Mastering AP Exams

By Aleeza Ata

As the 2025 AP exam season approaches, students at Westhill are preparing for one of the most stressful times of the school year. 

With the formal absence of finals and midterms at Westhill, AP exams are treated as the student-body’s end-all-be-all, which has made maintaining a healthy work-life balance difficult for many students during the season. However, with the right strategies, Vikings can maximize their success and face exams with confidence.

When studying for AP exams, creating a study plan with a strong foundation is crucial. “I have a Princeton Prep book so I usually just look over that and I watch Heimler’s History as well. I go to a website called Crack AP which has past AP questions that I can answer,” Abeed Nur (‘27), an AP World History student, said. 

Finding a study method helps students revise for their exams in an efficient and effective way, which Nur said was application. “Read the part you want [to review] in the book and try to apply it in the questions and take notes,” Nur said.

For nearly every AP exam, a strategic plan sets up students for success in May. Krisha Parmar (‘26) is taking AP Psychology this year and has recommended various tools online and a study plan in preparation for the upcoming exam. “For AP Psychology, I would definitely watch YouTube videos and get the prep book and study with those two materials and some other online study guide resources. I plan out my schedule before doing anything. I’d say, ‘Oh, I have a club on Wednesday,’ then I would plan my day accordingly,” Parmar said. 

In previous years, she took AP Human Geography and recommended using Quizlet and doing practice questions to reinforce learning.

Teachers also play a large role in guiding students in utilizing beneficial strategies for studying. Mr. Lico, who teaches AP European History and AP World History, suggests students use their previous tests and focus on the incorrect answers for further revision. “What I recommend is taking a look at your test corrections that you’ve done. Look at your question, the incorrect answer, the real one, and the explanation as to why,” he said. 

With the busy agendas students have, Mr. Lico said he also emphasized the importance of designating times throughout the day, “even if it’s in a 15 minute increment,” where students can study. “Just try to get as much as you can,” Mr. Lico said. 

“When it comes to the skill sets, I think you want to make sure you know how to write a proper paragraph including the context, thesis, and at least two pieces of evidence because that’s the stuff they’re grading you on, not your writing style.”

Amongst all of the different types of online resources available to students, one in particular stood out to Dr. Forbes, head of the Social Studies Department and teaching AP Micro and Macroeconomics. 

“AP Classroom has provided students with a wealth of review materials including videos and tons of practice whether it’s the AP released exams or the questions that are provided to them,” she said. She encourages students to take advantage of the platform and all it has to offer. Dr. Forbes also recommends for students to become familiar with the structure of the exam. 

“Students should take a Baseline exam for their discipline and then they should focus on what they got wrong and learning the difference. A student should also know what is expected on the exam as far as the exam format and the questions that are asked,” she added. 

Balancing AP exam prep with the jam-packed lives of a student can be challenging. Clubs, sports, jobs, and responsibilities at home can make time for studying feel limited. 

However, with time management, consistency, and using the resources provided in the classroom or online, students can manage stress and improve their chances of success on the day of the exam.