INTRODUCTION TO THE FIVE-STEP PROGRAM

The Five-Step Program is a powerful tool designed to provide you with the best-possible skills, strategies, and practice to help lead you to the perfect 5 on the AP U.S. History examination. Each of these five steps provides you with the opportunity to get closer and closer to the 5, which every AP student strives to achieve.

STEP ONE leads you through a brief process to help determine which type of exam preparation is most comfortable for you:

1. Month-by-month: September through May

2. The calendar year: January through May

3. Basic training: the 4-6 weeks before the exam

STEP TWO helps develop the knowledge you need to do well on the exam:

1. A comprehensive review of the exam

2. A thorough review of the type of questions asked on the exam

3. Explanation of multiple-choice answers

4. A comprehensive review of the two types of essays asked for on the exam

5. A review of the major events and trends of U.S. history

6. A glossary of important terms in U.S. history

STEP THREE helps develop the skills necessary to take the exam and do well:

1. Practice activities in historical thinking

2. Practice activities in multiple choice questions

3. Practice document-based essay questions

STEP FOUR helps you develop strategies for taking the exam:

1. Learning about the test itself

2. Learning to read multiple-choice questions

3. Learning how to answer multiple-choice questions, and the value of guessing

4. Learning what to look for in the essay question

5. Learning how to plan the essay

STEP FIVE helps you develop you confidence in using the skills demanded on the AP U.S. History exam:

1. The opportunity to evaluate yourself with many practice questions

2. Time management techniques and skills

3. Two practice exams that test how well-honed your skills are

4. The opportunity to show you that you know more than you think you do about U.S. history