted to get used to checking work quickly.

Ensure the introduction of your essay is flawless in terms of spelling and grammar.

Use Grammarly to refine the style, tone, and structure of your writing.

Grammarly provides individualized feedback and helps identify common errors.

Consistently use Grammarly with practice exams to improve writing style for the actual AP exam.

Like, subscribe, and tap the Bell for notifications on new videos.

Share any additional tips for this year's AP exams in the comments below.

Good luck on your AP exams, and look forward to the next video.

Transcripts

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