Scrambling, pacing and stress are all parts of anticipating what questions they will see on the 2024 APUSH test for sophomores Brielle Douglass and Sophie Beispiel on May 10, 2024.
Advanced Placement US History, better known as APUSH, is a college-level class and passing is an enormous success that only some accomplish.
The exam is more than just an exam. It proves that you can accomplish such hard things and overcome your biggest setbacks.
Beispielis studying extra hard this year compared to her freshman year of AP Human Geography.
Beispiel shares, “Actually take time to study. The mistake I made last year with AP HuG was that I started studying a little later than I should have even though I got a 4, I feel like I could have put in more studying and that would have made a difference.”
Beispiel wants to go to an Ivy League school with a major in Dermatology and wants as many college credits as possible.
Beispiel also discusses how she feels going into the APUSH exam.
“Multiple choice is difficult; otherwise, writing is usually pretty good. There are some areas I feel like I need to work on. I think it is also important to prioritize how much a certain unit is on the tests.”
On the other hand, Douglas shares, “I feel fine about it. I am not stressing because it doesn’t impact my grade so there is not much to worry about.”
Douglass wants to major in Marine Biology, so she is more focused on science and hands-on learning rather than a History credit.
Nicholas Schueller, teacher of APUSH, describes his high school experience of AP testing weeks. “The only AP class I took was AP Psychology, and I didn’t take the exam. I had no idea the benefits of taking the exam, and I still kick myself today for the loss of money and credits that I could have saved.”
Additionally, Schueller advises the students taking the exam to, “Stay consistent with reviewing. I don’t think it is beneficial to study for hours and hours every night, nor do I think it is helpful just to cram the day before. The biggest thing I tell my students is to try to do 20 minutes a night and to stay consistent with that.”
Schueller has been giving the APUSH students as much help as he can. “The students have an open door for me every day from Monday to Thursday to go over whatever they want for APUSH. Some look over their past tests/exam, some ask for content help, and others want to work on skills like taking Multiple Choice Questions and writing. We also have two practice tests on Saturdays and a last-chance review the day before the test,” Schueller says.
See how other students are preparing for exams here.