How to Ace the APUSH AP exam?

Is APUSH as tough as they say? The material is dense, and I'm slightly anxious about the AP exam at the end of the school year. Any study tips, recommended resources, or general advice on approaching it?

Of course, the level of difficulty for APUSH (AP U.S. History) exam highly depends on each individual student's love for history and ability to both memorize facts and understand historical trends and themes. However, fear not, with strategic studying and preparation, you can succeed when you eventually take the APUSH exam.

Use a variety of resources: Apart from your course textbook, look for other resources like third-party books that are designed to help with APUSH.

Timing Strategy: The exam is long (3 hours and 15 minutes) and it's very important to pace yourself. The first section (multiple choice and short answer) is 55% of the final score and you have 95 minutes to complete. The remaining 45% is earned through the Document-Based Question (DBQ) and the Long Essay Question (LEQ) which are completed in 100 minutes. Truly understanding the structure of the exam will help you pace accordingly and not rush through the important parts.

Emphasize Historical Thinking Skills: The APUSH exam tests not only your knowledge of U.S. history but also your ability to think historically. You'll need to compare and contextualize events, interpret and synthesize data, and make historical arguments. Practice these skills throughout your study.

Study Smart: When you're studying, don't just read your textbook from front to back. Instead, break down your study sessions into smaller, meaningful intervals and try to focus on understanding the key events, important figures, cultural trends, and overall societal effect for each historical period.

Use study groups: The APUSH course content is wide, and studying with a group can be especially beneficial. Each person may interpret a certain event from a unique perspective which can be beneficial for others to understand different viewpoints. Plus, teaching something you've understood well to others can reinforce what you've learned.

Practice with old AP exams: Past exams can act as a great study resource. Timing yourself while taking these practice tests can help acclimatize to the real exam duration. It's also a good idea to practice writing DBQ essays and get them reviewed by your teacher for constructive feedback.

Make your own review materials: Flashcards, one-pagers, timelines, or anything that summarises the key points can be beneficial. The process of making these materials will reinforce your learning, and the end products will serve as your quick review guide.

Finally, remember that it's a marathon, not a sprint. Start preparing well in advance of the exam, rather than trying to cram all of U.S. History into a few last-minute sessions. The earlier and more consistently you study, the more time you have to focus on areas where you need help. Best of luck with your studies!