Students frequently ask me, “Should I self-study for the ___ AP exam?”
Every situation is different, but here are some key questions to consider if you find yourself in this position:
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How will I sign up for the AP exam?
Students often don’t realize they need to figure this out until they’re partway through preparing, at which point it might be too late. When a student is enrolled in an AP class, the process for signing up for the corresponding AP exam is straightforward and facilitated by their teacher. However, the sign-up process if you are self-studying is not so straightforward. Self-study students need to contact their school’s AP coordinator (if you’re not sure who this is, then ask your counselor) to obtain permission to sign up for the AP exam. If they say no (which is certainly a possibility), then you have to find another local school that will allow you to take the AP exam. Check out the College Boards helpful FAQ on registering here.
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How much studying will be necessary?
Judging how much time you will need to devote to self-studying can be tricky. A typical year-long AP course will average about 80-100 instructional hours (plus more time for homework). Most students are not able to devote this much time to self-studying, so the question is more about how to study/prepare effectively. If you’ve already taken an honors-level course that covers similar content to an AP exam, then you’ll be in a much better position. Choosing to self-study for an AP exam that aligns with a semester-long course (e.g. psychology, microeconomics) can also help reduce the amount of study time. It’s also important to establish clear study times, and utilize strong study skills. Self-studying requires a lot of self motivation and determination!
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What benefits will I gain?
The benefits to taking an AP exam can broadly be broken down into 2 categories: (1) boosting your college application and (2) earning college course credit. Typically, you need to score a 3 or higher on the AP exam to potentially earn college credit and/or for the score to be considered favorably on a college application. Submitting AP scores is optional, so if your score is low you do not have to submit it to colleges. If you have further questions about how AP’s can help your college applications, connect with one of AJ’s college counselors!
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How can AJ Tutoring help?
AJ Tutoring can provide several levels of support for self-study students. First, we can match you with an AP subject matter expert to help you self study all year long. Second, you can work with that same tutor on AP test preparation specifically! They will help you prepare for every aspect of the exam and review relevant content. Finally, you can connect with our For-Credit team here at AJ and learn about taking your AP course for-credit and boosting your transcripts.
No matter how you plan on studying for an AP exam, AJ’s team of experts can provide the support you need!
