How to Be a Successful Advanced Placement Student

High school students have numerous reasons for considering advanced placement courses. Some do so for the challenge inherent in these courses. Others students enroll in AP courses to burnish their transcripts in anticipation of college admission. And still others take these classes for the prestige that they believe accompanies advanced placement students.

Regardless of the reasons for enrolling in an AP course, they are an excellent-and rigorous-means of testing the waters of college course work. Therefore, before beginning an advanced placement course, it's important to evaluate what it takes to be successful. Keep the following six suggestions in mind.

Six Suggestions for Advanced Placement Success

First, consider carefully which AP courses to take. Choosing subjects at which you have already demonstrated ability usually proves to be the best decision. The rigors of these courses are such that students are most likely to excel at those in which they have already achieved a modicum of success in regular classes.

With this in mind, the next consideration is how many courses to take. While it may seem impressive to have a transcript that indicates numerous advanced placement courses, a student who has been unsuccessful in the courses he or she has taken impresses no college. So, be careful not to overload your schedule.

A third consideration is that advanced placement courses are taught at a college level. This requires that students put forth more effort than mere rote memorization and repetition of data. Instead, advanced placement students should be prepared to use facts as a basis for drawing inferences, forming conclusions, comparing and contrasting, and other higher-order thinking skills.

Once you've made the decision to enroll in an AP course, it's essential that you be well-organized. Organization enables students to develop and maintain notes that are conducive to studying, and to properly pace themselves in completing assignments without becoming overwhelmed by the depth of work required.

Then, be sure to keep abreast of reading assignments. Advanced placement exams are based on the premise that students have studied every aspect of the subject, regardless of whether the teacher has been able to cover every detail. As a result, AP students must undertake the responsibility of reading everything assigned and even beyond that, reading additional sources of content information.

The sixth suggestion is that you practice writing cogent essays. With the exception of those taking literature exams, advanced placement students who achieve the highest scores are those who do not fill the free response portion of the exam with flowery language and adjectives. To score well in this area, students should be able to get directly to the point, correctly use terminology that is specific to the subject and use one or two examples to support the main point.

Taking an advanced placement course is an enriching and rewarding experience. And for those who understand both the benefits and responsibilities intrinsic to these courses, being a successful advanced placement student is a challenge they are ready to meet.