Self-studying...

<p>Okay I read the sticky thread about self-studying and it said to start around Jan. Isn't that a little late? Like how would I go about doing it? By some prep books and just studying them every night or what? If someone could please come up with a "study plan" or anything close to it for me I would really be happy and grateful!!! :)</p>

<p>Please and Thank you,
Wes</p>

<p>My son self-studied for 4 AP exams last year. He talked to his counselor and got copies of some of the textbooks from his school’s storage room. He tested his knowledge by taking old free response questions, which can be found on-line. </p>

<p>Whether January is too late really depends on how fast you learn, how many APs you’re taking, and whether it’s in your area of particular strength. In some ways, the more you compress your learning time by starting later, the fresher all the material will be when you sit for the exam and the better you will do.</p>

<p>Last February, I bought the Princeton review prep books for AP Calculus BC, Physics C: Mechanics, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, Chemistry. I studied one chapter of each subject a day and scored all 5’s.</p>

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<p>Not true.</p>

<p>I started in September; some people wait until a week or two before the exam (this is most relevant to Human Geography or Psychology, though). What subjects are you thinking of self studying?</p>

<p>I am thinking about self studying a couple of APs:
*Macroeconomics
*Microeconomics
*Environmental Science
*Human Geography
*Psychology</p>

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<p>Not exactly a couple… But, the only subjects you’re self-studying, from what I’ve heard, that actually require prolonged periods of studying before hand are Macro/Microeconomics and Environmental Science (not even ES, though for me, it just looks a bit tedious). </p>

<p>Human Geography and Psychology are known as godsends for people self studying, you can easily self study those like… a few weeks before the test. Though honestly, I’d start around December for the sake of economics, and pull through with HG and Psych later on towards the test.</p>

<p>pretty easy to do imo, if you have the time.</p>

<p>First thing to do is read the course description for each test you want to study (found on collegeboard site). Second, read the textbook, yes all of it. Just read a chapter a day. Once you are done reading you have to start reviewing. Go back to the course description and learn how the exam is categorized and then review each of those categories (for example, in APUSH the exam is divided into 4 major categories - politics, culture, foreign relations and economics). Review those categories as needed. A month before the exam start taking practice/simulation exams. Review the questions you miss, rinse and repeat. Then review past essay/free response questions. If possible get a copy of the grading rubrics released by the CB, these are extremely helpful as they pretty much tell you how the essays are graded.</p>

<p>If you do the above you’ll pretty much be guaranteed a 4 or 5. If you get a 3 or less, you were just slacking off.</p>

<p>Also wesley all the exams you listed are easy self studies, go for it.</p>

<p>^ AWESOME plan but when do you think I should start?</p>