With the end of the school year approaching, everyone is starting to get ready for the start of summer. However, Advanced Placement (AP) exams linger in the backs of students’ minds. The AP exams taken in the last nine-weeks of school are crucial in order to obtain certain college credit. The following tips can help you stay on top of your AP game in preparation of the upcoming test(s).

Review: One of the most important things to do for the AP exam is to go over topics learned earlier in the year. Chances are that you forgot some of the things that were taught early on. Fortunately, just a few minutes of reviewing these sections can help refresh your memory, due to the fact that you already learned it once.

Deeper Study: It is also extremely important that you study all of the material for the test. Make sure that as the AP exams draw closer you take a little bit of time each day to study every section. Do not try to cram all your studying into the last week; study gradually so that you can go over each topic until you fully understand it. Remember, everyone understands things at their own pace. You may need to spend more time on one topic than another.

“Study groups are a big help for me. It is not as boring as a book because you are more interactive and it also helps me by giving different perspectives that I hadn’t previously thought about,” freshman Laura Rico said.

Analyze the Test: Knowing the format of the test is just as important as knowing the material. Do not scare yourself into thinking the test is going to be harder or easier than it actually is. Find out exactly how the test will be administered, how much time will be given and what type of answer choices or essays are provided. Knowing what to expect when you open a test booklet can help you earn a substantially higher score.

“I think by analyzing the test I can expect what to see when I get the exam. This helps calm me, which makes me more focused and clearheaded for the exam,” junior Alexander Elortegui said.

Talk to your Teacher: Remember that teachers are a valuable source of information for exam preparation as well. They can help clear up some of troublesome topics and give you some handy pointers on other things. Most teachers have years of experience in teaching AP classes and are there to help you. After all, two heads are better than one.

Sleep: Getting your rest is another important tool for success on an AP exam. Your brain needs a break; you should get at least eight and a half hours of sleep every night. Cramming more studying into your brain at midnight is actually hurting you because your brain is not working as well as it normally would. At some point, it is more beneficial to go to bed early than to keep studying. Don’t worry about the time loss; as long as you follow tips one through four and do not procrastinate, you will be fine. You can always move your studying schedule around to fit your needs, start studying a bit earlier the next day or take out your notes during lunch.

Everybody needs to realize how important AP exams are. However, do not sike yourself out about them. You do need to work very hard to get ready for the exams, but do so progressively. Following these tips can help cure your AP exam fever, and even boost your score!