It’s the final countdown! Just one week left until the AP® Lang exam.
So…what to do in the last week before the AP® Lang exam?
I’ve received this question from multiple teachers and students. While it’s important not to panic or overdo it, there are some practical steps to prepare for the upcoming exam.
Q3 Database
The Q3 Database is an assignment I give my students in the few weeks leading up to the exam. It’s most done outside of class. Many students struggle with selecting specific evidence for the argument essay. So, this assignment is to help students realize that they have more knowledge of specific people, events, etc. than they might have realized.
Here’s a copy link to the activity in case you’d like to check it out. Feel free to modify as needed.
Many of my students last year said this assignment helped them on test day. Hopefully it helps other students as well.
Current Events
As part of the Q3 Database, I have students look up current events. However, this could also be done as a separate activity. Have students go to theflipside.io or thedonut.co and select a few current events. Have them write a summary of the information they learned in order to practice providing specific details about a current event. Allsides.com and CNN in 10 may also be good sources of information.
This is an assignment students can do independently, making it a great quick option to broaden their knowledge for Q3.
Timed Essays or Revisions
I know this isn’t everyone’s favorite option, but many students benefit from a final timed essay before the exam. Alternatively, if students have recently written an essay, revising the essay might be a more viable option.
With revision, really focus on making sure that all claims are uniforming supported with specific evidence and commentary. Highlighting or color-coding can help with this.
For revisions, I encourage my students to try include advanced punctuation (colons, dashes, semicolons) as well as adjectives and adverbs to make their writing more precise.
Create a Game Plan
Maybe it’s the former soccer coach in me, but I like students to have a game plan for the test. In a sense, standardized testing is all about earning the most points possible. Therefore, students need to play to their strengths.
To learn more about creating a game plan, check out this video here.
In addition to making a “game plan,” have students make a personalized study guide. They can add tips, sentence frames, etc. that they want to remember on test day. (They can’t bring this to the exam, but it is a way to prepare.)
Interested in sentence frames? Check out this video.
Cram with Coach Hall
I have over four years of Lang videos on YouTube. Check out the playlists on my channel or check out this doc here.
I’ll be going live on YouTube and TikTok before the exam, so be sure to follow so you are notified. Hop on and ask a question!
Fun Activities
Since many students take multiple AP® exams, sometimes the best thing to do is relax. One of my colleagues takes her APUSH students to draw with chalk the day before their exam.
Other options could include review games or choice board.
These are just a few ideas of what to do in the last week before the AP® Lang exam. Let me know your ideas in the comments.
