Last Minute AP Test Hints and Tips

General Helpful Hints:
• Your test will consist of two parts -- Multiple Choice (55 minutes) and 3 Essays (one DBQ and two Free Response essays). You will have a 15 minute reading period and then a block of 115 minutes to write your essays after your post-Multiple Choice break.
• Get to the room early (by 7:45am) so you can “mellow” before the test begins
• Bring a watch so you can keep track of your own time
• Bring extra pens, pencils, and a good eraser
• Eat breakfast and sleep well before the test
• Don’t beat yourself up over a question or over the test -- remember, the worst that can happen is that you lose a little $$$!
Multiple Choice Helpful Hints:
• The Multiple Choice section is worth 50% of your overall test score
• There will be 80 questions, and you will have 55 minutes to complete this section
• Circle key words, cross off incorrect answers, and write on the test to help you answer the question -- don’t answer your own questions or get confused by words such as “EXCEPT”!
• DO NOT LEAVE ANY QUESTIONS BLANK . . . Skip questions you have no clue on and come back to them later . . . questions later may jog your memory . . . BUT . . . ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS!
• ERASE WELL!!!
• REMEMBER—60+% is a good score!

DBQ Helpful Hints:
• The DBQ is worth 22.5% of your overall test score
• Your will have a 15 minute reading period to look over the question and the documents -- you cannot begin your essay during this time, but you may write your thesis and ideas in the booklet
• You will have a block of 115 minutes to write this essay and the two free response essays, so spend approximately 45 minutes writing your DBQ -- keep track of your own time!
• Your plan of attack should be to:
1. read/understand the question,
2. think about the time period and jot down all relevant facts you can think of
3. analyze the documents
4. scratch outline your thesis (one that takes a stand and answers the question) and where you will include your facts and documents
5. write your answer to the question!
• You must use both outside information (not included in the documents), and the documents in order to score well -- don’t worry about which is which, just think about the time period and incorporate ideas into your argument
• Be analytical in your answer -- explain how and why things happened, and use your facts and documents to prove to the reader that your ideas are valid -- the reader should never have to ask questions like “so what?” or “for example?” while reading your essay, since you will have already answered those questions for him/her
• WRITE LEGIBLY!

Free Response Essays Helpful Hints:
• The Free Response essays are each worth 13.75% of your overall test score -- you will write two Free Response essays
• You will have approximately 70 minutes of your 115 minute writing period to write your two Free Response essays
• Try to choose your essays before writing your DBQ -- you will see them at the back of the green booklet that has your DBQ -- you will pick one of the two offered in section B and one of the two offered in section C
• Free Response essays are just like the DBQ, only without the documents -- think about (and jot down) facts from the time period of the question before you even try to tackle the question
• Take at least 5 minutes (preferably 10 minutes) to write a thesis and scratch outline before you begin to write
• If you don’t see one you like, at least write something organized!
• WRITE LEGIBLY!
• REMEMBER . . . IT’S BETTER TO DO EXTRA PLANNING AND RUN OUT OF TIME WHILE WRITING AN EXCELLENT ESSAY THAN IT IS TO PLAN POORLY AND FINISH A BAD ESSAY!

Good Luck, and Take Lots of Deep Breaths!
Mr. H