Everyone knows when that crazy end of the year testing time rolls around by simply listening to students speak about the stress and pressure to receive good scores on both their finals and AP tests.

However, AP tests are usually written in a different format and style than regular tests so as to better test the skills of critical thinking and in-depth understanding of a subject.

This unique format is especially true for the AP World History exam, as it contains tricky multiple choice question, a DBQ (Document based question), a comparative essay, and a continuity and change over time essay.

Personally, I did better on the essays than the multiple choice portion of the test, although having a solid score on the multiple choice questions can significantly raise test scores.

If your AP world history teacher does not style his tests after the actual exam, then I would recommend buying your own test prep book to work out of. Many people swear by Barron’s or Princeton Review’s prep books. However, there is a less popular brand that I used that was far more effective than more well-known brands.

This amazing test prep book is made by MyMaxScore and is called My Max Score AP World History. Here is a link.

Featuring more general concepts and key information to know, this book is slightly less specific than others, but really allows a greater understanding of world history through simple and well thought out writing and explanations.

Plus, MyMaxScore is perfect for both long term and short term studying and it even has practice questions at the end of each chapter and a full length exam, including essay prompts, at the end of the book.

You can also find online exams to take if you really want extra practice.

When taking the multiple choice portion of the test, it is absolutely crucial to manage your time, as there is nothing worse than the feeling of not finishing a test. Here is a link.

When approaching a question, look for key words such as, except, not, and only, as these short phrases are used to trick students who do not read carefully.

When I took the test, I found that multiple choice questions could almost always be narrowed down to two choices. So the strategy that is most successful for multiple choice questions would be to read the question carefully, eliminate two answer choices, and make your best guess as to which of the two remaining choices are correct.

If there is extra time left over after the multiple choice section, it is a good idea to go back and check your work. However, do not start to doubt yourself and to change all your answers, as your first instinctive guess is most likely to be right. Additionally, you should only change the answers that you absolutely know are wrong or have a strong feeling are incorrect.

When approaching the essays, be sure to include in-depth analysis of the subject and provide outside information to make the essay graders confident that you know what you are talking about.

I suggest talking to your teacher about these essays and the necessary components that need to be included in them.

I wish all AP World History students the best of luck and happy testing.