Test Format Actual AP Test: Question 1 & 2 – long free response, about 25 minutes each Questions 3-6 – short free response, about 10 minutes

Your tests = ½ of a full test, soooooo…. 30 Multiple choice – should take 45 minutes max 1 Long free response – should take you 25 minutes max 2 short free response – should take you about 10 minutes each (max 20 minutes) You have 90 minutes total to complete you tests – your test will be taken away at 90 minutes if you have not already turned it in. No extra time will be given.

More detail on Long Free Response

More detail on Short Free Response

More detail on Short Free Response

Test tips Do the practice questions before test day (answers are in the back of your workbook). Do them first, then grade them. Getting used to how you are graded will be a big help!

Test tips 2. On test day, skim through all of the Free Response questions before you start. Answer them in the order in which you are most confident about them. That way, if you run out of time, you haven’t lost points that you were more likely to earn.

Test tips 3. Pay attention to the task verbs. Each bolded word generally indicates 1 point.

Test tips 4. If it asks you to use the data, USE THE DATA!!! Actually cite numbers. However, if it asks you to describe, use descriptive words like increases, decreases, grows exponentially, linearly, etc.

Test tips 5. Keep it simple. Answer what the task verb is telling you to answer. Almost every single point can be earned with one sentence, so you don’t need paragraphs worth of answers.

Test tips 6. If you use a vocab word, define it. The graders are not supposed to assume you know what you’re talking about just because you use the right word.

Test tips 7. Budget your time, but don’t panic and rush into silly mistakes. Slow and steady definitely wins this race!

Test tips 8. You will always be asked to analyze or interpret an experiment in some way. This could mean graphing or reading a graph, making calculations, identifying variables or hypotheses and null hypotheses, or making predictions based on data. Take advantage of all opportunities given to practice these skills in class!

Test tips 9. Always focus on the points you are gaining, not the points you think you might be losing. Remember, the test is curved. It’s not about getting it all right, it’s about getting as much right as you can. Stay positive

10. Write neatly. Practice this every test 10. Write neatly!!!! Practice this every test. I may be used to your handwriting, and I may try as hard as I can to decipher your words, but AP graders most definitely will NOT! They will be trying to get through hundreds of papers in a day. If they can’t read it easily, they won’t give you points.