Studying for AP American History
1. A reminder – your book’s web site has many useful resources http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/america7/
Things to do throughout the entire unit:
1) Purpose: Make as much of the information as possible come naturally by learning it right the first
time and reviewing it so it sticks in your memory.
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Take detailed enough notes that you do not need to re-read the chapter – work on getting your
notes to be a balance between the right amount of information and not too much!
o Re-read your notes within 24 hours of taking them – shown to increase your ability
to recall information
o Take notes in a style that is active – helps you to engage with the material (like
Cornell Notes)
o Ask you teacher questions as you read to make sure you understand everything as
you continue throughout the book. Don’t be shy!
Create flashcards as you go of the key people, events, etc.
o Use the ones on the textbook’s website
o Add your own (textbook’s might not be enough)
o Use another pre-made set of flashcards like:
 http://www.apstudent.com/ushistory/cards.php (1600 pre-made flash cards)
Review material at all times! Review, review, review!
Things to do a couple of days before the unit:
- Purpose: Do any remaining preparation work you need so that the last night of studying is just for
studying – you should not be making study guides or flash cards the night of the test.
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Schedule – make a study plan and decide when you will have time to get the studying done –
make sure you will have enough time to get through it all given your busy lives!
Make any remaining study aides that will be helpful for you come test time (flashcards,
graphic organizers of information).
Form a study group:
o Get a small group of friends with a common purpose and dedication to the subject
o Practice quizzing each other over flashcards/facts
o Go over big ideas (like the focus questions on the textbook web site or essay hints
your teachers may have given you)
Review in-class readings, looking for the big points that might appear on a multiple choice
questions or the FRQ.
Re-read the chapters if you have time. This should not be necessary if your notes were good
enough, but may help you put the information together. Keep in mind that you will not be able
to re-read the entire book before the AP exam so this does not need to be part of your regular
studying routine.
Things to do the night before the test:
- Purpose: This should be time for solidifying your knowledge and filling in small gaps – not the time
to cram in major quantities of new information
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Continue to review information, concentrating on those parts that you have had trouble
remembering in the past (flashcards are helpful here)
Take practice multiple choice and true/false questions
o Use the web site for our book
o Try: http://www.historyteacher.net/USQuizMainPage.htm
Get a good night’s sleep and eat a good breakfast.
Multiple Choice Strategies:
1. Underline or circle key words in both the question stem and the choices. (Writing on the test
sheet will help your performance tremendously!)
2. Read the question and anticipate correct answers before you look at any of the choices
3. Re-read stems containing negative words (not, except, etc.). To avoid careless errors with
these confusing questions, mark each option with a T or F and remind yourself that you are
looking for a false statement (usually you are looking for a true statement).
4. If two choices overlap or mean essentially the same thing, both are probably incorrect (unless
there is a choice of all of the above or both B & C).
5. Change an answer only when you have a concrete reason. Never change an answer
because of a feeling. This feeling is often simply nervousness!
Practice ?’s from College Board web site:.
1) Alexander Hamilton’s economic program was designed primarily to:
a) Prepare the United States for war in the event Britain failed to vacate its posts in the Northwest
b) Provide a platform for the fledgling Federalist Party’s 1792 campaign
c) Establish the financial stability and credit of the new government
d) Ensure northern dominance over the southern states in order to abolish slavery
e) Win broad political support for his own candidacy for the presidency in 1792
2) The Embargo Act of 1807 had which of the following effects on the United States:
a) It severely damaged American manufacturing
b) It enriched many cotton plantation owners
c) It disrupted American shipping
d) It was ruinous to subsistence farmers
e) It had little economic impact
3) The National Road was constructed primarily for the purpose of:
a) Demarcating the southwestern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase
b) Promoting trade and communication with the Old Northwest
c) Opening the Southwest to ranchers
d) Assisting the movement of settlers to the Oregon Country
e) Relieving overpopulation and crowding in the Northeast
More sample ?s –
Try the college board’s web site to see more sample AP questions…
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/ushistory/ap-cd-ushist-0607.pdf