What You DON’T Need to Study for the AP EXAM

Heimler's History
11 Apr 202305:14
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script reveals a history teacher's approach to efficiently preparing for AP exams by focusing on essential information. The teacher emphasizes using the College Board's Course and Exam Description (CED) to identify critical topics and manage study efforts. They also introduce their AP review packs as a comprehensive study tool, addressing criticism about the paid resource. The video aims to guide students on organizing notes by themes and enduring understandings, and identifying key historical developments and illustrative examples to prioritize for the exam.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 The speaker is a history teacher, not Mark Rober, and has gained 'secret' information through publicly available resources.
  • 💡 To pass AP exams, it's crucial to focus on specific information rather than everything learned in class, as not all topics are tested.
  • 🕵️‍♂️ The speaker has been monitoring the College Board's test writing rooms for seven months, emphasizing the authenticity of the information.
  • 🆓 There are two ways to study effectively: a free method using the Course and Exam Description (CED) and a paid method involving AP review packs.
  • 🔍 The CED, available online, outlines the required knowledge for the AP exam and can guide students on what to focus on.
  • 📊 Exam overview sections in the CED highlight which units are more important and thus should be prioritized for study.
  • 📚 The CED also specifies which units and time periods can be used for writing prompts and what kind of writing questions to expect.
  • 📝 Organizing notes by the themes and enduring understandings mentioned in the CED can greatly benefit students during the writing sections of the exam.
  • 🎯 Focus on learning objectives and historical developments or essential knowledge listed in the CED, as these are critical for exam success.
  • 🌐 Examples provided in the CED are illustrative and not exhaustive; understanding the broader concepts is more important than knowing every example.
  • 📈 The speaker recommends using both the free and paid resources for effective exam preparation, with the review packs offering a structured study plan.
Q & A

  • What is the main point the speaker is trying to make about preparing for AP exams?

    -The speaker emphasizes that students don't need to remember everything from their class to pass AP exams. Instead, they should focus on specific information outlined in the Course and Exam Description (CED), which is publicly available from the College Board.

  • How did the speaker gain access to the 'secret' information about the AP exams?

    -The speaker gained access to the information by using the internet and clicking on publicly available resources, specifically the CED for various AP courses.

  • What are the two ways the speaker suggests to study for AP exams?

    -The speaker suggests two ways to study: one is free, which involves downloading the CED for the specific AP course, and the other is a paid option, which is purchasing the speaker's AP review packs.

  • What does the CED reveal about the AP exams?

    -The CED reveals the required knowledge that will appear on the exams, the units and time periods that are more emphasized, and the types of writing questions to expect.

  • How can students identify which parts of the CED are more important to study?

    -Students can identify important parts by checking the 'Exam Overview' section in the CED, which provides percentages indicating the representation of different units on the exam.

  • What is the speaker's response to criticism about the paid study resource?

    -The speaker defends the paid resource by stating that it is a valuable tool for quick and effective studying, and that the criticism may be due to misunderstanding the benefits it offers.

  • How can students use the CED to organize their notes for the AP exam?

    -Students can organize their notes based on the themes or enduring understandings mentioned in the CED, which are connected to five Big Ideas. This organization method helps during the writing sections of the exam.

  • What is the significance of the 'Historical Developments' or 'Essential Knowledge' section in the CED?

    -The 'Historical Developments' or 'Essential Knowledge' section lists the specific content that students must know for the exam, especially if it includes proper nouns.

  • How do 'Illustrative Examples' in the CED help students in their studies?

    -'Illustrative Examples' provide specific evidence that illustrates the broader generalizations. Students don't need to know all examples, but knowing a few can be useful, especially for the writing sections of the exam.

  • What additional resource does the speaker recommend for studying?

    -The speaker recommends another video where they explain the best methods for actually studying using the resources they've discussed, as well as their AP review packs for various AP courses.

  • How does the speaker's approach to studying for AP exams benefit students?

    -The speaker's approach helps students focus on the most relevant information, saves time by avoiding unnecessary studying, and provides structured methods for organizing notes and understanding the exam format.

Outlines
00:00
📚 Efficient AP Exam Study Strategies

This paragraph discusses the revelation that students do not need to remember everything from their class to pass the AP exam. The speaker, a history teacher, explains that there is a specific set of information required for the exam, and the rest can be forgotten. The teacher has been secretly gathering information about the exam content and shares that the College Board's exam descriptions (CED) are a valuable resource. These documents outline the required knowledge for the exam and can be found online by searching for the specific course and 'CED'. The speaker then provides guidance on how to use the CED effectively for studying, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the units and topics that are more represented on the exam.

05:01
📈 Utilizing AP Review Packs and CED for Exam Preparation

In this paragraph, the speaker addresses the best methods for studying for the AP exam, mentioning a video that provides more details on this topic. The speaker also promotes their AP review packs for various AP courses, which include unit review videos, practice questions, and tests. Despite facing criticism for promoting these resources, the speaker defends their effectiveness in exam preparation. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of how to use the CED and review packs for comprehensive exam preparation, suggesting that organizing notes by themes and focusing on the learning objectives and historical developments outlined in the CED can significantly aid in exam success.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡AP Exam
The AP Exam refers to the Advanced Placement examinations administered by the College Board in the United States. These tests are designed to assess high school students' knowledge and skills in a variety of subjects at a college-level. In the context of the video, the speaker is discussing strategies for passing these exams, emphasizing that students need not remember everything from their classes, but rather focus on specific information that is likely to be on the exam.
💡College Board
The College Board is a non-profit organization in the United States that develops and administers educational exams and programs, including the Advanced Placement (AP) tests. In the video, the speaker mentions hacking into the College Board's test writing rooms, but clarifies that they actually obtained information through legal means by accessing publicly available resources.
💡Course and Exam Description (CED)
The Course and Exam Description (CED) is a document published by the College Board that outlines the required knowledge and skills that students are expected to have acquired by the end of an AP course. It is a critical resource for both teachers and students as it specifies what will be covered on the corresponding AP Exam. The video emphasizes the importance of using the CED to identify key areas of focus for studying and preparing for the exam.
💡Exam Overview
The Exam Overview section within the CED provides a summary of the AP Exam's structure, including the weightage given to different units or topics. This section helps students understand which parts of the course are more emphasized in the exam, thus guiding them on where to focus their study efforts. The speaker in the video uses this section to demonstrate how students can identify the most important areas to study for the AP Exam.
💡Unit Review
A unit review is a comprehensive summary or recap of the key concepts, themes, and historical developments covered in each unit of an AP course. These reviews help students consolidate their knowledge and prepare for exams by reinforcing understanding of the material. In the video, the speaker offers AP review packs that include unit review videos, practice questions, and practice tests, designed to efficiently guide students through their exam preparation.
💡Enduring Understanding
Enduring Understanding is a term used in the CED to describe the broad, transferable concepts that students should grasp as a result of their AP course. These understandings are meant to be long-lasting and applicable beyond the classroom. In the context of the video, the speaker advises students to organize their notes based on these themes, which will be beneficial for tackling the writing sections of the AP Exam.
💡Writing Prompts
Writing Prompts are the essay questions or scenarios provided in AP Exams that require students to write a response based on their knowledge of the subject matter. These prompts are designed to assess students' ability to analyze historical events, interpret data, and construct arguments. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding which units and time periods can generate writing prompts, and how to prepare for them using the CED.
💡Illustrative Examples
Illustrative Examples are specific historical events, people, or concepts provided in the CED that help to clarify and exemplify the broader historical developments or themes. These examples are used to give students a reference point for understanding the generalizations made in the course material. In the video, the speaker advises students to focus on these examples as they are potential evidence that may be required in the exam.
💡Study Method
A study method refers to a systematic approach or technique used to learn and retain information effectively. In the video, the speaker discusses the best ways to use the CED and review packs to study for the AP Exam, emphasizing the importance of organizing notes and focusing on key themes and historical developments.
💡Review Packs
Review Packs are comprehensive study resources that include a variety of materials designed to help students prepare for exams. In the context of the video, the speaker's AP review packs contain unit review videos, practice questions, and practice tests for multiple AP subjects. These packs are presented as a paid resource that the speaker believes is an efficient and effective way to study for the AP Exam.
💡Publicly Available
Publicly Available refers to information or resources that are open and accessible to the general public without restrictions. In the video, the speaker clarifies that the 'secret inside information' they have is actually information from the College Board that is publicly available on the internet, which they have learned how to use effectively for studying.
Highlights

It's possible to focus on specific information for AP exams rather than remembering everything from class.

Certain topics are more emphasized in the AP exams, allowing students to prioritize their study efforts.

The College Board's test writing rooms have been monitored for seven months, revealing insights on exam preparation.

The College Board publishes a Course and Exam Description (CED) that outlines the required knowledge for AP exams.

The CED can be found online by searching for the specific course acronym followed by 'CED'.

Exam overview in the CED indicates which units are more important to study for the AP exam.

The CED also reveals the units and time periods from which writing prompts are drawn for the History exam.

For the Government exam, the CED specifies the types of writing questions to expect and how to prepare for them.

There are free and paid methods to access the information needed for effective AP exam preparation.

Paid option includes AP review packs with unit review videos, practice questions, and tests.

Criticism has arisen about the paid review packs, with some accusing the teacher of promoting them excessively.

The CED contains themes and enduring understandings that are crucial for organizing study notes and preparing for the writing sections.

Learning objectives and historical developments listed in the CED are essential knowledge for the exam.

Illustrative examples in the CED provide specific evidence of broader historical developments, but students only need to know some of them.

By focusing on the CED and organizing notes accordingly, students can be well-prepared for exam day.

There is a video resource available that teaches the best methods for studying using the CED and review packs.

AP review packs and resources for APUSH, AP World, and AP Euro, as well as AP Gov, are available for purchase.

Transcripts

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