CALENDARS FOR PREPARING FOR THE AP U.S. HISTORY EXAM
Calendar for Approach A: Year-Long Preparation for AP U.S. History Exam
Although its primary purpose is to prepare you for the AP U.S. History exam you will take in May, this book can enrich your study of U.S. history.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER (Check off the activities as you complete them)
— Determine into which student mode you would place yourself.
— Carefully read the first three chapters of this manual.
— Get on the World Wide Web and see what is said on the College Board AP Web site.
— Skim the Comprehensive Review Questions (go to this section all year if you have specific questions).
— Buy a highlighter, and use it on this manual and, if possible, your regular textbook (in many schools AP students buy their textbooks ahead of time for this very purpose),
— Coordinate the materials in this manual with the curriculum of your AP History class.
— Begin to do outside reading on U.S. history topics.
— Begin to use this book as a resource.
NOVEMBER (The first 10 weeks have elapsed.)
— Do some of the sample questions found throughout the manual.
— Look at the one of the sample tests to get an idea of what the big picture is.
— Intensify your reading of outside sources.
— Remind yourself to do historical analysis when you read.
DECEMBER
— Review the section on document-based questions, or DBQs. (You will probably have one on your midterm exam in class.)
— Carefully review the historical survey sections found in this manual for the areas you have already studied in class. Do the interpretations of events generally match up? If they don’t, why might this be so?
JANUARY
— Using the eras of U.S. history you have studied in class, create your own document-based question for two of the units, and try to answer it.
— Form a study group to prepare for the AP exams. Many successful students on the AP maintain that a good study group was critical to their success
FEBRUARY-MARCH
— Further intensify your outside readings.
— Take two U,S. history textbooks and compare and contrast their handling of three events in U.S. history. What do your results tell you?
— Carefully analyze the materials in the comprehensive review section of U.S. history for the units you are now studying in your U.S. history class. What events are you studying that directly impact the United States today?
APRIL
Take Practice Exam 1 in the first week of April.
— Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
— Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
— Practice creating and answering multiple-choice questions in your study group.
— Develop and review worksheets for and with your study group.
MAY—First Two Weeks (It’s Almost Showtime!)
— Highlight materials in your textbook (and in this manual) that you are unsure of, and ask your teacher about them.
— Write two or three historical essays under timed conditions.
— Take Practice Exam 2.
— Score and evaluate your performance.
— You are well prepared for the test.
Go get it!
“The more sample questions and essays you can go over before the test the better. Definitely take more than one practice exam from start to finish.” —A P Student
Calendar for Approach B: Semester-Long Preparation for the AP U.S. History Exam
Working under the assumption that you’ve completed one semester of U.S. History, use this calendar and the skills you’ve learned to prepare for the May exam.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
— Carefully read the introductory three chapters of the book.
— Write two or three document-based essay questions, sample multiple choice questions.
— “Think historically” about the material you are reading in class.
— Read at least on source outside of class on a topic you are studying.
MARCH
— Carefully analyze the historical review sections on the material you are now studying in class.
Are the interpretations of historical events the same in your textbook and in this manual? If not, why might that be?
— Form a study group (these are pivotal to success).
— In your study group, practice creating and answering multiple-choice questions.
APRIL
— Take Practice Exam 1 in first week of April.
— Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
— Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
— Practice creating and answering historical essays with your study group.
— Develop and review worksheets for and with your study group.
MAY—First Two Weeks (It’s Almost Showtime!)
— Ask your teacher to clarify things in your textbook or in this manual that you are unclear about.
— Carefully review the historical review section for as much of the year as you can.
— Take Practice Exam 2.
— Score yourself and analyze what you did wrong.
— Try to get answers to as many of the nagging details as you can before the test.
— Its almost time for the test: Let’s do it!
Calendar for Approach C: 4- to 6-Week Preparation for the AP U.S. History Exam
You have been in an AP U.S. History class since September. Undoubtedly, you have read much and learned a lot. The purpose of this guide is not to start from the beginning, but to refine and to further develop all that you have been learning since September.
APRIL
— Carefully read the first three chapters about the format of the test.
— Read the comprehensive review sections on the events of U.S. history. Write one sample DRQ question, provided as a sample in this manual. Complete Practice Exam 1.
— Score yourself and analyze your errors.
— Go back to chapters on essays or multiple-choice question format if needed.
— Develop a weekly study group to prepare for the test (many students say this is crucial).
— Skim and highlight the glossary.
MAY
— Complete Practice Exam 2.
— Score yourself and analyze your errors.
— Review entire historical review section to refresh yourself on historical detail.
— Be sure to be familiar with the format of the test. Review chapters two and three if needed.
— The test is almost here: Be ready for it!
“Three of my friends and I worked together in a study group last year and it helped us a lot!” —AP Student