Juniors - Schedule please

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
1

<p>Hello everybody</p>

<p>I am a junior taking 6 AP's. </p>

<p>Just want your advise on the typical daily study schedule.</p>

<p>Typically how many hours per day on an average do juniors with this kind of course load study? What about week ends?</p>

<p>Appreciate if you can kind of suggest a daily routine. What is the typical study daily routine of a bright A student (junior taking 6 AP courses)</p>

<p>I am bright but kind of lazy to do my work daily unless there is a test/assignment.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your advice.</p>

2

<p>Also can you please give an idea of how much time of entertainment/fun/recreation/movies/videogames is generally allocated on a daily basis as a part of the everyday routine?</p>

<p>Thanks very much and really appreciate your help</p>

3

<p>D had a similar schedule junior year and has a similar schedule now (senior year). She basically studies all day after school and on the weekends. She, of course, also has a few ECs, including a varsity sport, so maybe it will be different for you. I suggest you eat something and take a quick nap when you get home after school and then study and do your homework. Weekends should be spent getting ahead in your classes (if possible). Try to do homework before it is actually due so that you have time to study for exams when they occur.</p>

<p>But, if your AP teachers are nearly as strong as Ds, then this will probably be a tough year for you. One of Ds friends jokes that the only time they get to see each other is in class, in study groups or at community service events. “Free” time is almost non-existent.</p>

4

<p>5 AP classes, 1 honors class, 1 art class, 2 self studies (I actually self study during the year) and a lot, A LOT of extra curriculars, like 5 or 6 I activity participate in. </p>

<p>During the week I study and cram, have speech practice till 4:30, and in the winter and spring I’m in guys volleyball (7-9). Igo to bed around midnight, and wake up around 6:45
Friday’s I work at my parent’s restaurant, and sleep just that.
Saturday is my fun day either I go to a completion and or do something fun with friends
Sunday is volunteering or sleeping in depending on which one I need more and working on homework. </p>

<p>I really think the Saturday thing is what keeping me from going crazy balls right now, but I also have 2 B’s so thats just me.</p>

5

<p>Are you guys kidding me? Free time non-existent? Give me a break…I’m currently taking 5 APs (all As atm) and I get 4-5 hours of free time after school, granted I don’t have that many ECs after school and my teachers don’t give too much homework. I usually have around 3-4 hours of homework depending on the day…</p>

6

<p>Uh huh…do you have block schedule? That severeeeelllly lowers the workload. I’m killing myself right now with varsity sport, early morning orch, planetarium EC, and 5 APs + honors math. No time for anything. I think last weekend I watched a single episode of Merlin, and that was my fun for the week. Contemplating jumping in front of truck.</p>

<p>in other words, see if you can get around taking that many APs, or if you do, get some kind of study hall for them.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for all your replies.</p>

<p>Don’t you think a break of atleast 2 hours every day during the week and a fun week-end is essential for good productivity. </p>

<p>I just cant beleive that it is even possible to study through out the day all the time during the week and also during the week ends … </p>

<p>Is this the norm for all juniors aiming for top colleges (high GPA and all 5’s in the AP’s). ?</p>

<p>Can some one please suggest a typical daily (week day am to pm) schedule (balanced one with a mix of electronic entertainment :slight_smile: and also for the week ends, assuming atleast 6.5 hours of sleep during week days.</p>

<p>I am definitely aiming for an A in all my 6 APs and ofcourse all 5’s</p>

<p>Thanks so much.</p>

8

<p>@hobbithill</p>

<p>I do have block scheduling, but I don’t think it reduces the workload too much…</p>

9

<p>I’m a senior, but I’ve got a little bit different of schedule than most of the people here. I am on block scheduling with 2 honors and 1 AP class. However, since my school does not offer many AP classes, I am self-studying 5 and maybe adding another here since the others are going well already. I am in drum line, which basically took up every saturday during the school year up until last weekend and had practices throughout the week. Plus, I work 3-4 shifts a week at a retirement home as a server. Despite all that and my regular schoolwork, I have already gotten through the basic material for 4 out of the 5 self-studies while not spending any time on Fridays or Saturdays and leaving 8 hours of sleep a night during the week and a good hour or two a night of free time. As long as you are focused while you work, you can have plenty of time to spare.</p>

10

<p>You guys work yourselves wayyyy too hard. I’m a sophomore taking 4 AP classes and 3 GT classes (1 level below AP) and self studying 3 AP’s with sports and a couple clubs, not to mention volunteering nearly 10 hours/week. I also practice nationally for chess. I have plenty of free time to hang out with my friends. I managed to do this because of 2 books that have saved my life. [Amazon.com:</a> How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less (9780767922715): Cal Newport: Books: Reviews, Prices & more](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/How-Become-Straight--Student-Unconventional/dp/0767922719/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288414980&sr=8-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/How-Become-Straight--Student-Unconventional/dp/0767922719/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288414980&sr=8-1) AND [Amazon.com:</a> Super Memory - Super Student: How to Raise Your Grades in 30 Days (9780316532686): Harry Lorayne: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Super-Memory-Student-Raise-Grades/dp/0316532681/ref=pd_sim_b_6]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Super-Memory-Student-Raise-Grades/dp/0316532681/ref=pd_sim_b_6). DO YOURSELF A HUGE FAVOR AND READ THESE. Please do not kill yourselves. I take massive course loads because I can handle it. But please do not make your life hell…</p>

<p>P.S. 1st quarter just ended and I have a 4.0 GPA!!!-So happy right now!</p>

11

<p>I basically have the exact same schedule as you: junior in 6 APs. I only have one EC though, as I’m pretty lazy… basically, this is what it looks like:</p>

<p>Weekday: come home from school at ~3, SC2 until 5. Cook and eat dinner 5~6:30, 6:30 do homework/study until 9, unless homework compells me to go 'till 10. Sleep at 10. Repeat.
Friday: No homework, just SC2 and funtime w/ friends.
Saturday/Sunday: Homework/study time, if needed, is 2~5 and 7~9. Usually skipped (;
I do as much work as possible in class. We have a mandatory study hall period.</p>

12

<p>i seriously don’t know how you guys take 6 AP’s at still have time -.-</p>

<p>I just finished the fall season and I was doing golf (like we had to stay everyday until 6pm for practice/matches) and I’m soo glad it’s over. I was basically having only 1-2 hours to do homework each night for 3 AP classes (APUSH, Ap Chem mostly, some AP language and comp) … it sucked. </p>

<p>I’m also in 3 clubs, mostly community service stuff. But seriously, it sucked. I’m the kind of person who has to go to sleep at 9-10 or else I’m screwed the next day. I have 0 hour in the morning so I gotta wake up at like 5:40. </p>

<p>So basically if you want to have some sort of free time (which I have a little bit of now after golf ended) then take no more than 3! I’m choosing not to do the winter sport either because I simply don’t have the time.</p>

13

<p>Thanks all.</p>

<p>Would be interested to hear from others as well…</p>

<p>What is the break up of homework time by subject … For eg, how much time on an average do you get for each of the AP’s like for eg - AP Physics B, AP Calc, AP Eng, AP Chem, AP USHistory etc?</p>

14

<p>Last year as a junior:</p>

<p>AP Physics B - an hour a night, whether it’s reading the chapter or doing problems. Keep in mind that I did a lot of extra problems for fun / practice.
AP Calculus AB - I did my problem sets in AP Psychology for the most part. When I didn’t, half an hour a night.
AP US History - 45 minutes a night reading / outlining
AP English Language - 30 minutes a night reading. We’d have lots of writing assignments though so we’ll say an hour or so every couple nights.
AP Psychology - minimal, limited to an hour every couple of weeks to do flash cards / reading focus questions before a test. I’d also spend maybe 45 minutes a night for a couple nights to take notes on each chapter, but it was completely useless of me to do so.</p>

<p>I also had a couple online classes which took up time. Ultimately, I would have slept more had I not gone above and beyond (extra problems for physics, actually reading the chapter for psychology, taking outside classes, etc.).</p>

<p>This year, the same applies.</p>

<p>AP Music Theory - 45 minutes every other night on partwriting and whatnot, but it’s enjoyable.
AP European History - 45 minutes a night for a few nights to read / outline a chapter out of interest. DBQs every once in awhile, vocab terms, etc. We’ll average this to an hour a night.
AP English Literature - 30 minutes of reading a night, plus whatever writing I have to do
AP Chemistry - an hour or so a night reading / doing problem sets.
AP Art History - 30 minutes a night reading</p>

<p>The reading for euro and art history is done solely out of interest. I’m doing online classes again, so I mean, my work time could be easily reduced without all this optional stuff. Combined with extracurriculars and having a social life, I’m a pretty busy person.</p>

15

<p>AP Calculus AB- Usually around 30 minutes every 2 days, though some assignments can take me a couple hours. No studying for tests.
AP Physics C- Around an hour a night on average. The class is so hard.
AP Chemistry- Around 20-30 minutes a night, longer the night before a test.
AP Psychology- 20 minutes every 2 nights, maybe 45 minutes the night before a test.</p>

<p>Some nights I have no homework, some I have 3 hours. It really depends.</p>

16

<p>Last year as a sophomore:</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC-About 20 to 30 minutes a night (though as the year progressed, I began doing more and more homework in class). Easily the most homework out of all my classes. But, the teacher was amazing so I didn’t have to study.</p>

<p>AP Physics B-10 minutes a night, about once or twice every 2 weeks. Seriously. I got a 5, but I was his only one out of 3 classes.</p>

<p>AP European History-This one’s a bit hard to describe, since the teacher assigned giant busy work packets every 2 or 3 weeks. I usually procrastinated a bit and did maybe no homework for about a week and then about an hour a night for 3 or 4 nights to finish.</p>

<p>AP French Language-10 minutes a night for about 2 or 3 times a week. Again, another 5 since the teacher was so good.</p>

<p>My 2 other honors classes had average amounts of homework.</p>

<p>This year (junior year):</p>

<p>AP Physics C-See my note on my Physics B class last year. Same teacher.</p>

<p>AP Chem-Same teacher as my Honors Chem class last year. 10 to 20 minutes a night, depending on how much I do in class.</p>

<p>APUSH-30 minutes a night, about once every 3 or 4 days.</p>

<p>AP Psych-1 hour about once every 2 weeks.</p>

<p>My online English class actually takes me quite a bit of time since my teacher’s directions are so convoluted, but it’s not that difficult.</p>

<p>All in all, I don’t study at all. The only thing I’ve ever studied for is the actual AP Euro test last year and my SAT’s now, so I can’t really recommend how long you should study. Even with my extracurriculars, I still manage a good 6 to 7 hours of sleep a night (and that’s after I waste 1 or 2 hours of my life on Facebook, watching TV, etc.).</p>

17

<p>314159265</p>

<p>Thanks for the details. Congrats on your 5 in Physics B.</p>

<p>Did you also take the AP Subject test in Physics. If yes, did you manage to score well with that kind of preparation?</p>

<p>Would be nice to know because I plan to allocate my time for Physics B and Physics Subject test together.</p>

<p>thanks</p>

18

<p>I also took the Physics Subject Test (in June; I should have taken it in May). I scored a 780, since there are some really random BS questions (IMO) on the Subject Test. However, other than the W.TF questions on the Subject Test, the Physics B MC is almost identical to the Subject Test.</p>

19

<p>^There were only like 3-4 BS-like questions, so you can still miss those if you’re pro enough. (I answered 1 or 2 of them correctly, and I still got a 800…) But yeah, if you can do fairly well on the AP MC, you’re good for the subject test.</p>

<p>Last year:</p>

<p>AP Physics B (self-study): tons of time, mostly concentrated in January (due to USPhO) and April (preparing for the AP exam).</p>

<p>This year:</p>

<p>APUSH: would be about an hour a night if I didn’t suck at concentrating on it
AP Chem: 20-45 minutes a night; reading the textbook until I am too tired to do so on the night before the test
AP Stats: finish in class
AP Music: can usually finish in class unless it’s composition (in which case it takes a ridiculously long time)
AP Physics C (self-study): variable depending on whether I feel lazy or not
LinAlg: an hour or so per section, meaning maybe 1.5-2.5 hours a night (since I sometimes do some at school)</p>

<p>My schedule is basically</p>

<p>2:45-3:00 - get home (depending on whether I can mooch a ride)
until 4 or 5-ish - procrastinate, watching anime, taking a nap, etc.
5-6 (sometimes) - practice piano and/or procrastinate
6-8 - procrastinate
8-? - dinner
?-12 (and beyond) - procrastinate and/or work</p>

20

<p>I’m a junior and taking 6 AP’s as well. Officer in a club, participate in another club, volunteer weekly, play classical piano and travel softball. Afterschool class and a morning class. </p>

<p>Weekdays I get home from school usually around 4 or 5 (it depends on the day and the activity after school) and from there my routine varies completely with the day. If i have an APUSH, Euro, Bio or Comp Gov test I’ll basically spend the entire rest of the night studying for it (sometimes if there are multiple I’ll be up until 2 or 3 am) but on other days where I have virutally nothing I can just get home, chill, and go to sleep around 7 pm! Haha that makes up for all of the sleep that I miss. </p>

<p>Weekends I usually do the bulk of my studying… I make a list of what I have to read and memorize and just space it out. I essentially have time for pretty much any activity that I want to do with friends, sleepovers, car rides to restaurants, beach, whatever else anybody wants to do. But since I’m not really a party animal it’s never been a problem… I usually don’t do more than one or two things during the weekend with friends so it’s never gotten in the way majorly of school work. as long as I leave a free day open I’m usually alright, just depends on the week. </p>

<p>Piano only takes up a few hours a week with practicing so it’s not too major… softball right now isn’t in session (THANK GOD) but soon it’ll be the death of me…</p>

<p>So with my workload you’d be alright to play video games at your leisure, as long as you really focus (like i’m not doing right now) on studying and get it done when it’s neccesary. Although your eyes may be reeeally strained if you’re taking reading intense classes. Haha, oh the downsides of taking four histories and biology AP when my primary activity for fun is reading books with tiny print. Gaah</p>